Incoming UConn freshman Amari DeBerry trying out for U.S. U-19 team

May 14—Amari DeBerry said she has "tripled-up at school" in order to finish requirements for her high school graduation in time to start summer-session classes at UConn at the end of the month.

Another part of her education comes on the basketball court this weekend as the 6-foot-5 center takes part in USA Basketball's U-19 national team trials this weekend at Metro State Univ-ersity in Denver.

"I've been doing my regular workouts and switching from the regular ball to the FIBA ball, just working on my whole game to be ready," DeBerry said Thursday. "I do all my classes online and when I'm not doing that I'm in the gym two or three hours a day.

"Playing against older people at the trials will help me and my game. I have experience having been part of a USA Basketball team before so I can help out other players on how USA Basketball works. I'm excited for this opportunity."

Twenty-five players — including DeBerry, fellow UConn incoming freshman Azzi Fudd, and Huskies' Class of 2022 commit Ayanna Patterson — started the trials today that continue through Sunday. The 12-player team will take part in the FIBA U-19 World Cup scheduled for Aug. 7-15 in Debrecen, Hungary.

DeBerry, from Buffalo, New York, represented her country at the 2019 FIBA Americas U-16 Championship, averaging 5.3 points and 3.2 rebounds per game to help Team USA to a 6-0 record and a gold medal.

"I learned a lot then that should help me here," DeBerry said. "To make this team it's going to be about me giving my all, showing leadership, and showing that I can be a team player."

Rated the No. 15 recruit in the Class of 2021 by ESPN, DeBerry committed to UConn in November 2019 and signed her letter of intent a year later. She earned All-State honors for a second time as a junior at Williamsville South High and was named a McDonald's All-American as a senior.

But her senior year was like no other due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She has taken all her classes online and her graduation ceremony is June 27.

"We didn't have some of the things you look forward to your senior year, but fortunately I have a great support system that helped make the best of it," DeBerry said.

One thing she did have was a basketball season, though a shortened one. Williamsville South played a 14-game regular season schedule but did not take part in sectional play after a team member tested positive for the coronavirus.

"But we did pretty well," DeBerry said. "We always had a target on our backs because of our success. With my commitment to UConn it made the target a little bigger but you do what you have to do. We had a younger team, we had five seniors graduate from last year, so I tried to help them through it with my experience."

The two months since the season end were spent working on her game for the trials and for when she gets to Storrs on May 30 to join her college teammates. DeBerry watched the Huskies play on television when she didn't have her own game. She was in San Antonio for an all-star game in early April and was at the Alamodome for UConn's loss to Arizona in the Final Four semifinals.

"I sometimes get a little nervous when I think about leaving home," DeBerry said. "But when I do I talk to my mom and sister and they remind me that I'm going to go there to play basketball and have fun. It's what I want to do.

"I'm friends with the other freshmen already and I'm excited to get to meet and play with the older girls and build a trust and a bond with them on and off the court."

Patterson coming of age

Patterson is one of two rising high school seniors at the trials. The other is Stanford commit Lauren Betts.

"I'm extremely excited to be with these high-level athletes,' Patterson said. "It will be an adjustment going against players who are headed to college or who have already played a year of college. I've worked hard in training to get in shape to try and make the team. I'll need to do the little things that maybe others are not so willing to do."

Patterson, a 6-2 wing from Fort Wayne, Indiana, committed to UConn in March. She is rated the No. 3 recruit in the Class of 2022 by ESPNW. This is her second try and making a USA team. She participated in the 2019 U-16 national team trials.

A bonus this weekend is she'll get to compete alongside DeBerry and Fudd.

"I'm looking forward to connecting with them and talking to them and picking their brains," Patterson said.

Team USA is coached by UCLA's Cori Close, who is familiar with Patterson as the Bruins were one of her finalists during the recruiting process.

Stewart gets own shoe

Puma announced Wednesday the signing of former UConn star Breanna Stewart to its roster. As part of the long-term deal, Stewart will receive her own signature shoe.

"We share a vision to grow the sport and welcome everyone — specifically women and girls — globally," Stewart said in a statement. "The genuine investment Puma has shown to collaborate with and activate around women, including the commitment to a signature performance shoe, is something that I hope serves to raise the expectations and standards of the generations of basketball players who follow me."

Stewart will serve as a brand ambassador both on and off the court and will play a vital role in assisting the growth of Puma's business by collaborating and creating products, including her signature shoe, the company added.

For coverage of all sports in the JI's 18-town coverage area, plus updates on the UConn women's basketball team and head coach Geno Auriemma, follow Carl Adamec on Twitter: @CarlAdamec, Facebook: Carl Adamec, and Instagram: @CarlAdamec.