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Crystal Dangerfield headlines USA U19 World Cup team

By Mike Peden

UNCASVILLE, CT - MARCH 06: UConn Huskies guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) and USF Bulls guard Laia Flores (22) in action during the first half of the American Athletic Conference Women's championship game between USF Bulls and UConn Huskies on March 6, 2017, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. UConn defeated USF 100-44 and wins the American Athletic Championship. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CT - MARCH 06: UConn Huskies guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) and USF Bulls guard Laia Flores (22) in action during the first half of the American Athletic Conference Women's championship game between USF Bulls and UConn Huskies on March 6, 2017, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. UConn defeated USF 100-44 and wins the American Athletic Championship. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Crystal Dangerfield has to wait another year for a chance at a national collegiate championship with UConn, but she’ll have an opportunity to pick up some hardware this summer.

On Sunday, USA Basketball unveiled their U19 roster, and Dangerfield was one of 12 athletes to land a spot. The team will compete in the FIBA U19 World Cup for Women in July, with the tournament taking place in Udine, Italy.

“I think we have what it takes to be very competitive. I think we are going to have a lot of energy, and we’ll be able to get up and down to score a lot of points, and defend on top of that,” Dangerfield said in a release published by USA Basketball.

Dangerfield’s remarks are valid. Joining her for the summer tournament are Bella Alarie, Jeannie Boehm, Chennedy Carter, Tyasha Harris, Ruthy Hebard, Joyner Holmes, Kayla Overbeck, Reili Richardson, Alecia Sutton, Megan Walker, and Christyn Williams. Suzie McConnell-Serio of Pittsburgh will be the head coach.

Every name is sure to be a rising talent in the coming years, but there is no shortage of experience. Harris brings a championship pedigree, helping South Carolina win their first NCAA title this spring. She is also one of five returning players from last year’s U18 team.

“The committee put together a team we feel very confident in, in their skill-set, in the energy that they will bring in representing the United States and the pride they will have in doing so,” McConnell-Serio said.

Dangerfield’s inclusion makes her the fifth athlete to earn a spot on two U19 squads. The others are Alexis Jones, Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and A’ja Wilson. History has proven highly favorable to players with such a distinction; Jones, Stewart and Tuck are all playing in the WNBA, and Wilson could be the top overall pick in next year’s draft.

Training camp for the U19 team begins on July 7. The tournament is slated to start July 22. Prominence for the younger divisions of international hoops is lower compared to the Olympics and other national team gatherings, but the opportunity to learn is invaluable.

“I’m definitely gaining a lot of basketball knowledge and a lot of friends. It makes you a better player to be playing against and with the best players in the world,” Alarie said.

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