COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—Three days and seven sessions are history at the 2017 USA Basketball U16 trials and so are some of the participants. Saturday saw the selection committee narrow the field of 133 twice to go into Sunday’s action with just 64 athletes still in search of one of 12 coveted spots for the FIBA Americas Championships. Another cut early Sunday will lead into two sessions scheduled with a morning and afternoon opportunity for the remaining athletes to make a final impression. Ultimately Monday morning will see the announcement of the finalists expected to be 12 – 15 in number with the final cut to a dozen coming prior to the team’s departure for Buenos Aires on June 4th.
As we did with Friday’s action we’re offering up another Trials Triple Play featuring another trio of standout performers from the action thus far in the process. We want to emphasize once again that this isn’t a prediction of selection or any other prognostication regarding their status in the eyes of the selection committee. It’s just some observations from an old coach. There are times it’s enough to just be “about the basketball”. To see last night’s Triple Header follow the link below.
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/usa-u16-trials-day-two-triple-play/
To see additional coverage from Blue Star Media from Colorado Springs, check out these other offerings.
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/next-cycle-please/
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/blue-star-30-athletes-take-usa-basketball-stage/
http://www.bluestarmedia.org/day-one-usa-2017-u16-trials/
It’s a safe bet if you follow girl’s scholastic basketball you’ve already heard of Fran Belibi. The 6-1 forward from Regis Jesuit and Centennial, Colorado made her mark by way of dunking for the first time in the history of girl’s high school basketball in the Rocky Mountain State. While impressive it would be unfair to let that define the promising future of this talented athlete. Start with this being just her second year of playing basketball and it’s easy to be amazed that she’s still in the mix after three days and seven sessions in the USA Basketball U16 Trials. The 2019 Belibi is an explosive athlete who applies that physical skill set with an aggressive and assertive approach to her play. There’s a fluid element to her attack that usually takes players years to refine. She has the ability and willingness to play physical on both ends of the floor from start to finish. On the catch, she’s going to attack and around the rim she can elevate for clean looks or easy finishes. Away from the bucket she is capable of putting it on the floor to a degree but does overuse the resource at times. On the defensive end, she’s aware and ready both in the halfcourt or transition with the foot speed to contain many perimeter threats. Observers should forget the dunk and focus on the promising future.
Some of the more dynamic play over the course of the trials thus far has come from Diamond Miller from Somerset, New Jersey. A long, athletic forward, Miller is the match-up that causes opposing coaches a migraine as they look at a scouting report. The 2019 Franklin High product has the tools to work both on the perimeter as well as down low around the rim. (I refuse to lower myself to the overused “stretch four” terminology) At 6-2 her first step is lengthy and quick allowing her to exploit both bigger and quicker defenders. There’s no reservation about taking it all the way to the rim and once in the neighborhood Miller can rise above the crowd. Her build is somewhat lean but she handles the contact well both off the drive or posting up. She’s more effective facing up and it’s obviously a preference but there are plenty of tools to make her a threat down low when needed. An added bonus is sound ballhandling that allows her to take it herself in transition or to attack off a reversal pass in transition. The perimeter stroke is reliable but the consistency will need to come around to keep defenders reluctantly closing out tight. More often than Miller will make things happen and may well just be scratching the surface.
A year ago, Sydney Parrish was that “young” prospect that had the selection committee legitimately looking at her as the answer to the three point problem that often plagues US teams. While she ultimately missed out on the 12 player 17U World Championship roster, she’s back again this year and raising eyebrows once more. The 6-2 wing from Fisher’s Indiana and Hamilton Southeastern is already among the elite shooters in the 2020 class as well as the elder echelons of high school basketball. The stroke, touch and range speak for themselves. What sets Parrish apart from the crowd is an acute understanding of where her looks will come from and how to develop them within both sets and transition. She reads defenders before the catch and is active in improving her opportunities by way of some precise and aggressive cuts as well as an ability to relocate following entry passes. Parrish has always been able to put it on the floor as well but here in Colorado Springs she’s doing so with a more refined and efficient attack off the dribble. Additionally, the floater is serving her well and the pull up speaks for itself when rotations come her way. There’s much more depth to an already well established skill set. Stay tuned for more.
To see the athletes still in contention for a spot on the 2017 USA Basketball U16 roster, follow the link below.
