TEMPE, Ariz. – Former Arizona State University women’s basketball players Joy Burke and Deja Mann are among a 10-member USA Women’s All-Star Team that departed for China today to compete in a pair of international tournaments.
The team, organized and coached by NetScouts Basketball, will play a round-robin format in three cities for a total of nine games. The team will first play three games in Shenzhen, Guangdong against the national teams of New Zealand, Denmark and China. They will then head to Nan’an, Fujian Province and then to Jiangxi Province to play a total of six games against national teams of Australia, Slovenia and China.
The team will play its first game in China on April 20th and return to the United States on May 2nd.
Both Burke and Mann played important roles in ASU’s success in 2013-14 as the Sun Devils won 23 games and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Burke played in every game in 2013-14 and scored in double figures 12 times (scored career-high 22 points vs. Oregon) and recorded double figures in rebounds four times (grabbed career-high 15 rebounds vs. Oregon). She concluded the season first on the team in field goal percentage (51.4) and third in rebounding (4.8 rpg).
Named All-Pac-12 by both the coaches and media, Mann started every game last season and concluded the campaign as the team’s leader in scoring (11.1 ppg), 3-pointers (50) and free throw percentage (86.7), was third in assists (2.1 apg) and was the team’s top rebounding guard (3.2 rpg - fourth on the team). She scored in double figures 21 times and connected on three or more 3-pointers eight times.
In addition to Burke and Mann, also selected for the team were Oregon G Ariel Thomas, SMU G Alisha Filmore, Nevada G Arielle Wideman, San Diego G Amy Kame, Illinois G/F Amber Moore, UC Irvine F Camille Buckley, Indiana F Tabitha Gerardot, and Cal Poly C Molly Schlemer.
NetScouts Basketball organizes and coaches All-Star Men’s and Women’s teams which represent the USA in international basketball competition. This enables highly successful players who have recently completed their eligibility to represent their country, get experience playing international basketball and provide an amazing cultural experience.
Other former Sun Devils who have played on the team in recent years include Kali Bennett and Becca Tobin.