USA GIRLS TRIALS 2016

Written by LaQuita Thompson        May 31,2016

Colorado Springs – One of my biggest dreams as a kid was to represent my country playing on the women’s USA Olympic basketball team. It would bring me chills as I envisioned stepping up on the platform to receive a Gold medal. What an absolute honor! As I evaluated a gym full of potential future Olympians working relentlessly to reach that same opportunity, that resurrected  memory still brought back the chills to my body.

Every year the USA basketball women’s national committee invites 36 of the Country’s top  high school girls talent to travel to the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and go through a selection process to determine a 12 member team roster for the U16, U17, U18 National teams. It’s a week of skills training and competing with the instruction of a phenomenal USA coaching staff; this year lead clinician was Nancy Fahey, and the court coaches: Carla Berube, Pam Crawford and Steve Gomez. Once rosters are set the players return for training camp and prepare to travel to Europe where they will compete representing the USA in the FIBA Americas games.

This year the U17 and U18 trials ran during the same 3 day period featuring 139 players with not only prior USA basketball experience and Gold medalists, but also players with various backgrounds from across the country.

Never in my life have I ever been in an environment with so much talent under one roof. Intensity from the time of entering till the closing of the day. The girls were pushed to focus on the details of the game, position specific work, and live scrimmage games. The coaching staff brought a quality of teaching and enthusiasm to the court each day that inspired the girls to compete at a higher level. Each day was a day full of evaluating players making preparations for the best teams possible.  What starts out as a group of hopefuls competing quickly turns into a dissection process that unfortunately eliminates some sooner than expected meanwhile getting to the real grind of putting the most qualified against each other.

I was impressed with several of the younger players. I felt most of them played with such poise and composure considering it was their first time on this type of platform. It was also a pleasure watching the post work take place. Position specific work is a necessity and most of the time the post position is lacking in teaching ability and consistency but not in this atmosphere. Foot-work, technique, body positioning was at the core of the focus for the posts and forwards. I’ll get to some of the top performers here shortly.

There were also some dynamic guards in the building for the first time bringing an intensity to the court that blew me away, like super star guard from Texas Chennedy Carter ( Mansfield, Tx). A super athletic guard who can score at will. Ball-handling ability that aids in her success in blowing by defenders, she exhibited her quickness and explosivesss to the basket. Vivian Gray ( Argyle, TX)  another super dynamic lengthy guard. She displayed a great IQ of the game, she is a strong scorer but with her size she does a good job grabbing rebounds and fights for second shot opportunities. Chasity Patterson ( Houston, TX) an electrifying PG with almost excellent 3-pt shooting ability. In this setting she excelled at being a floor general using her skills  not only to get points up but also to get her teammates involved. Aaliyah Wilson (Muskogee, Ok) is athletic and shows great guard ability. She can shoot or get to the rim, also has nice court vision.  Jasmine Walker (Montgomery, Al) is a very strong, agile player. Her aggressiveness is hard to beat in girls basketball. Micaela Wilson (Rayville, La) is a lefty player who displays nice athleticism.

Some of the returning players with National U16 team experience included: Alexis Morris (Beaumont, TX), Honesty Scott- Grayson ( Brick, NJ), Sedona Prince (Liberty Hill, TX), Jade Williams (The Colony, TX), Desiree Caldwell (Lubbock, TX), Aquira DeCosta ( Stockton, CA), Jayda Adams (Irvine, CA),  Andra Espinoza-Hunter (Ossining, NY), Lauryn Miller (Kirkwood, Mo), Valencia Myers (Solon, Ohio), Bexley Wallace (Pickerington, Ohio),  and Destiny Littleton (San Diego, CA).

This year’s trials participants also included players who have participated in past trials, such players like Charli Collier ( Baytown, TX) Kiana Williams ( San Antonio, TX), Celestine Akoro (O’Fallon, Il), Alexis Gordon ( Fort Worth, TX), Kourtney Weber (Saint Rose, La), Kasiyahna Kushkituah ( Austell, Ga), Caitlin Bickle ( Cave Creek, AZ), Jahna Hajdukovich ( Fairbanks, Alaska),  Mckenna Haire (Charlotte, NC), Chloe Chapman (Mitchellville, MD),  Taylor Mikesell (Massillon, Ohio), Zarielle Green ( Dallas, TX), Zoe Young ( Urbandale, Iowa), Nadia Fingall (Navaree, FL), Tori McCoy (Champaign, Il), Evina Westbrook (Salem, OR), Dominique Toussaint (Staten Island, NY) to just name a few. If you know girls basketball then you know the girls just listed carries some true heat on the basketball court. This shows how deep the USA trials are and the competitiveness.

The trials began with 139 hopefuls and through each round players were announced for the remaining rounds ending with 18 finalists for the U17 World Championship team and 12 being selected for the U18 team roster. Three very notable players were also named to the 2016 USA Basketball 3×3 U18 National Tournament and will be at the FIBA 3×3 World Championship, Megan Walker (Chesterfield, VA), Amber Ramirez (San Antonio, TX), Sidney Cooks (Kenosha, WI)

I think it’s also important to note that several of the players participating have already verbally committed to top college programs, and every class is being represented from this graduating class 2017 to class 2020.

Here’s a quick look at some of the talent present this year:

Kennedy Brown – 2019 6-6 Post  (Derby, KS) displayed nice talent at her position, Very mobile, good size. Able to finish around the rim and rebound. Absolutely huge upside and potential as she continues to develop.

Rennia Davis – 2017 6-2 wing (Jacksonville, FL) has great potential, vertical leap ability is phenomenal. She can score off the dribble and will take the open shots. Very athletic player.

Olivia Nelson- Ododa- 2018 6-4 Post (Winder, Ga)  an explosive player in the paint ,has a soft touch around the key, she plays well around the rim, mobile, has good lateral quickness. Top prospect in the 2018 class.

Breanna Beal – 2019 6-0  wing (Rock Island, Il) a threat on the perimeter, consistent, finishes through contact, can post up and plays physical. A top prospect in the 2019 class.

Other notable players included Samantha Brunelle  – 2019 6-2 Forward (Ruckersville, VA) an active player on both ends of the floor, crashes the boards, has soft touch mid-range shot and finishes under contact in the paint. Abby Prohaska – 2018 5-10 Guard (West Chester, OH) a true competitor, tough, great leadership qualities, reads well, nice shooting ability, high motor. Maya Dodson 2017 6-3 wing (Alpharetta, Ga) super athletic, nice quick foot work, an above average vertical leap ability, attacks the rim, versatile player. Cameron Swartz – 2018 5-10 Guard (Marietta, GA) a combo guard who is developing into quite a player, has range, up-tempo player, mid-range game, attacks with a strong dribble. Rellah Boothe  – 2017 6-3 Forward (Bradenton, FL) versatile player, plays physical and is good off the bounce, finishes around rim, can face up and stretches the defense. Taylor Jones – 2019 6-3 Post (Forney, TX) athletic post player, good footwork, very lengthy with a wingspan that’s contains an area well defensively, mobile. Christyn Williams – 2018 5-11 Guard (Little Rock, ARK) a left handed combo beast of a guard, very good off the dribble and hard to defend, mid-range shot, plays with efficiency, strong and super athletic. Nyah Green – 2019 6-1 Guard (Allen, TX) athletic, god of the dribble, mid-range and behind the arc, nice size on the perimeter, attacks in transition, good elevation.

I can’t say enough about the opportunity for all of the young ladies who participate before the selection committee. It’s a tough process and I feel so privileged to cover the trials for the first time and to be seated with known National evaluators, writers, and scouters whom have helped pave the way for girls basketball and the exposure that now exists. To witness the work, dedication and sacrifice it takes. I celebrate with all the finalists and wish USA BASKETBALL  the best of luck in the FIBA games, BRING BACK THE GOLD!!

2016 USA Basketball U17 finalists: Janelle Bailey, Rellah Boothe, Aliyah Boston, Jenna Brown, Samantha Brunelle, Charli Collier, Aquira Decosta, Maya Dodson, Sedona Prince, Abby Prohaska, Zoe Young, Taylor Mikesell, Nazahrah Hillmon, Alexis Morris, Destanni Henderson, Olivia Nelson- Ododa, Christyn Williams, Madison Williams.2016 USA Basketball U18 Team : Jeannie Boehm, Rellah Boothe, Chennedy Carter, Lauren Cox, Crystal Dangerfield, Tyasha Harris, Ruthy Hebard, Valerie Higgins, Amber Ramirez, Evina Westbrook, Megan Walker, Sidney Cooks

LaQuita ThompsonNational Girls Evaluator – John Lucas Enterpriseshttp://www.johnlucasenterprises.com

email: lthompson@johnlucasenterprises.com