Ka’Lia Johnson didn’t make the USA Women’s U16 national basketball team, but she recently returned from three days of trials determined to get a future invitation. “Hopefully, the next time I go back, I’ll be wearing the USA jersey,“ Johnson said. The rising junior at Thomas Dale High was one of 34 players invited to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., to compete for 12 spots. The team will play against seven national teams from North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean in the first FIBA Americas U16 championship Aug. 10-14 in Mexico. The top three teams qualify for the 2010 FIBA U17 world championship next summer in France.

Two-time girls All-Metro basketball first-teamer Ka’lia Johnson of Thomas Dale has committed to Duke University. Johnson, a 5-9 sophomore guard, was the Central District and Central Region player of the year after averaging 17 points for the Knights, who finished 24-2 and were ranked No. 2 in The Times-Dispatch Top 10 this season. Johnson missed the Knights’ quarterfinal loss in the region tournament because of illness.

2009 All-Metro Girls Basketball