COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—The field of participants in the 2016 USA Basketball U17 Trials is now down to just 41 athletes after beginning with 139 last Thursday. Three cuts have narrowed the scope for the selection committee as they look to zero in on a final roster for the FIBA U17 World Championships in Zaragoza, Spain next month. One more cut to be announced tomorrow morning will bring the field to 15 – 18 athletes who will be vying for the final 12 person roster following some addition workouts.
Among the 41 remaining athletes are 11 of the 12 member 2015 FIBA Americas Bronze Medal team. The remaining 30 players are split evenly at 15 apiece between those invited by USA Basketball and the “pay to play” individuals making the most of the open policy employed by USA Basketball in the U16 and U17 trials. The class breakdown has 15 players from the 2017 class, 20 graduating in 2018 plus five more from 2019 and one from 2020. Texas has eight native daughters still in the hunt while California and Georgia each are represented by five. Including the returning U16 squad members, 26 of the 41 remaining athletes have participated in USA Basketball Trials previously. Hats off to the entire group in taking their time in the recruitment process as there are just four verbal commitments among this young and promising collection of prospects.
One more session remains Sunday afternoon for the players to show the committee why they should extend their stay in Colorado Springs just a little bit longer.
Follow the link below to the USA Basketball site to see all the rosters and cuts leading up to the current slate of 41.
