June 5, 2006

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Incoming freshman and 2006 signee Nikitta Gartrell (Benjamin E. Hays HS, Atlanta, Ga.) has accepted an invitation to the 2006 USA U18 Women's National Team Trials to be held in the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., June 28-July 2. Gartrell is one of six incoming freshmen joining the NC State Wolfpack family in 2006.

As a 5-foot-9 guard Gartrell will be vying for her second stint as a member of the red and blue. Last summer, she along with another Wolfpack signee, Amber White, played with the 2005 USA Youth Development Festival teams last summer.

Gartrell set a Benjamin E. Hays High School scoring record with her 2,800 career points and averagaed 25.0 points per game, 6.0 rebounds per game, 5.0 assists per game and 4.0 steals per game as a senior. She is ranked 10th nationally as a point guard and 33rd overall by All Star Girls Report. In addition she is 18th among the nation's Top 50 seniors as was determined by Street & Smith . The Atlanta native was a 2006 WBCA All-American Honorable Mention and is a two-time Associated Press first team all-state team member.

For more information about USA Basketball visit www.usabasketball.com.
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