COLORADO SPRINGS (FIBA U17 World Championship for Women) - Asia Durr looks set to headline the USA team that will be tasked with delivering a third consecutive FIBA U17 World Championship for Women title when they line up next month in Czech Republic.

Durr was crowned MVP at the 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Women after finishing as top scorer of the event and was one of the 12 players to make the final cut from an initial pool of 145 players bidding to grab a spot for the holders.

Although while she was widely predicted to be in the shake-up, Durr took nothing for granted during the trials process and was as relieved as anybody to make it.

"There were times where I felt like I didn't play too well. But, I think I still stayed on top of it, still did the small things, which led to big things," she said.

"I felt pretty good, but this time I was more nervous. I prayed and prayed, and I'm so happy I made the team.

"Tears came to my eyes, that's the first thing I did. It's just a feeling of joy," she added after hearing she had been included.

Now Durr is looking forward to re-acquainting herself with head coach Sue Phillips.

"Maybe knowing that last year coach Sue wanted me to constantly push the ball up the floor, hopefully I can score some buckets for the team and just help my team-mates get better," said Durr.

She was also keen to offer some pointers for those of her team-mates pulling on a USA shirt for the first time.

"I'd tell them that the game is physical," she claimed.

"You get pushed down. So, I'd tell them to be ready because girls are going to be out there trying to knock you down, trying to fight for the gold."

The final roster also incorporates five other gold medallists from Cancun, as well as six players who were selected to their first USA Basketball national team.

"I am so excited," added coach Phillips.

"This group of participants was extremely talented, very coachable and worked so hard.

"I knew whichever 12 the committee decided on, we were going to have a very competitive team. We're going to do our best to win the gold medal."

Meanwhile Carol Callan, USA Basketball women's national team director and chair of the USA Basketball Women's Developmental National Team Committee, which is responsible for selecting the players was also satisfied with the outcome of the process.

"Given the large numbers and the incredible talent at these trials, it was a challenge for the committee to make the decision," she declared.

"However, given that quality of talent, in many ways there was no way we could fail at picking a good team, and we certainly think that we've done that.

"It's a very versatile team with good size, good speed and quickness and good basketball smarts.

"So, we are really excited to see how they perform."

USA full roster for 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women: Asia Durr, DeJanae Boykin, Lauren Cox, Nancy Mulkey, Arike Ogunbowale, Katie Lou Samuelson, Kristine Anigwe, Kennedy Burke, Natalie Chou, Te'a Cooper, Joyner Holmes and Anna Wilson.

After re-assembling at a training camp, the players will depart on 18 June for an exhibition tournament in Nogent sur Seine, France.

USA will then face China, France and Mali in Group D.

FIBA