Three from Tennessee selected to USA Basketball Women's U17 national team trials

Austin Chastain, Jackson Sun
·1 min read

Tennessee will be well represented with three players at USA Basketball Women’s U17 National Team Trials.

The trials will determine the 12-member team for the 2024 FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup, scheduled for July 13-21 in Mexico.

In all, 44 players were selected for the trials, which begin May 23 at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The roster was announced Tuesday.

Here are the three girls players Tennessee at the USA Basketball Women’s U17 National Team Trials.

USJ's Haylen Ayers (20) draws a foul call on Goodpasture's Addi Ruffin (3) during the 2024 BlueCross Girls Division II Class A State Championship match between Goodpasture and USJ in Hooper Eblen Center in Cookeville, Tenn., on Saturday, Mar. 2, 2024.
USJ's Haylen Ayers (20) draws a foul call on Goodpasture's Addi Ruffin (3) during the 2024 BlueCross Girls Division II Class A State Championship match between Goodpasture and USJ in Hooper Eblen Center in Cookeville, Tenn., on Saturday, Mar. 2, 2024.

Haylen Ayers

University School of Jackson | 6-foot-1 | Freshman | Guard

Ayers was The Jackson Sun’s All-West Tennessee player of the year in leading the Bruins to their first state TSSAA Division II-A championship in school history. Ayers averaged 20 points and seven rebounds per game this season.

This is the second time Ayers will participate in the trials, and she competed in the USA Basketball Women’s minicamp in Portland in March.

Clarksville Christian's Lauren Hassell (44) grabs a rebound and goes up for a shot against Clarksville's Imari Berry (2) and Brystal Calhoun (12) in the first half during their high school basketball game Friday, Jan. 13, 2023 at Clarksville Christian School in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Clarksville Christian's Lauren Hassell (44) grabs a rebound and goes up for a shot against Clarksville's Imari Berry (2) and Brystal Calhoun (12) in the first half during their high school basketball game Friday, Jan. 13, 2023 at Clarksville Christian School in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Lauren Hassell

Clarksville Christian | 6-3 | Freshman | Forward

Hassell was instrumental in the Centurions’ TISSA state championship run, leading to an appearance in the National Association of Christian Athletes national tournament. Hassell averaged 19.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.6 steals per game this season.

This marks Hassell’s second trip to the national team trials.

Cleveland's guard Lauren Hurst (11) grabs a rebound under Bartlett basket during a TSSAA high school girls basketball Semifinal Class 4-A game, on Friday, March 8, 2024.
Cleveland's guard Lauren Hurst (11) grabs a rebound under Bartlett basket during a TSSAA high school girls basketball Semifinal Class 4-A game, on Friday, March 8, 2024.

Lauren Hurst

Cleveland | 6-2 | Junior | Guard/forward

Hurst averaged 14.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.7 blocks per game for the Blue Raiders on their way to the TSSAA Class 4A state semifinals.

This is Hurst’s first appearance with USA Basketball.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Three from Tennessee picked for USA Basketball Women's U17 team trials