Katie Donovans Olympic dream is alive and well, as the Illinois State University senior to be is one of 14 players invited to Canada Basketballs camp for its womens national team May 19 to June 9 at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia.
Donovan, whose home is Kingston, Ontario, led the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring in 2003-04. Taking her 7.4 points per game scoring average in 2002-03 to 19.9 and No. 20 in the nation in 2003-04, Donovan was the nations most improved scorer on one of the nations most improved teams. Illinois State improved its record from 7-21 to 16-13 in the same period, with Donovan finishing runner-up to SMS guard Kari Koch for Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.
The 6-foot forward is one of six team candidates who toured with the Canadian Young Womens Team to South Korea last summer, and she is excited about the opportunity to earn a spot on the Canadian National Team. Seven players return from the 2003 national team.
Its a great opportunity, said Donovan. I know it will be challenging, but I am looking forward to it. Its a first step toward the chance to play for Canada in the (2008) olympics, and Im excited.
The camp will feature the 14 invitees plus additional players who might earn an opportunity through two open tryouts prior to the camp. Head coach of the team is University of Oregon associate coach Allison McNeill.
Robin Pingeton, the 2002 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year,thinks Donovan has earned the opportunity to represent her country.
This is something that has been very important to Katie since the first time I met her, said Pingeton. We talked a lot about the Canadian National team and she has high aspirations to be part of that.
Pingeton thinks Donovans game just keeps getting better.
I think the coaches at the camp will be pleasantly surprised with how much Katie has improved since last year, said Pingeton. We are excited about how much stronger she has become since our regular season ended. Katie is just relentless. She has a work ethic and a desire to improve that just doesnt stop.
At Illinois State, Donovan will lead a group of three starters and eight letterwinners into her senior season in 2004-05.
