Lauren Cox, a freshman member of the Flower Mound High School basketball team, finished with an impressive first year.

Cox’s dedication and devotion to the game has paid off. The USA Basketball Association has given Cox a chance to try out and play for a national team. Earlier this year, she was given the title Newcomer of the Year.

“Lauren is a very talented athlete with a great work ethic,” head basketball coach Sherika Nelson said. “She deserves everything that is happening. She has worked so hard for it all.”

On May 23, 124 young girls took the court at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. After four days of trials, the USA Basketball Women’s Developmental National Team Committee announced the 12 new members for the 2013 USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team, Cox being one of them.

“It’s not every day you have the opportunity to go on a paid trip to do something that you love,” Cox said. “It’s a huge honor just to be invited. I have already learned so much from just being around the other girls on the national team.”

Lauren will travel back to Colorado Springs on June 9th to begin practice for the FIBA 16-and-under Championships which takes place in Cancun, Mexico June 19-23.