Linnae Harper to play for USA at U-19 World Championships

Linnae Harper. Photo courtesy of USA Basketball.

Staff report | @KyKernelSports

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UK Hoops freshman guard Linnae Harper has been included in the USA squad for the 2013 U-19 World Championships.

Harper discovered she had made the team at the end of four days of try-outs at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“Just being here the last day, everyone was anxious and ready to hear their name called,” Harper said in a USA Basketball press release. “Every year I’ve been here I’m always nervous, my stomach feels like it is dropping and spinning, lack of rest, then to hear my name called was a big relief. I was so excited.”

The 5-foot-8 guard out of Whitney Young (Chicago) High School has previously represented her country at the U-16, U-17 and U-18 level.

“This is another opportunity to represent our country and be with another group of girls I’ve never played with, a mixture of college and high school, and I really can’t wait to spend a nice month with them,” Harper said.

USA will open the 2013 World Championships against tournament  hosts Lithuania on July 18.

The gold medal game will be played on July 28.

USA roster for 2013 U-19 World Championships

Candice Agee (Penn State/Victorville, Calif.)

Nia Coffey (Hopkins H.S./ Minneapolis, Minn.)

Bashaara Graves (Tennessee/Clarksville, Tenn.)

Gabby Green (St. Mary’s College H.S./Oakland, Calif.)

Linnae Harper (Whitney Young H.S./Chicago, Ill.)

Moriah Jefferson (Connecticut/Glenn Heights, Texas)

Alexis Jones (Duke/Irving, Texas)

Kelsey Plum (La Jolla Country Day/Poway, Calif.)

Breanna Stewart (Connecticut/North Syracuse, N.Y.)

Morgan Tuck (Connecticut/Bolingbrook, Ill.)

Brianna Turner (Manvel H.S./Pearland, Texas)

A’ja Wilson (Heathwood Hall H.S./Hopkins, S.C.).