Colorado Springs, CO – As we head into day three of the bi-annual USA Basketball u16 Women’s National Team trials here, there’s more questions, and more answers after watching the players from across the USA from the class of 2025 to 2027 compete for a spot on the 12-person roster by Wednesday.
The first day, which this year was a Friday due to the u16 Men’s National Team trials running across the USOC Olympic Center campus, had the women in the lower, bigger facility which is usually reserved for the men’s trials or older women’s trials. The big gym fit for the 53 players in attendance.
Friday evening’s session consisted of stretching, shooting, drills, half court three-pass offensive movement out of a full court run and three sets of games between the participants broken into four rotating teams. Most teams averaged between 13 and 15 players for this set of games.
Being the veteran of watching these trials longer than any of the other newbie evaluators, event operators and media site people, we all had the same task – figure out who played well and who didn’t.
This is not an easy task since the group of 53 (original 55 with 3 late minute declines and one addition) comprised a majority of the top players in the 2025, 2026 and 2027 classes with the right birthdate. When I first saw the original list, many of the usual top players (mostly BlueStar30s) were listed but there were many who were not. The culprit was those missing because they were born in 2006 and not after January 1, 2007, the cutoff for the FIBA u16 cycle.
Familiar 2025, born 2006 names like Aailiyah Chaves, Jasmine Davidson, Sienna Betts, Madison Francis, ZaKiyah Johnson, Oliva Jones, Grace Knox, Leah Macy, Maya Makalusky, Johanna Potter, Sania Richardson, and Aubrey Shaw were too old to be eligible for this team and too young for the recently formed USAB u18 Women’s JNT. Missing 2025 names like Nyla Brooks, Destiny Lunan, Jah’Naesia Spiers and Jordan Speiser were not here.
After looking over my notes, it was surprising to see 2026 names like Madison Carlton, Elise Larson, Marisa Taylor not here also. Even though younger players from 2007 like KieAundria Acree, Miciah Fusllier, Micah Ojo, Sydney Savoury and Marley Spiers could have been considered stronger as these players impact at the older level.
There were also new names, new faces that Impressed like Gigi Battle (NJ), Kelis Fisher (MD), Maddyn Greenway (MN), Logyn Greer (PA), Holland Harris (FL), Hailee Swain (GA), Nora Ezike (IL) and Isabella Ragone (GA). The last minute addition Taylor Brown (PA) also played well.
The second day lone afternoon session was a better opportunity to take strong looks at players. The opening shooting drills were somewhat of a surprise as many players just missed outside shots. It was hard to find anyone who was able to hit more than three in a row with many managing only two makes on at least 20 attempts.
The next grouping had players breaking down into positions with wings in front of me, point guards to the right and across court in front were post player work and the far corner big guard, small forward work. The problem with this group was that many of these players were out of position with some power wing drivers with the points and some big guards playing in the post where they should not have been placed as this limits their ability to fair well against size and height instead of their true competition at another station.
The Sunday workout will have two sessions after which the group could be cut down to 32-36 players (based on prior trials) and the next cut on Monday leading into the final camp list on Tuesday.
Based on just the two sessions so far it’s easy to say that standout players like Jerzy Robinson (AZ), Jacy Abii (TX) and Oliviyah Edwards (WA) should make it to the final cuts. Who’s next? You could lump Brihanna Crittendon (CO), Aaliyah Crump (MN), Darriana Alexander (OH), Kelis Fisher (MD), Autumn Fleary (MD), Logyn Greer (PA), Ayla McDowell (TX), Kamora Pruitt (TX), Janiyah Williams (OK), Amari Byles (TX) Amayah Garcia (TX), Trinity Jones (IL), Keziah Lofton (OK), Isabella Ragone (GA), and McKenna Woliczko (CA) into a basket as most of these play that similar standout big guard / small forward scorer position that every college in America covets.
There were other notable players who over the first two sessions did not distinguish themselves because they were caught out of position during game play and did not separate themselves from their fellow participants. Sunday will be their day to shine to get to Monday cutdown.
The post position will be interesting as there’s only eight players (from my count) who are battling for this spot after Edwards. Lauren Hassell (TN), Logyn Greer (PA), Kamora Pruitt (TX), Kelsi Andrews (AL), Alexandra Eschmeyer and Sydney Douglas, the only 2028 here. Douglas impressed despite her youth as she battled the older players and ran the floor like a high school player. The difference between the number of post taken will impact what number of great forwards this camp has that makes the cuts.
The gold medal USA u17 team from last year does not have a lock down second scorer like Juju Waktins (CA) and Mykaliah Williams (LA) who dominated in Hungary last year. Good guards, good post and complementary athletes gave the USA a clear edge.
Finding the right mix in the next three sessions will depend on who’s shooting better, defending and making plays as many of these players have similar, almost identical games. The last point is the main point as some of these players must create separation at their position. Tomorrow is separation day.
NOTE: There were 30 BlueStar30s invited to the trials with Sanai Green (VA), Keeley Parks (OK) and Olivia Vukosa (NY) last minute subtractions.
I will repeat this again tomorrow: “Everyone here is getting a college scholarship when they choose it.”
