UTC guard Keiana Gilbert (20) shoots around Pittsburgh forward Monica Wignot (24) in the 2nd half of the Mocs’ NCAA tournament basketball game against the Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday, March 21, 2015, at the Thompson-Boling Arena in KnoxvilleTwo players who played a role in the notable success of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s basketball team during the 2014-15 season will have the opportunity to do the same thing at a much higher level this summer.
It was announced Wednesday that rising junior forward Jasmine Joyner and sophomore forward Keiana Gilbert have been invited to try out for 2015 USA Basketball teams. Joyner is one of 54 of the nation’s best women’s collegiate players who will compete for spots on both the Pan American Games and World University Games teams, while Gilbert is one of 34 vying to make the U-19 World Championship team.
“I am excited these two young players get the opportunity to play with and against the best players that the country has to offer in their age groups,” UTC coach Jim Foster said in a school release. The Hall of Fame coach is the chair of the USA women’s basketball junior national team committee.
Although it’s not the first time UTC has had a player selected for a tryout, it is the first time the program has had two players in the same year. Damita Bullock was invited and accepted in 2002, while Alex Anderson earned a spot in the tryouts in 2008.
“I think that having two players selected shows that UTC has grown as a program,” Gilbert said Wednesday. “We’re developing some great players here.”
The tryouts are being held May 14-17 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
UTC forward Jasmine Joyner (3) blocks a shot by Pittsburgh forward Stasha Carey (35) in their NCAA tournament basketball game against the Pittsburgh Panthers on March 21, 2015, at the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.“Just being able to be invited, it’s a big opportunity to compete against talented girls,” Joyner said Wednesday. “I’m going to give it my best.”
Joyner, who averaged 12 points, 8.2 rebounds, four blocked shots and 1.2 steals a game for the Mocs in 2014-15, was named the most valuable player of the Southern Conference tournament. She said her first instinct when hearing about the selection a couple of weeks ago was to “get in the gym.”
“I’m trying to become a better player, so I’m looking forward to the experience,” she said. “To be able to say I tried out is big. I’m going to work hard, represent for Chattanooga, go out and have fun.”
She said one of her biggest fears is somehow missing her flight, as it will be her first time flying.
Gilbert, a versatile player at 5-foot-11, averaged 10.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists. She called the invitation a great opportunity to play against some of the best, elite players in the nation in her age group.
She said ball-handling and shooting are a couple of things she’s working on in the days leading up to the trials.
“I’m really hoping to gain experience and be seen,” Gilbert said Wednesday. “It’s going to be a great learning experience for me and will push me to work even harder.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.