Because of Jeff Walz/Hailey Van Lith, a lot of discussion this weekend about Caitlin Clark's 2019 USA Basketball U-19 team (coached by Walz). Even by USA Basketball standards, that team was loaded. I have no doubt that the people who select many young USA basketball teams look amazingly prescient in hindsight, but the college performance of the 12 (13) players picked for the 2019 USA basketball WBB U-19 team is truly amazing. It includes 4 players who would win a National POY award:
Paige Bueckers (2021 AP, Naismith, USBWA, Wooden; First Team AA; Big East POY)
NaLyssa Smith (2021 Wade/Honda; 2-time AP First Team AA; 2-time Big 12 POY)
Aliyah Boston (2022 National POY [all selectors]; 3-time AP/USBWA First Team AA; 2-time SEC POY; 4-time SEC D POY)
Caitlin Clark (2023 National POY [consensus? all major selectors? TBD]; 3-time USBWA First Team AA; 2-time Big 10 POY)
The 2019 U-19 team included 3 others who would win a major conference POY award, in addition to AA honors, and 2 who would a major conference defensive POY award:
Rhyne Howard (3-time AP/USBWA First Team AA; 2-time SEC POY)
Naz Hillmon (2-time USBWA First Team AA; Big Ten POY)
Ashley Joens (2-time USBWA 2nd Team AA; Big 12 POY)
Cameron Brink (AP/USBWA Second Team AA; 2-time Pac 12 D POY)
Celeste Taylor (ACC First Team All Conference; ACC D POY)
The entire 2022 5-player USBWA First Team All American Team came from this team (Boston, Clark, Hillmon, Howard & Smith)
Others on the U-19 team included:
Diamond Miller (AP/USBWA Second Team AA) (replaced NyLassa Smith on U-19 team after injury concerns)
Hailey Van Lith (2-time ACC First Team All Conference; Honorable Mention AA)
Queen Egbo (Big 12 Sixth POY)
Francesca Belibi (8th player to dunk in NCAA WBB; had third dunk in WBB NCAA Tourney)
Paige Bueckers (2021 AP, Naismith, USBWA, Wooden; First Team AA; Big East POY)
NaLyssa Smith (2021 Wade/Honda; 2-time AP First Team AA; 2-time Big 12 POY)
Aliyah Boston (2022 National POY [all selectors]; 3-time AP/USBWA First Team AA; 2-time SEC POY; 4-time SEC D POY)
Caitlin Clark (2023 National POY [consensus? all major selectors? TBD]; 3-time USBWA First Team AA; 2-time Big 10 POY)
The 2019 U-19 team included 3 others who would win a major conference POY award, in addition to AA honors, and 2 who would a major conference defensive POY award:
Rhyne Howard (3-time AP/USBWA First Team AA; 2-time SEC POY)
Naz Hillmon (2-time USBWA First Team AA; Big Ten POY)
Ashley Joens (2-time USBWA 2nd Team AA; Big 12 POY)
Cameron Brink (AP/USBWA Second Team AA; 2-time Pac 12 D POY)
Celeste Taylor (ACC First Team All Conference; ACC D POY)
The entire 2022 5-player USBWA First Team All American Team came from this team (Boston, Clark, Hillmon, Howard & Smith)
Others on the U-19 team included:
Diamond Miller (AP/USBWA Second Team AA) (replaced NyLassa Smith on U-19 team after injury concerns)
Hailey Van Lith (2-time ACC First Team All Conference; Honorable Mention AA)
Queen Egbo (Big 12 Sixth POY)
Francesca Belibi (8th player to dunk in NCAA WBB; had third dunk in WBB NCAA Tourney)
