When the women’s Under-19 U.S. national basketball team departs today from Dulles Airport for next week’s world championships in Bratislava, Slovakia, they’ll take with them two of the Washington area’s brightest recent stars, Virginia rising sophomore Monica Wright (Forest Park High) and Duke incoming freshman Jasmine Thomas (Oakton High).
There will be one conspicuous absence, however, former Riverdale Baptist standout Demauria Liles, who was one of the last two players cut as the roster was trimmed from 14 to 12 after practices last weekend in the nation’s capital.
But just to be considered was proof enough that Liles, who spent last year at Gulf Coast Community College after failing to qualify academically for Maryland last fall, is far from through with her basketball career.
“It’s been hectic,” said Liles, who hasn’t been home since moving to the Florida panhandle. “I’ve been away from home, and had to adjust to that. I was homesick, playing without my mom in the stands yelling — all that stuff. I just had to grow up on my own.”
She was supposed to be part of the Terrapins’ first recruiting class following their 2005 championship, but instead the 6-foot-2 Suitland native has one more season to go with the Commodores, who are improving her half-court game but helping her stay on course with her studies as she prepares for the jump to Division I.
“She’s still athletic, her work ethic is still awesome,” said Wright, one of Liles’ former AAU teammates. “It’s still the way it has been. I just see her wanting more, to get better.”
Liles said her plan is still to return to College Park next year, but with her recruitment reopened, she wants to hear what other programs might think.
Wright wasn’t interested in coaxing her friend to consider Charlottesville.
“I don’t have to recruit her,” said Wright. “She always has a home with me.”
2007 FIBA Under-19 World Championships
» July 26 – Aug. 5, Bratislava, Slovakia
Group B
U.S. vs. Ivory Coast, July 26
U.S. vs. China, July 27
U.S. vs. Lithuania, July 28
