Asia Dozier of Columbia, SC is among five girls named to the 2005-06 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA National team, selected from more than 750,000 members. She and her teammates will be honored guests at the 55th NBA All-Star Game in Houston. The showcase event for the National Team will take place on Sunday, February 19, when the squad takes on a team of local Houston Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA All-Stars on Center Court of NBA All-Star Jam Session at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center.

The 2005-06 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA National Team presented by Gatorade and Nike recognizes male and female youth basketball players from member leagues throughout the country who are skilled basketball players, great teammates and exemplify good sportsmanship and leadership on the court, in the classroom and in their communities.

As a member of the Northeast Youth Jr. WNBA girls team in Columbia, Dozier is being recognized for her leadership both on and off the court. The 15-year old lifted her squad to a 2005 State title, while continuing to excel in the classroom as well.

  As part of this unique weekend experience, the National Team will travel to Houston on Friday, February 17, to represent the 750,000 boys and girls playing in Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA leagues throughout the United States and abroad.   With the international growth of the program, for the first time, members of the Jr. NBA China National Team will join in on the festivities. In addition to their exhibition games on Sunday morning and a clinic with Special Olympics athletes, the National Team and the Jr. NBA China team will be introduced to a sold-out crowd during All-Star Saturday Night and attend Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game.

“We are celebrating the international expansion of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program as we honor this year’s National Team and Jr. NBA China,” said Kathy Behrens, NBA senior vice president, community and player programs. “We know this experience will be a memorable one, and that it will show other young players what they can accomplish with hard work both on and off the court.”

Every Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA league director across the country had the opportunity to nominate one boy and one girl, ages 11-12, in their program. Thirty finalists were identified for the National Team by an independent national selection committee made up of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA officials, NBA and WNBA team representatives, co-presenting sponsors Nike and Gatorade and ESPN commentator and Basketball Hall-of-Famer, Bill Walton. Ten players were then chosen from the finalists.