COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— It’s going to be a busy weekend at the United States Olympic training center as USA Basketball hosts trials for the 2016 U17 and U18 teams. The U17’s will represent Uncle Sam at the World Championships to be held in Zaragoza, Spain with play beginning June 22nd and the US first scheduled to take the floor the 24th. The U18’s will travel to Valdivia, Chile for the FIBA America’s Championship slated for July 13 – 17.
As always it’s important to remember that the trials are not actually a “try out” as they are often misperceived to be. A lot of impressive players and eye catching performances have come up short in an effort to claim a jersey and the chance to play under Old Glory. And contrary to the opinions of disillusioned athletes, parents and coaches…it’s not political. USA Basketball, the selection committee and coaching staff are looking to fill “roles” and often it’s more of a question of style and fit rather than some backroom agenda. It’s audition time. The skill set that serves some of our top prospects well day in and day out often does not translate into the characteristics of international basketball. Athletes on hand are often asked to assume roles outside their comfort zone or strengths. History tells us they would be wise to embrace those roles.
A total of 143 athletes will take their best shot at wearing U17 Red, White and Blue. All 12 members of last year’s Bronze Medal FIBA Americas team will be on hand along with 24 other invited athletes. The remaining participants are taking advantage of the “open” opportunity USA Basketball provides in the trials for the two youngest (U16 and U17) competing age groups. Thirty-Five players have taken part in at least one previous USA Basketball national team trials. Forty-eight players are from the high school class of 2017; 65 are from the class of 2018; 27 will graduate high school in 2019; and three are from the class of 2020.
The 2015 U16 roster featured Jayda Adams (Mater Dei H.S./Irvine, Calif.); Desireé Caldwell (Frenship H.S./Lubbock, Texas); Aquira DeCosta (St. Mary’s H.S./Stockton, Calif.); Andra Espinoza-Hunter (Blair Academy, N.J./Ossining, N.Y.); Destiny Littleton (The Bishop’s School/San Diego, Calif.); Lauryn Miller(Kirkwood/Kirkwood, Mo.); Alexis Morris (Legacy Christian Academy/Beaumont, Texas); Valencia Myers (Solon H.S./Solon, Ohio); Sedona Prince (Liberty Hill H.S./Liberty Hill, Texas); Honesty Scott-Grayson (Blair Academy/Brick, N.J.);Bexley Wallace (Pickerington Central H.S./Pickerington, Ohio); and Jade Williams(Prestonwood Christian Academy/The Colony, Texas).
A complete trials roster can be found by following the link below.
http://www.usab.com/womens/u17/roster.aspx
The U18 trials are invitation only and 30 athletes will compete for the opportunity to defend the USA Gold from two years ago. The final roster will feature 12 players chosen from an impressive group including 10 players with another year of high school competition in front of them.
The Trials will feature 14 players with prior USA Basketball experience, including 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship gold medalists Lauren Cox (Flower Mound H.S./ Flower Mound, Texas) and Crystal Dangerfield (Blackman H.S./Murfreesboro, Tenn.). Cox also won gold as a member of the 2014 USA Women’s U17 World Championship Team, and she and Dangerfield won gold as members of the 2013 USA Women’s U16 National Team.
Sidney Cooks (Saint Joseph H.S./Kenosha, Wis.), Amber Ramirez (Karen Wagner H.S./San Antonio, Texas) and Megan Walker (Monacan H.S./Chesterfield, Va.) recently teamed up to win the 2016 USA Basketball 3×3 U18 National Tournament on May 1, which qualified them to represent USA Basketball at the 2016 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Championship, which will be played June 1-5 in Astana, Kazakhstan. Additionally, Oliana Squires (Sand Creek H.S./Colorado Springs, Colo.) played on the runner-up team at the 2016 USA Basketball 3×3 U18 National Tournament.
Six players will arrive at the 2016 U18 trials with two previous USA Basketball trials experiences.
Tori McCoy (High School of St. Thomas More/Champaign, Ill.) attended the 2014 U17 trials and was named to the 2013 USA Women’s U16 National Team but could not participate due to injury; and players with experience at the 2013 U16 and 2014 U17 trials include: Nicole Ekhomu (Joliet Catholic Academy/Bolingbrook, Ill.); Ramirez; Kylee Shook (Mesa Ridge H.S./Colorado Springs, Colo.); Squires; and Dominique Toussaint (Christ the King H.S./Staten Island, N.Y.).
Returning after having taken part in the 2014 U17 trials are: Nadia Fingall(Choctawhatchee H.S./Navaree, Fla.); Ruthy Hebard (West Valley H.S./Fairbanks, Alaska); Megan Walker; and Evina Westbrook (South Salem H.S./Salem, Ore.); while Tyasha Harris (Heritage Christian School/Noblesville, Ind.) was at the 2013 U16 trials.
Joining the party for their first shot at a USA roster are 16 more established and highly regarded athletes.
Jeannie Boehm (New Trier H.S./Winnetka, Ill.); Chennedy Carter (Timberview H.S./Mansfield, Texas); Dana Evans (West Side H.S./Gary, Ind.); Vivian Gray (Argyle H.S./Argyle, Texas); Anastasia Hayes (Riverdale H.S./Hendersonville, Tenn.); Valerie Higgins (Chaminade College Prep/Granada Hills, Calif.); Nia Hollie (Hopkins H.S./Brooklyn Park, Minn.); Cierra Johnson(Blount H.S./Mobile, Ala.); Kiara Lewis (Whitney Young H.S./Chicago, Ill.); Chasity Patterson (North Shore H.S./Houston, Texas); Reili Richardson (Brea Olinda H.S./Brea, Calif.); Jenna Staiti (West Forsyth H.S./Cumming, Ga.); Jasmine Walker (Jefferson Davis H.S./Montgomery, Ala.);LaDazhia Williams (Lakewood Ranch H.S./Bradenton, Fla.); Aaliyah Wilson(Muskogee H.S./Muskogee, Okla.); and Micaela Wilson (Rayville H.S./Rayville, La.).
The U18 trials roster can be found at the link below.
http://www.usab.com/womens/u18/roster.aspx
Both rosters will be announced Monday with U17’s getting a morning reveal and the U18’s scheduled to be named at 6:30 that evening.
