North Carolina Central University

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

        COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 17, 2004) - North Carolina Central University head women's basketball coach Joli Robinson is among a trio of collegiate head coaches selected by the USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee to serve as court coaches at the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Trials held June 20-23 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
        The Trials court coaching staff, including Will Flemons, representing NAIA's Wayland Baptist University (Texas), Kim McQuarter of NJCAA's Malcom X College (Ill.) and Robinson, who has established herself as the winningest Lady Eagle basketball coach in her eight years at NCCU, is responsible for conducting drills, coaching scrimmages and working with players who will be vying for spots on the 2004 USA Junior World Championship Qualifying Team.
        The 2004 Trials will feature approximately 30 of the nation's top 18-year-old and younger players (born on or after Jan. 1, 1986) and will be used to select finalists for the 2004 USA Basketball Women's Junior World Championship Qualifying Team. Team finalists will regroup in Denver for training camp July 22-28, where the eventual 12-member team will be announced. Following three days of training in Florida at a site to be determined July 29-31, the 2004 USA Junior National Team will travel to Mauagquez, Puerto Rico, for the Aug. 4-8 FIBA Americas Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament. The top three finishing teams will earn qualifying berths to the 2005 FIBA Junior World Championship, slated to be played in Tunisia in July.
        Eighteen of the Trials athletes have been announced, with the remaining being selected following the June 16-20 USA Women's Youth Development Festival. Included on the Trials roster are: Matee Ajavon (Malcolm X Shabazz/Irvington, N.J.), Nicky Anosike (St. Peter's For Girls/Staten Island, N.Y.), Essence Carson (Paterson Eastside/Paterson, N.J.), Quianna Chaney (Southern U. Lab /Baton Rouge, La.), Sybil Dosty (Salpointe Catholic/Tucson, Ariz.), Laura Harper (Cheltenham/Elkins Park, Pa.), Charde' Houston (San Diego/San Diego, Calif.), Tyeisha Jackson (Westfield/Humble, Texas), Laura Kurz (Germantown Academy/Lower Gwynedd, Pa.), Crystal Langhorne (Willingboro/Willingboro, N.J.), Erlana Larkins (North Palm Beach/Riviera Beach, Fla.), Candace Parker (Naperville Central/Naperville, Ill.), Cissy Pierce (Heritage/ Littleton, Colo.), Lindsey Pluimer (San Clemente/San Clemente, Calif.), Erica White (Riabault /Jacksonville, Fla.), Khadijiah Whittington (Woodrow Wilson/Portsmouth, Va.), Candice Wiggins (LaJolla Country Day /Poway, Calif.), and Sharnee' Zoll (Highland Regional/Blackwood, N.J.).
        Following on the heels of the 2004 USA Youth Development Festival (June 16-20), the first Trials session will be held on Sunday, June 20 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. (all times are MDT).  Two sessions will be held each day on Monday, June 21 and Tuesday, June 22.  The first session each day will be held from 9:00-11:00 a.m. and the second will take place from 5:00-7:00 p.m.
        The U.S. juniors boast a 19-2 record at this particular qualifying event, held every four years dating back to 1988, and have captured two gold and two silver medals.  In 2000, at the most recent Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament, a USA Basketball team piloted by University of Connecticut's Geno Auriemma and featuring players like Alana Beard and Diana Taurasi collected the gold medal with a perfect 5-0 record.

Joli Robinson
        Taking the reigns of the North Carolina Central program in 1996-97, in her eight seasons as head coach, Robinson has compiled a 116-109 record, becoming the winningest coach in program history. Additionally, in the 27 years women's basketball has been played at NCCU, Robinson was at the helm for all three of the Lady Eagles' 20-win seasons.
        Robinson spent the first two years building her program at NCCU.  In 1998-99 her squad rolled up more victories than any other women's basketball team ever had at the school, and her team's 20-7 finish was a remarkable turn-around from the 8-19 record posted in 1997-98.  Her team earned the 1999 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Western Division regular season title, and Robinson was tabbed the '99 CIAA Coach of the Year.
        Her 2000-01 Lady Eagles squad set a new school standard for victories with a 25-6 record, while once again capturing the CIAA Western Division regular season crown.  Robinson accomplished something no other women's team at NCCU had ever done - win a game in the NCAA Division II Tournament - en route to advancing to the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional Championships and she was again selected as the CIAA Coach of the Year. Robinson's work at NCCU also received notice at the national level as she was named the 2001 Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division II District Coach of the Year.
        Rolling up a 24-7 record in 2001-02, Robinson's NCCU squad advanced to the 2002 Sweet Sixteen after winning the CIAA Western Division regular season championship and playing in the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional Championships.
        Robinson arrived at NCCU after serving six years (1990-91 through 1995-96) as the head girls basketball coach at Independence High School in Charlotte (N.C.), where she posted a 95-56 record.  While at Independence, Robinson's squads earned the 1993 and 1994 conference titles and in 1994 she was named the conference Coach of the Year.  Additionally, she was honored with the 1994 North Carolina High School Athletic Association Regional USAir Sportsmanship Award.

Will Flemons
        A six-year (1996-97, 1999-2000 to present) collegiate coaching veteran, Flemins recently completed his inaugural season as the women's basketball head coach at Wayland Baptist, finishing with an 18-14 record and advancing his squad to the NAIA Tournament.
        Flemons began coaching women's basketball as an assistant at Bucknell University (Pa.) during the 2001-02 season, a year that saw the Bisons go 21-10, capture the Patriot League Tournament crown and advance to the program's first NCAA Tournament.  He returned to his Texas roots as an assistant in 2002-03 for Southwest Texas State University squad that posted an 18-4 record, won the Southland Conference Tournament and competed in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history.
        A 1993 graduate of Texas Tech University, Flemons served two stints as a men's assistant on the sidelines at his alma mater.  His first came in the 1996-97 season, when Flemons aided the Red Raiders to a 19-9 record.  Following two years (1997-98 through 1998-99) as the Athletic Director and head boys basketball coach at Lubbock's (Texas) All Saints Episcopal School, Flemons spent an additional two seasons (1999-2000 through 2000-01) as one of TTU head coach James Dickey's assistant coaches before taking the position at Bucknell.
        A two-time Southwest Conference Player of the Year (1992 and 1993), Flemons as a senior aided Texas Tech to an 18-12 record, the SWC Tournament title and a trip to the 1993 NCAA Tournament. During his tenure on the hardwood, Flemons collected numerous accolades, including 1992 and 1993 All-SWC Tournament Team, 1992 and 1993 All-SWC first team, 1990 SWC All-Freshman, 1990 SWC All-Newcomer and 1990 SWC Freshman of the Year honors. Recording 1,604 points, 934 rebounds and 109 blocked shots during his career, Flemons currently ranks eighth, fourth and third on those all-time career lists, respectively.

Kimberly McQuarter
        The head coach at Malcom X since the 2000-01 season, McQuarter returns to USA Basketball after playing for the 1985 U.S. Olympic Festival North Team that won the bronze medal.
        After spending a pair of rebuilding years at Malcom X, McQuarter in 2002-03 piloted her squad to a 24-9 record and a No. 1 finish in her conference, district and region. For her efforts, McQuarter was honored as the district and conference Coach of the Year. Starting off the 2003-04 season with a NJCAA No. 21 ranking, her squad was ranked as high as 15 in the nation during a season which saw her post a 25-6 record.  She again claimed the district and conference championship, as well as conference Coach of the Year honors.
        McQuarter started coaching collegiately as an assistant at Loyola University (Ill.), where she was on the sidelines for two years (1993-94 through 1994-95), before being named the head coach at Chicago State University (Ill.). She served in that capacity at Chicago State for three-plus seasons (1995-96 through 1998), before leaving the program in Dec. 1998.
        A four-year (1985-86 through 1988-89) letterwinner and two-year starter at Old Dominion University (Va.), McQuarter helped the Monarchs to a trio of NCAA Tournaments, including the 1987 Sweet Sixteen, as well as the 1987 Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship.  Named to the 1989 All-Sun Belt second team, McQuarter assisted ODU to a 73-47 record, while compiling 1,274 points, which ranks 19th all-time among ODU career scorers.

USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee
        The USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee is chaired by University of Texas Director of Women's Athletics and Athletics External Services, Chris Plonsky, and comprised of NAIA designee Stephanie Findley (head coach, Oklahoma Christian University); NCAA appointees Sue Donohoe (Vice-President for Division I Women's Basketball, NCAA); Elaine Elliott (head coach, University of Utah), Gail Goestenkors (head coach, Duke University, N.C.), and Willette White (head coach, Northeastern University, Mass.); representing the NJCAA is Mary Ellen Leicht (Assistant Executive Director, NJCAA); Muffet McGraw (head coach, University of Notre Dame, Ind.) was appointed by the WBCA; and Teresa Edwards (2000, 1996, 1992, 1988 and 1984 Olympian, 1994, 1990 and 1986 World Championship teams / Smyrna, Ga.) and Vickie Orr-Wiley (1992 Olympic bronze medalist, 1990 World Championship gold medalist / Birmingham, Ala.) are the athlete representatives. The Collegiate Sub-Committee which will select players from the Youth Development Festival that will join the 18 announced players participating in the Trials includes Donohoe, Findley and Leicht.
 

2004 USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Trials Coaching Staff

2004 USA Basketball Women's Junior World Championship Qualifying Team Coaches
Head Coach: Ceal Barry, University of Colorado
Assistant Coach: Lea Henry, Georgia State University
Assistant Coach: Carolyn Peck, University of Florida

2004 USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Trials Court Coaches
Will Flemins, Wayland Baptist University (Texas)
Kim McQuarter, Malcom X College (Illinois)
Joli Robinson, North Carolina Central University

For further information contact Craig Miller, Caroline Williams, Dana Rozum or Pete Sousa at USA Basketball (719) 590-4800. USA Basketball Press Release (PDF)