A new year, a new group of players descended upon Colorado Springs for the USA Basketball 16U national team trials. The difference for this third cycle of 16u selections was the open nature of the tryouts. This event was normally invitational at all levels going back to the 2009 trials. The last “open” Youth USAB events were the Olympic Festival games back in the late 1980’s. This year with 33 invited players and almost 100 more coming via the open invitation the expectations were all over the map.
The third cycle opened on Thursday evening with Drill sessions without parents divided into two groups. The two groups where then divided into six teams each covering the three courts with a team to each basket. Head Coach Sue Phillips took charge and ran the groups through various drills from which it was easy to see players quickly display the two major factors to evaluate: running the floor and smoothness. It’s not hard to see who flows down the floor and those those who struggle at a variety of levels. By the end of the Thursday night session it was simple to separate the better players from the pack but not with easy. The drill night showed a lack of overall height at the post, big forward and depth at point guard. The goal was to closely watch the Friday morning and afternoon skill sessions to see who was showing up and who was not. By the end of the first session I was able to select who the pack of standout 16 to 26 players were, who was in the next Tier of players 30 to 60 players and who should not have come. It was clear that a majority of players were in the Mid Division 1 level and Low Division 1 level of talent. The conversation among the Blue Star Media group was about the probability of a majority of these players being over recruited.
By the afternoon session I was looking at the standout players of note from each Group. From Group 1 (17) I found: Anna Wilson, Kennedy Burke, Natalie Chou, Qalea Ismail, Katie Lou Samuelson, Lauren Cox, Brianna Jones, Krystaline McCune. There were 8 players of note here: Lauren Brozoski, Anhliyah Jackson, Akiene Reed, Caliya Robinson, Joyner Holmes, Jameira Johnson and Celeste West.
From Group 2 (17): Taylor Murray, Shalexxus Aaron, Jaelyn Brown, Asia Durr, Nancy Mulkey, Kalani Brown, Ashley Hearn, Tori McCoy. There were nine other players of interest here. Amari Carter, Paris Lawson, DsJanae Boykin, Chassity Carter, Janaya Hines, Jordyn Holmes, Jasmine Jeffcoat, Dominique Toussaint and Kylee Shook. This makes 34 players just watching drills in two sessions. This does not mean these players will make the last day. Game competition which started on Friday evening would be an opportunity for separation.
The issue with these rosters is the number of semi-point guards, big wings, athletic small forwards and in-between strong forwards-posts. Trying to find options for separation (games, head-to-head) would be critical to start to cut this mass of players. While this was going on the parents were finally allowed into the gym to watch games as they were limited to looking through windows and grill vents during the drills.
The evening sessions were designed to showcase a simple offense and the discipline of taking instructions. Each team within each group was assigned five to six games each. It wouldn’t be hard to see who stepped up from the drills to the games. The entire process is about separation. Can you perform well enough at your position to create separation from the other people who are competing at the same spot?
The first group of teams performed and it was apparent that the top players shined and the players on the bubble, those who would be ranked 70 to 40, needed to shine in these games today and tomorrow to create separation to make this team and also for their Blue Star Media ranking. This venue is better than any other team event to do rankings and evaluations as there are no travel coaches or outside people creating the platform to perform. It is also an opportunity to see who should be cut instantly and to see who are those between 60 and 90, the players who are majority of Mid to Low D1 prospects here. Remember a D1 counts as a full ride regardless of the level of D1. The money is more important than the ego of a higher league or BCS league. From the night sessions it was easy to add players in the 40 to 90 range of the roster of participants. The group of players that I noted above are not guaranteed positions or slots on the team. These are simply players of consideration.
I keep loose stats to view how players did on each team at each session. At the end of the evening I was able to say that from Group 1 the locks should be: Kennedy Burke, Natalie Chou, Katie Lou Samuelson, Lauren Cox and for Group 2: Taylor Murray, Jaelyn Brown, Asia Durr and Tori McCoy. If this would be true there would be only four slots left with at least 30 players looking at those spots. This is why the games later today on Saturday are paramount for determining who makes the team.
If I was selecting the team after the first day I would pick those eight above and add Te’a Cooper, Brianna Jones, Krystaline McCune, from Group 1 and Amari Carter and Kalani Brown for a total of 13 players. After talking to some other people the biggest discussion is just about those who make the next to last cut, from 60 down to 30 players.
Are these selections that I would pick? Probably. Are these the selections? No. It is not easy science to select a team but after looking at this process over three cycles of selection, I would think I know more than those people who would counter my selections from the Media side. However, in the end, it is the USAB Committee who will do the final selections. Hopefully they get it closer than those from the past two u16 cycles of selection in 2009 and 2011.
The first cut will be after the Saturday morning session. Expect the team to be down to a top 30 plus by the end of the day on Saturday. Let’s see who is seeing what on these next selections.
