USA U18 Team Selection

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – When you’ve won 24 consecutive games in a specific series of international play it’s a safe bet that the competition will be gunning for you.  When you’ve won those 24 games by an average margin of 55.4 points per game it’s hard to imagine that any team wouldn’t view a win over you as a lifetime achievement.  When the USA Basketball Women’s U18 National Team travels to Gurabo, Puerto Rico in August for the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship they’ll have a massive bulls-eye on their back but don’t think they won’t be prepared to go after their sixth consecutive gold medal.

Miami head coach Katie Meier will lead a roster that features experience, talent and versatility.  The squad announced Monday morning following last weekend’s trials in Colorado Springs will be led by 2011 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year Breanna Stewart (North Syracuse, N.Y.).  The 6-4 UConn bound forward already has three gold medals to her credit and has worn the red, white and blue every summer since 2009.  Few players in the women’s game have the combination of length, athleticism and skills that Stewart possesses and combining that with her extensive experience should give the U.S. a leg up in returning to the top of the medal stand once again.

Taking a look at the rest of the roster from the outside in reveals a future Husky teammate of Stewart’s at the point.  Moriah Jefferson (Glenn Heights, TX) brings her pace setting speed, quickness and skilled ballhandling to the table and will get her first opportunity to compete internationally beyond the trials or exhibitions.  The 5-7 floor leader can deliver both in setting up teammates or through her own scoring.

Four members of the roster will be returning to the high school setting as seniors next fall and one of them, 5-9 Lexie Brown (Suwanee, Ga.), staked her claim to a backcourt spot the moment the trials opened.  Already committed to the University of Maryland, Brown has a smooth and fluid attack with the ball in her hands that keeps defenders guessing and coming out of their stance.  She’s adept at creating space allowing her to utilize a reliable jumper or fire a slick pass to exploit a defensive breakdown.

Easily the most dynamic performer throughout the trials was Brittney Sykes (Newark, N.J.).  Headed for Syracuse next fall, the 5-9 guard defies gravity and makes plays that leave even opponents in awe at times.  Her athleticism is not just for show and makes her productive at both ends of the floor.  She’s attacking on the break or in the halfcourt with an explosive first step and a fearless approach to rotating bigs.  The attack is there defensively as well and she’s the last thing a ballhandler wants to see when they square up on the catch.

If you’re familiar with Michaela Mabrey (Belmar, N.J.) at all you know scoring is virtually second nature to the 5-9 guard.  Deep on the perimeter or off a midrange pull up she can find the bottom of the net and keep opponents honest.  The Notre Dame signee offered up some sharp vision and passing as well that should keep both her teammates and coaches smiling in Puerto Rico.  Mabrey was also an early fixture in the gym before each workout offering some insight to her success.

Allisha Gray (Sandersville, Ga.) was one of six candidates brought up from the U17 trials following the selection of the 12 man roster headed for Amsterdam and the World Championships.  The 6-0 guard and North Carolina verbal commit didn’t have her usual touch that has made her one of the top scorers in the 2013 class but she did enough to earn her first opportunity to compete for USA Basketball.  If she can replicate her earlier performance this spring at the Boo Williams Nike Invitational she’ll provide plenty of scoring punch for Coach Meir and company.

Jannah Tucker (Randallstown, Md.) also struggled to find the performance that led her to a gold medal last year with the U16 squad.  The physically strong 6-0 guard was another who was offered a second chance with the U18’s and picked up steam over the last couple of workouts.  She’s a versatile scorer who has the ability to create her own looks and can deliver both on the pull up or penetration.  Well suited for play at the next level the 2013 standout can also provide some assertive defense against both bigger and smaller match ups.

It’s hard not to be impressed by the continual advancement and maturity of Baylor bound Alexis Prince (Orlando, Fla.).  The 2012 McDonald’s All-American Game MVP seems to play her best basketball in settings surrounded by the best talent.  Throughout the trials she played with confidence and patience that has occasionally been missing in the past and is now serving her well on both ends of the floor.  The combination of size and skills the 6-2 swing player provides challenges opponents and gives her coaches options to work with.

Joining Stewart at the forward spot is two time gold medalist Bashaara Graves (Clarksville, Tenn.).  Staying in the Volunteer State next year to play for Holly Warlick and the Lady Vols, the 6-2 power forward demonstrated her patented fluid explosiveness once again.  Allowing her to get the ball within five feet of the rim will lead to a hoop, a foul or both.  Combining strength with some impressive footwork she makes opposing coaches give a lot of thought to a comfortable zone defense.   

Giving UConn a trio on the roster is 6-2 Morgan Tuck (Bolingbrook, Ill.).  It seems as though Tuck has been on the radar forever and the mature consistency she brings to the court belies that fact.  Her steady play is textbook and effective without the need for flash or flare.  On the catch she reads defenders on the block quickly and attacks but is equally lethal in keeping them honest with some solid perimeter shooting well suited for international play. This will be Tuck’s third competition though she made a fourth team in 2009 before withdrawing due to an ACL injury. 

Adding both interior size and strength is 2013 post Kendall Cooper (Carson, Calif.).  Another of the U17 participants who made the U18 roster, this 6-3 power presence is just beginning to scratch the surface of her potential.  With the added dimension of speed and agility Cooper can be a nightmare match up for opponents.  Her confidence around the rim is evolving and the ability to make one dribble drives from the elbow is beginning to reveal itself.

Lots of people talk about the “eye test” in terms of accessing a player’s potential just on her appearance alone and Imani Stafford (Los Angeles, Calif.) scores straight A’s on that exam.  Standing 6-7 with a solid, athletic build and a fluid gate there are some recruiters who would sign her on looks alone.  Texas got the nod last fall for this multi-talented prospect and her performance in the trials should have new Longhorn coach Karen Aston smiling.  She’s always been a defensive impact player but the offensive skills are showing more refinement and the confidence is growing.  Stafford won a gold medal two years ago with the U17’s and made the U19’s last year but had to withdraw due to injury.

The trials began Saturday morning with 25 hopefuls which, as mentioned earlier, increased to 31 on Sunday following the naming of the U17 roster.  Along with team members Cooper, Gray and Tucker, LaJahna Drummer (Inglewood, Calif.), Stephanie Mavunga (Indianapolis, Ind.) and Jatarie White (Charlotte, N.C.) also got a second shot with the U18’s.  White and Mavunga were both gold medalists with last year’s U16 team.  Additionally, White and Drummer were the only 2014 class members to see time in the U18 trials.  The final roster is made up of eight 2012 athletes and four representatives from the 2013 class.

All in all, 19 different states were represented in Colorado Springs by the 31 athletes.  As with the U17’s, California led the way once again with five individuals.  Of the total 31 players, 18 have signed or given a verbal commitment for their colligate future.  Only Cooper and Tucker are uncommitted on the final roster. 

The 2012 USA Basketball Women’s U18 National Team will hold its first training camp at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. May 28 through June 1 and then return to Colorado for a final training session August 4 through 12.  Then it’s off to Gurabo, Puerto Rico for the August 15 through 19 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.  The top three finishers earn a berth in the 2013 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women in Lithuania.    

For additional coverage go to USA Basketball at the link below and check back with Blue Star Media for additional evaluations, photos and coverage.

http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/u18/12_wu18_team.html

2012 USA Basketball Women’s U18 National Team Roster