PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL: Bourrage, Houston have basketball on their minds this week (2024)

It’s been an interesting few days for a pair of Davenport North High School girls’ basketball standouts.

Both Divine Bourrage and Journey Houston have had lifetime experiences, both very positive for the talented young ladies who are finishing their junior years.

Bourrage,the reigning Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year and a Top 10 recruit in the Class of 2025, is in Colorado Springs, Colorado, participating in the 2024 USA Basketball Women’s U18 National Team trials at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center.

Houston, who is well into her recovery from knee surgery, had her future plans thrown into a little flux when University of Iowa women’s basketball coach Lisa Bluder announced her retirement.

North coach Paul Rucker said that all is a go for Houston’s plans to become a future Hawkeye and that her commitment to her home-state university is 100% confirmed. Rucker said that Iowa coach Jan Jensen and others in the program contacted Houston to keep her informed as to what was happening among the coaching staff amidst Bluder’s sudden retirement.

The two were key players for the Wildcats during their run to an undefeated Mississippi Athletic Conference title and a 22-3 season that ended with a Class 5A state quarterfinal setback in Des Moines. Bourrage, who played all 25 games, averaged 19.8 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. In 17 games before her injury, Houston averaged 18.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

While Houston’s week revolved around off-the-court issues, Bourrage is on the court among the best players in the country trying to earn a spot representing her country.

USA Basketball invited 26 athletes to the tryouts that began Wednesday. The week will conclude with the 12-member team being selected.

The team will reconvene in Colorado Springs on June 8 for training camp in preparation for the 2024 FIBA U18 Women's AmeriCup which is scheduled for June 17-23 in Bucaramanga, Colombia.

Athletes attending trials were selected by the USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team Committee, chaired by DePaul University women’s basketball head coach Doug Bruno.

Twelve athletes represent the graduating class of 2024, while 14 represent the graduating class of 2025. Athletes eligible for this team must be U.S. citizens born on or after January 1, 2006.

The class of 2024 includes Joyce Edwards, Kayleigh Heckel, Zamareya Jones, Jordan Lee, Madisen McDaniel, Alivia McGill, Me'Arah ONeal, Arianna Roberson, Kennedy Smith, Zania Socka, Sarah Strong and Blanca Thomas.

From the class of 2025 along with Bourrage are Sienna Betts, Nyla Brooks, Kaelyn Carroll, Jasmine Davidson, Madison Francis, Layla Hays, Adelaide Jernigan, Zakiyah Johnson, Grace Knox, Leah Macy, Brynn McGaughy, Mia Pauldo and Aubrey Shaw.

Fifteen of those players have previous USA Basketball experience.

Teri Moren (Indiana University) will serve as the USA’s head coach along with assistants Jose Fernandez (University of South Florida) and Niele Ivey (University of Notre Dame).

Shea Ralph (Vanderbilt University) and Charmin Smith (University of California) are helping as court coaches during trials. Both will undertake their first USA Basketball assignments.

Ralph is a seven-time national champion as a player or coach who spent 13 seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut before being named the head coach at Vanderbilt in 2021.

Smith, who helped Stanford to three Final Fours as a player, just completed her fifth season coaching at California after previously serving as an associate and assistant coach for the Bears, Stanford and Boston College.

The 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup features eight teams. Recently, FIBA announced that the U.S. drew Group B with Brazil, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The USA will tip off competition June 17 vs. Brazil followed by games against Puerto Rico (June 18) and Mexico (June 19).

The USA women own 11 of 13 U18 gold medals and 10 consecutive dating back to 2000. The top four teams will earn a berth to the 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup.