Under-19 Women’s rosters confirmed for #HASC24

By Bradley Gains on May 9, 2024

24 of the top British Basketball junior prospects have been selected to play in the Under-19 Women’s game at the 2024 Hoopsfix All-Star Classic.

The rosters feature a number of Great Britain youth internationals – including nine of last summer’s GB U18s roster – while CoLA have a record seven representatives off the back of winning further titles at junior and senior level to continue their dominance.

The fourth edition of the U19 game at #HASC24 once again takes place at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, on Sunday 26th May (gets your tickets here now!).

You can also find the U19 Men’s rosters here.

Recent D1 playoffs final MVP Felicia Jacobs – Temple bound next season – will headline Team Black as one of eight returning players from 2023, having had another dominant season at CoLA.

Teammates Esther Kursite – GB U18 centre – and Glory Kabia – All-WEABL First Team – make their debuts on Team Black with captain and sharpshooter Violet Stutz earning a second successive spot. WEABL Finals MVP Ayla Habbal will be in opposition alongside fellow debutantes Shay Oyewole – All-Second Team in the WEABL South – and Adaora Dioramma, who backed up winning WEABL U17 Player of the Year in the South to win the Finals MVP award at the U18 Final Fours.

Liv Forster will head up Team White in her third appearance in the Classic before heading Stateside at USC Upstate with Gonzaga-commit Christabel Osarobo another of four Copleston/Ipswich players following another strong season that saw them win a National Cup and Division 1 double and finish WEABL runners-up.

National Cup Final MVP Yazmin Edwards makes a Classic debut after enjoying a breakout year at both junior and senior level, and will be joined on Team Black by Louisa Gibbins, who returns for a second year.

Colorado signee Erin Powell gives Team White additional scoring power after putting up 24.8 points (1st in WEABL), 11.1 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game for Charnwood as MVP in the North, whilst Haley Wright arrives in the UK on Team Black following several years in Spain in the Valencia junior ranks – earning a move to Long Beach at NCAA D1 level next season.

Scottish duo Alix McIntosh and Zoe Sharpe will be on opposite sides of the court with shooter McIntosh lining up for Team Black – currently featuring for Caledonia Gladiators in the WBBL playoffs – while Sharpe adds to the backcourt depth on Team White having both played for GB U18s last summer.

The Team Black offence will be orchestrated by point guard Valerie Cassidy de Falco with the ’06-born prospect stepping up to play significant minutes in the WBBL with Nottingham Wildcats this season, whilst making the All-WEABL First Team for the academy side having recorded a quadruple-double during the season.

Irene Oboavwoduo is the youngest player in this year’s Classic – turning 16 on the day of the event – with the recent MVP for England Under-18s at the Four Nations Tournament also leading Manchester Mystics at WNBL D1 level.

The rising star has a familiar face on the Team White roster as fellow Manchester guard Elizandra Costa also makes a debut after averaging 16.0 points per game in WEABL action on the North First Team, while Isobel Robinson suits up for Team Black having missed out last season through injury off the back of winning the MVP award in the WEABL Northern Conference.

Dual-sport starlet Katie Cox is back for a second appearance at the Classic ahead of potentially another summer representing her country at both basketball and football. The London Lions prospect could be playing at The O2 in the playoffs final in the lead-up, and brings a lot of versatility to the Team Black lineup.

There’s also a return to the UK for Grace Strickland after a year at Bella Vista high school in the US with the former BA guard making a long-awaited debut in the Classic. Strickland is joined on Team White by current BA player Megan Verbeeten – one of four GB U16 players from last summer included.

Forward Elia Ando, who has been a solid performer for JMA in recent seasons, rounds out the Team White lineup and could match up against Florrie Cotterill in the frontcourt as the Itchen forward who is heading to NCAA Division 1 school Wright State next season, returns for a second appearance at the Classic.

The full rosters for the Under-19 Women’s game are as follows:

Team Black

#3 Shay Oyewole, Guard, CoLA Southwark Pride
#5 Adaora Dioramma, Forward, CoLA Southwark Pride
#6 Liv Forster, Guard, Ipswich
#8 Megan Verbeeten, Guard/Forward, Barking Abbey
#12 Ayla Habbal, Guard, CoLA Southwark Pride
#13 Isobel Robinson, Forward, Manchester Mystics
#14 Katie Cox, Guard/Forward, London Lions
#17 Elia Ando, Forward, Reading Rockets
#20 Grace Strickland, Guard, Bella Vista (US)
#22 Haley Wright, Centre, Valencia (ESP)
#27 Zoe Sharpe, Guard, Caledonia Gladiators
#52 Christabel Osarobo, Forward, Ipswich

Team White

#1 Valerie Cassidy de Falco, Guard, Nottingham Wildcats
#5 Yazmin Edwards, Guard/Forward, Ipswich
#6 Elizandra Costa, Guard, Manchester Mystics
#8 Erin Powell, Forward, Leicester Riders
#9 Felicia Jacobs, Forward, CoLA Southwark Pride
#11 Violet Stutz, Guard, CoLA Southwark Pride
#12 Irene Oboavwoduo, Guard, Manchester Mystics
#14 Esther Kursite, Centre, CoLA Southwark Pride
#15 Louisa Gibbins, Forward, Ipswich
#20 Glory Kabia, Guard, CoLA Southwark Pride
#23 Florrie Cotterill, Forward, Solent Kestrels
#26 Alix McIntosh, Guard, Caledonia Gladiators

Tickets are going fast – buy yours now!

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