Park Hill South point guard Addison Bjorn was on of 12 girls basketball players across the country to be selected on Team USA’s U16 team that took first place in the FIBA U16 Americas Championship in Mérida, Mexico, on June 19.
At 15 years old, Park Hill South point guard Addison Bjorn has done something that few basketball players accomplish, competing and earning a gold medal with USA Basketball.
Bjorn traveled out of the country to play for Team USA’s U16 team at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship in Mérida, Mexico. Team USA was made up of 12 players from across the country, and the soon to be Park Hill South sophomore was one of the dozen who made the team.
The Kansas City Suburban Conference Silver Division Player of the Year was the only Missourian who was on Team USA. She wasn’t in the starting lineup but saw some time off the bench and gained experience among elite company.
Team USA dominated in the tournament, routing every team by at least 60 points until they played Canada in the championship. USA beat Canada 79-59 to come away with a gold medal and perfect 6-0 record at the FIBA U16 Americas Championship.
Bjorn played in four of the six games, having a positive +/- of at least 21 in three of those. Her best outing was against Puerto Rico, scoring nine points on four-of-nine shooting from the field, grabbing six boards, dishing out four assists, blocking one shot and having a steal.
The 6’1 star played 15.8 minutes per game while averaging 5.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals.
Bjorn has generational talent and has been consistently improving. Before playing a single high school basketball game, she had already received 23 offers from D-1 schools and currently has 38, according to her social media accounts.
The Parkville native was able to get this opportunity after attending the inaugural USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team April minicamp in Dallas, Texas. She made the team on June 4 after a 10-day training camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado.