ONTARIO (FIBA U19 Women's World Championship) - When Bridget Carleton stepped onto the floor at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship last year, it looked like it could be the first footstep of many wearing a Canada national team vest.

Touted as having real senior team potential one day, the shooting guard is preparing for her next assignment when she represents her nation at U19 level.

While going to Chekhov as one of the younger players on the roster, Carleton is still likely to be one of the main contributors for Canada and the teenager is eager to continue her basketball education.

"Playing in my first FIBA World Championship in the Czech Republic last year was an amazing experience," she said.

Playing at a global level helps me understand where I am as a player and where I want to be. - Carleton

"It helped me understand the level of play which the international game requires.

"We had a number of close games and I wanted to do whatever I could to help my team win.

"I am looking forward to the chance to compete with the top Canadian players against the best players in the world again – plus facing all of the challenges that the international game has to offer.

"My weaknesses and strengths on the court are exposed and I am able to get an idea of how I need to train in order to be the player I want to be at international level."

Always liable to put points on the board for her country because of her shooting prowess and court smarts gleaned from her play-caller mom, Carleton is open-minded about how the games in the first phase will unfold and how deep Canada can go on Russian soil.

"I know France will be a very hard-working and aggressive team from playing them last year," she stated.

"I don't know much about Belgium and Mali, but I think we have a great opportunity to place well at the tournament."

There is of course an extra motivation for Carleton and her team-mates to put in a strong showing – namely the pending retirement of long-serving head coach Rich Chambers.

Everyone involved with the team is determined to provide a fitting finale to the coach's distinguished career in this particular competition - including Carelton.

"Coach Chambers is an amazing coach," she smiled.

"His knowledge, dedication and passion to basketball every day is second to none.

"He has done a lot for the uprising of Canada Basketball and deserves the best possible send off.

"It would be great to improve our international ranking further, since he has helped so many players develop over the past years."

FIBA