Speed Tabbed to USA Basketball U18 National Team
Jun 12 | Women's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Incoming Rutgers freshman Nikki Speed (Pasadena, Calif.) was selected to the USA Basketball Women's U18 National Team, it was announced today.
Following three days of trials at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Speed was one of 12 named to the national team from a pool of 35 of the nation's best 18-year olds and younger. The field of 35 included future RU players, Jasmine Dixon (Long Beach, Calif.) and April Sykes (Crawford, Miss.).
"I was blessed to be here and to make the team is a real honor," Speed said of the selection.
Speed will return to Colorado Springs for training camp in mid-July before departing for the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, July 23-27 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The 5-9 guard competed at the 2007 USA Basketball Women's Youth Development Festival, establishing an all-time Festival record for assists (27). The California native was tabbed a USA Today All-USA second team honoree and was a third team Parade Magazine pick.
Speed shared the John Wooden MVP award at the girls' McDonald's All-American game in March with another incoming freshman, Brookilyn Pope. Speed scored nine points and added four assists and two steals in the West team victory. She averaged 11.8 points for the Marlborough Mustangs this past season.
