COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Day two is in the books for hopeful candidates for the USA U17 2014 World Championship Team. A triple header was on tap Friday starting with a morning skill session followed by an afternoon three on three tournament and ultimately the first actual trials action in the evening. The three on three and the full court action of the day’s final session were very revealing to the committee and anyone else in the gym as to who just might have what it takes to make that final roster set to be announced Monday morning. Coach Sue Phillips once again kept the action going and maintained a teaching atmosphere throughout the day with the help of her staff and the USA Basketball floor coaches.
The pressure will begin to mount tomorrow as the first cuts will take place in an effort to get the working number down to a previously stated 45 for the final two trial sessions on Sunday. Today we take a look at some of the athletes who had a moment or two during Friday’s action that caught the eye of some of the folks courtside. Keep in mind that trials for USA Basketball teams are more along the lines of auditions for specific roles rather than a traditional try out to see who performed the best. With that in mind, here are some ‘tidbits from the trials’.
Tori McCoy (2016 – 6-4 Forward – Champaign, Illinois) – McCoy actually made the U16 team last year but was forced to withdrawal due to lingering concussion symptoms. The multi-talented forward spent the day reminding the committee as well as other hopefuls just why she had previously secured a roster spot. Explosive physical play combined with an impressive, active effort allow her to stand out among the crowd of bigs on hand.
Nicole Munger (2015 – 5-10 Guard – Doylestown, Pennsylvania) – If anyone had a grasp on the approach to three on three competition it was this early Michigan verbal commit. Munger created both passes and shots time and again. She was equally effective off the cut as she was the drive and finished confidently in traffic and with contact. Her track record is one of hard work and facilitating play…Friday’s effort was no exception.
Brogan Jones (2015 – 6-3 Post – Little Rock, Arkansas) – If you’re looking for blue collar work in the post and a player with no aversion to rough play, this may well be your girl. Jones was overmatched physically several times but didn’t allow that to stop her from coming up with some productive results on several occasions. There’s really nothing flashy or eye-catching to her performence other than the textbook approach and nose to the grindstone ethic she plays with. For good measure Jones provided some well thought play both in the three on three as well as the full court action.
Joyner Holmes (2016 – 6-3 Forward / Post – Cedar Hill, Texas) – There may not be another player on hand at the trials who passes the “eye test” as readily as Holmes does. Legitimate size, physical strength, speed, agility, you name it, it all appears to be in place. What also appears to be in place is a deeper skill set and an extended maturity to her play than we’ve seen in the past. Her decisions on both offense and defense are sharper and she’s making plays that are just as effective as they are impressive to watch.
Sabrina Haines (2015 – 5-9 Combo – Phoenix, Arizona) – This strong and aggressive backcourt threat caught our eye last weekend in California and is offering up some of the same play here in Colorado Springs. She’s constantly on the attack and almost seems to be looking to punish her defender with her relentless penetration and embrace of physical play. She uses a change of speed and direction to create the drive again and again finishing both at the rim or off a soft pull up from the ten foot range. The same assertiveness is there defensively and that bodes well for her future at Arizona State.
Jackie Young (2016 – 6-1 Forward – Princeton, Indiana) – Young is not a high profile name yet but seems to be well on her way climbing among the next tier of the 2016 class. Athletic with some length, she’s active with and without the ball. She cuts as efficiently as most guards and has a first step that serves her well against defenders of any size. There’s no hesitation about taking it into traffic and the vertical is there to make her a factor finishing or attacking the boards.
Megan Walker (2017 – 6-1 Wing – Chesterfield, Virginia) – No one player may have exhibited a greater capacity for learning over the past couple of years than this top tier talent from Virginia. Firmly established among the elite in her class, Walker takes her game to another level each time out. She’s a coach’s dream in her ability to absorb teaching and even more so with her uncanny ability to learn within an individual game and execute changes. What makes all that so special is the fact that both her physical and basketball skills are also among the best in any gym she walks into.
Katie Lou Samuelson (2015 – 6-3 Swing – Huntington Beach, California) – It’s hard to take in any event Samuelson participates in and not make note of her play. Like Walker, each time out there’s seems to be an addition to her repertoire or a refined skill or move that helps her produce results. One of the most lethal inside-out threat in the game, the recent UConn commit is one of the most challenging match ups for defenders on the perimeter or in the paint.
These are just a few of the many, many players who had moments their inclusion isn’t meant to indicate any odds of making the final roster. Returning standouts like Asia Durr, DeJanae Boykin and Arike Ogunbowale had their moments as well. Te’a Cooper is back and making noise as are other hopefuls like Kennedy Burke, Ashley Hearn, Erin Boley and Anna Wilson. There is still a lot of basketball left to be played and the watchful eyes of the selection committee will begin formulating a roster that will give the USA the best odds of bringing home the gold from the Czech Republic this summer.
Check back with Blue Star Media for more coverage as the trials continue with three sessions on Saturday.
