Seimone Augustus, LSU’s National Freshman of the Year, began practice Monday with the United States Basketball World Team.
Augustus, the 6-foot-1-inch guard/forward finished her first year at LSU with 14.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
“It is great for Seimone,” said women’s head basketball coach Sue Gunter. “This is one of those opportunities she has worked so hard for, and it will help her gain valuable experience and maturity.”
Augustus, a Baton Rouge native, joined the 12-member team after a three-day tryout with 58 of the nation’s top collegiate players.
The team will train this week in Colorado Springs, Colo., New York and Boston and will begin competition in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Championships for Young Women on July 25 in Sibenik, Croatia.
“She’s a very strong and bright player,” Gunter said.
Gunter said Augustus’s age also made her stand out among the competition at tryouts.
“She’s one of the youngest players,” Gunter said. “They like to take some of the young players and give them experience.”
Gunter said Augustus’ selection on the world team was great for both Augustus and the University.
Selected as an alternate to the world team was LSU’s starting point guard Temeka Johnson from New Orleans.
Johnson is one of six alternates, one for each position, ready to play in case of injury.
Gunter said the United States is sending two teams to the World Championships, an older team and a younger team, and Johnson could fill in for either team.
Johnson, who played in the 2003 NCAA National Championships with two broken bones in her face, finished her junior year averaging 20 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. She also was named Most Valuable Player in the 2003 Southeastern Conference Tournament.
“Temeka played very well during the trials, but there was a lot of competition at her position,” Gunter said. “It is a great honor to be selected as an alternate considering how many players began competing for the spots on the teams.”
Gunter said Johnson’s size, 5 feet 3 inches, was not a factor in her placement at alternate.
“It was specifically a position-type thing,” Gunter said. “She’s proven to everybody that she can play against anybody.”