University of Tennessee Athletics
Jackson Invited To USA AmeriCup Trials
May 04, 2023 | Women's Basketball
Tennessee's Rickea Jackson has been invited to participate in the 2023 USA Women's AmeriCup Team trials May 11-15 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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As the USA prepares for the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup, set for July 1-9 in Leon, Mexico, 22 athletes are expected to participate in the trials.
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Players were selected by the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee, chaired by DePaul University head women's basketball coach Doug Bruno, in collaboration with Jen Rizzotti, Connecticut Sun president and chair of the USA Basketball Women's National Team Committee. Â
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Trials will be run by AmeriCup coaches Kamie Ethridge (Washington State University), Katrina Merriweather (University of Cincinnati) and Aaron Johnston (South Dakota State University).Â
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"I want to thank the committee members for their efforts in putting together such a quality group of invitees for the 2023 USA AmeriCup Team trials," Bruno said. "Trials will be a fun and challenging experience for each of these athletes, and 12 of these exceptional young athletes will depart Colorado Springs ready to embrace the challenges of international competition, where the USA will face the very best from FIBA Americas."
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The trials roster features five athletes who have claimed a combined seven gold medals as members of various USA Basketball teams. Janiah Barker is a gold medalist at the 2019 FIBA U16 Americas Championship and 2021 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup. Lauren Betts was a member of the 2019 U16 National Team and added a second gold at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup alongside Jewel Spear. Rickea Jackson secured gold at the 2019 3x3 U18 World Cup, while Charisma Osborne earned the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup title.
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"I appreciate the committee's efforts to invite such a competitive and talented group of athletes to the AmeriCup trials," Ethridge said. "I want to thank each and every player for choosing to come to trials and represent USA Basketball. We are well represented in every position with versatility, athleticism and unique skills that will allow us to adjust to the many different styles of play we may face during the competition. I am confident by the end of trials we will field a team that will proudly represent our country."
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Jackson, a rising super senior at Tennessee, earned all-tournament team honors and finished second on the squad in scoring on the previously-mentioned victorious 2019 USA 3X U18 team. She also was a finalist for the 2018 USA U17 World Cup Team and competed in the U16 National Team trials in 2017.
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Last season, she produced 19.2 ppg., 6.1 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 28.3 minutes per contest in her first season on Rocky Top, earning All-SEC First Team accolades and collecting All-American honorable mention acclaim from the WBCA, USBWA and Associated Press. Â She also made the SEC All-Tournament Team and was a Cheryl Miller Award top-five finalist after helping guide Tennessee to the SEC Tournament championship game and to the NCAA Sweet 16.
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Jackson shot career bests of 54.8 percent from the field and 79.2 percent from the free-throw line. She wound up No. 3 in scoring, No. 4 in field goal percentage, No. 5 in free throw percentage and No. 15 in rebounding in the SEC.
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Jackson accumulated 16 games with 20 points or more, ranking No. 9 at UT for both season and career totals, and she had four double-doubles. She logged eight straight contests of 20+ points, surpassing seven-game efforts by Candace Parker (2006-07) and Bridgette Gordon (1987-88). The only Lady Vol with more consecutive 20+ point performances in a row is four-time All-American Chamique Holdsclaw, who strung nine together in 1997-98.
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Following selection of the 2023 USA Women's AmeriCup Team, athletes will return to Colorado Springs for training camp in June.
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Since the event's inception in 1993, the United States has captured four AmeriCup gold medals, including titles in 2019 and 2021. In addition to the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela will participate in the 2023 FIBA AmeriCup. The draw is set to take place May 10.
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For more information about the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup, click here.
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Head Coach: Kamie Ethridge (Washington State University)
Assistant Coach: Aaron Johnston (South Dakota State University)
Assistant Coach: Katrina Merriweather (University of Cincinnati)
*as of 5/1/23
#Attended Harvard for four years; intends to complete NCAA eligibility at USC in 2023-24
%Entered transfer portal in Spring 2023
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As the USA prepares for the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup, set for July 1-9 in Leon, Mexico, 22 athletes are expected to participate in the trials.
Â
Players were selected by the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee, chaired by DePaul University head women's basketball coach Doug Bruno, in collaboration with Jen Rizzotti, Connecticut Sun president and chair of the USA Basketball Women's National Team Committee. Â
Â
Trials will be run by AmeriCup coaches Kamie Ethridge (Washington State University), Katrina Merriweather (University of Cincinnati) and Aaron Johnston (South Dakota State University).Â
Â
"I want to thank the committee members for their efforts in putting together such a quality group of invitees for the 2023 USA AmeriCup Team trials," Bruno said. "Trials will be a fun and challenging experience for each of these athletes, and 12 of these exceptional young athletes will depart Colorado Springs ready to embrace the challenges of international competition, where the USA will face the very best from FIBA Americas."
Â
The trials roster features five athletes who have claimed a combined seven gold medals as members of various USA Basketball teams. Janiah Barker is a gold medalist at the 2019 FIBA U16 Americas Championship and 2021 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup. Lauren Betts was a member of the 2019 U16 National Team and added a second gold at the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup alongside Jewel Spear. Rickea Jackson secured gold at the 2019 3x3 U18 World Cup, while Charisma Osborne earned the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup title.
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"I appreciate the committee's efforts to invite such a competitive and talented group of athletes to the AmeriCup trials," Ethridge said. "I want to thank each and every player for choosing to come to trials and represent USA Basketball. We are well represented in every position with versatility, athleticism and unique skills that will allow us to adjust to the many different styles of play we may face during the competition. I am confident by the end of trials we will field a team that will proudly represent our country."
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Jackson, a rising super senior at Tennessee, earned all-tournament team honors and finished second on the squad in scoring on the previously-mentioned victorious 2019 USA 3X U18 team. She also was a finalist for the 2018 USA U17 World Cup Team and competed in the U16 National Team trials in 2017.
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Last season, she produced 19.2 ppg., 6.1 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 28.3 minutes per contest in her first season on Rocky Top, earning All-SEC First Team accolades and collecting All-American honorable mention acclaim from the WBCA, USBWA and Associated Press. Â She also made the SEC All-Tournament Team and was a Cheryl Miller Award top-five finalist after helping guide Tennessee to the SEC Tournament championship game and to the NCAA Sweet 16.
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Jackson shot career bests of 54.8 percent from the field and 79.2 percent from the free-throw line. She wound up No. 3 in scoring, No. 4 in field goal percentage, No. 5 in free throw percentage and No. 15 in rebounding in the SEC.
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Jackson accumulated 16 games with 20 points or more, ranking No. 9 at UT for both season and career totals, and she had four double-doubles. She logged eight straight contests of 20+ points, surpassing seven-game efforts by Candace Parker (2006-07) and Bridgette Gordon (1987-88). The only Lady Vol with more consecutive 20+ point performances in a row is four-time All-American Chamique Holdsclaw, who strung nine together in 1997-98.
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Following selection of the 2023 USA Women's AmeriCup Team, athletes will return to Colorado Springs for training camp in June.
Â
Since the event's inception in 1993, the United States has captured four AmeriCup gold medals, including titles in 2019 and 2021. In addition to the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela will participate in the 2023 FIBA AmeriCup. The draw is set to take place May 10.
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For more information about the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup, click here.
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| 2023 USA WOMEN'S AMERICUP – TRIALS (ALPHABETICAL) | |||||
| NAME | POS | HGT | AGE* | SCHOOL (GRAD YEAR) | HOMETOWN |
| Janiah Barker | F | 6-4 | 19 | Texas A&M (2026) | Marietta, GA |
| Raegan Beers | F | 6-3 | 19 | Oregon State (2026) | Littleton, CO |
| Lauren Betts | C | 6-7 | 19 | UCLA (2026) | Centennial, CO |
| Makira Cook | G | 5-6 | 21 | Illinois (2024) | Cincinnati, OH |
| Dyaisha Fair | G | 5-5 | 21 | Syracuse (2023) | Rochester, NY |
| McKenzie Forbes | G/F | 6-0 | 22 | USC# (2023) | Folsom, CA |
| Chance Gray | G | 5-9 | 18 | Oregon (2026) | Cincinnati, OH |
| Abigail Hsu | G | 6-0 | 22 | Columbia (2024) | Parkland, FL |
| Rickea Jackson | F | 6-2 | 22 | Tennessee (2023) | Detroit, MI |
| Flau'jae Johnson | G | 5-10 | 19 | Louisiana State (2026) | Savannah, GA |
| Raven Johnson | G | 5-8 | 20 | South Carolina (2026) | Atlanta, GA |
| Deja Kelly | G | 5-8 | 21 | North Carolina (2024) | San Antonio, TX |
| Gianna Kneepkens | G/F | 5-11 | 20 | Utah (2025) | Duluth, MN |
| Ta'Niya Latson | G | 5-8 | 19 | Florida State (2026) | Miami, FL |
| Alexis Markowski | C | 6-3 | 19 | Nebraska (2025) | Lincoln, NE |
| Rayah Marshall | G/F | 6-4 | 20 | USC (2025) | Los Angeles, CA |
| Aneesah Morrow | F | 6-0 | 20 | TBD% (2025) | Chicago, IL |
| Charisma Osborne | G | 5-9 | 21 | UCLA (2023) | Morena Valley, CA |
| Laila Phelia | G | 5-10 | 20 | Michigan (2025) | Cincinnati, OH |
| Angel Reese | F | 6-3 | 21 | Louisiana State (2025) | Baltimore, MD |
| Emma Ronsiek | F | 6-1 | 21 | Creighton (2024) | Sioux Falls, SD |
| Jewel Spear | G | 5-10 | 21 | TBD% (2024) | The Colony, TX |
Head Coach: Kamie Ethridge (Washington State University)
Assistant Coach: Aaron Johnston (South Dakota State University)
Assistant Coach: Katrina Merriweather (University of Cincinnati)
*as of 5/1/23
#Attended Harvard for four years; intends to complete NCAA eligibility at USC in 2023-24
%Entered transfer portal in Spring 2023
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