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June 2, 20162016 U17 USA Basketball Experience
Thursday – May 26th
139 athletes arrived in Colorado Springs all hopeful for the opportunity to make this year’s U17 USA team. Players from classes 2017 – 2020 and from all over the country checked in, received their assigned jersey and numbers, and were privileged to work out at the US Olympic Training Center. The players were led through a warm up and then it was time for basketball.
The USA Trials lead clinician, Nancy Fahey, brought an immediate energetic voice to the evening’s first session. She went over some directives and organization and then demonstrated the first few drills that the players would use to get loose. There were six baskets and each group would be participating in the same drills simultaneously.
“Half Court Three-Man-Weave”
This drill consisted of one ball. It was your basic three-man-weave: the middle player advanced the ball to a wing and went behind the same wing as the third player cut to the rim and received a cross-court pass for a layup. The original middle person rebounded the ball and the last passer became the outlet on the opposite side. The player who received the outlet advanced the ball back to the next group’s middle person and the drill repeated, etc.
Desi Caldwell’s (2018 – TX) voice caught my attention right away. She encouraged and led right away from the start of camp. Maya Dodson (2017 – GA) and Kayla Owens (2017 – TX) literally jumped out to me with their rise on their finishes.
Interestingly enough, some players didn’t pay much attention and struggled through this simple drill. Things like crispness of passes and the speed of the cut to the layup with an elevated finish (or lack thereof) stood out to me. Another small detail I looked for was who took the ball out of the net with two hands, and who just let it drop to them and/or hit the floor. It’s the little things that players have to value to truly get to a point that they can execute basketball actions on a consistent basis.
“Up Shooting”
This was a nice shooting drill that involved movement, passing, footwork, post entry + relocation. Two lines were set up facing each other at free throw line extended; wide and almost to the sidelines. One player cut across the court through the elbow to the block and received a post entry pass. The passer from the other line relocated to the corner for a jumper and the player on the block curled back up to the opposite side for an inside pivot 15 foot jumper. Each player rebounded their own shot and switched lines. As the drill continued, variations were used such as playing out of the shot fake and off the dribble, and then also into all three-point shots.
Samantha Brunelle (2019 - VA), Taylor Mikesell (2018 – OH), Abby Prohaska (2018 – OH) were all outstanding and immediately noticeable in this drill. They are good passers, cut sharply, and showed good footwork and makes in the J’s. They demonstrated the unwritten rule of “fake a pass to make a pass” when they entered into the post. Charli Collier (2018 – TX) also really stood out here. She caught the ball and demonstrated the “chin and check” in a good post stance. Then, in her footwork and shooting, showed the versatility in her game.
“3 on 3 Actions”
The first basic action they worked on was the “pass and screen away” and then both players involved in the screen would get shots. With the players set up with a point and two wings, there was a wing entry pass made and the middle player screened away. There were several demonstrated options (this was not the terminology they used): curl + pop/replace, straight cut + slip, refuse + pop/replace. There was special emphasis placed on communication of action, the two players making a discernable read, and then creating space between each other. Verbal and nonverbal cues were encouraged as well as hand placement to receive passes in the correct spot at the correct time.
It was pretty easy to tell which players were familiar and experienced in these actions and those who were not. Overall, most got the hang of it.
“3 on 3 Touch”
This was the first competitive action of the trials. It was a controlled version of a continuous 3 on 3, basically in the half court. 3 offensive players started just beyond half court and the defense started at half court. The offensive team pushed the ball at the defense in live action. Once the offense scored or the defense got the rebound, the offense had to sprint back to touch the half court line before getting back on defense (the defensive team went off the floor); the coach would receive the outlet from the previous team and then enter it to the next offensive team. This went on continuously throughout the drill.
Interestingly enough, there was not a lot of carry over from the 3 on 3 actions that everyone had practiced for the 30 min before. A lot of the players immediately went to habits of over dribbling and the spacing wasn’t great. Defensively, there was not a lot of natural instinct to get an early body on the ball and attempt to turn the dribbler – many retreated to the paint and waited for the ball. Also, many of the players sprinted to a player on the wing instead of in front of the ball to protect the paint and/or close down initial driving angles. The team play both offensively and defensively was not strongly displayed.
It was interesting to see which players showed leadership skills and ability during this drill. Some, such as Jayda Adams (2017 – CA), began coaching players up and encouraging team play. Ashley Owusu (2019 – VA) showed her natural ability to distribute and also score during this drill. Jordan Nixon (2018 – NY) showed nice tempo changes and breakdown ability off the dribble. Madison Johnson (2018 – CA) showed her competitiveness and grit defensively. I would have liked to see more action off the ball and less attempts off the dribble that ended in forced shots out of step backs.
“5 on 0 Fast Break”
This was a simple controlled secondary break in which they ran a few basic options. The all began with a forward/post taking the ball out of bounds after a make and throwing an outlet pass to the point guard.
Option 1) PG advanced the ball to the same side wing who attacked the basket for a
layup
Option 2) PG received the outlet pass, cut the court, and hit the wing sprinting
the lane on the opposite side for a layup.
Option 3) PG advanced the ball to the same side wing who then fed the post on the
block who had sprinted the rim and sealed ball side
Option 4) PG received the outlet and quickly hit the rim runner for a layup
Friday – May 27th
Day 2 Drills
Day two started with a group warm up again and then the guards and posts went into position work fundamental drills that focused on actions out of transition. Examples:
- Posts
Cuts to the high post area for an inside pivot J or a shot fake + drive
- Guards
- Sweep & Go (special emphasis on a low sweep)
- Jab/Sweep & return/sweep for a elbow pull up J
- Sweep + step back J (middle/baseline angle; special emphasis on angle of footwork)
- Attack + Hesitation; Attack + Hesitation + Crossover into the J
Guards and Posts- Wing Entry Pass + Post Entry + Relocate for J / Repost
- Wing Entry Pass + Post Entry + Cut Off Post (high or low) for layup
Controlled 3 on 3
A coach entered the ball to the wing + post entry + play live out of the double team
3 on 3 Actions/Strategies (3 on 0)- Wing Entry + Pin Down Screen/Post Up
- High Ball Screen + Roll + Guard Fill
3 on 3 Tournament
This was played with rules that kept the action moving quickly. No “checks” after scores or change of position, just dead ball turnovers. The ball just needed to be “cleared” past the three point line. It was emphasized to quickly outlet the ball and read the floor and get into what action is needed based on the balance of the floor.
Again, here, there was not a lot of carryover from the 3 on 0 practices and drills. Once the defense got the rebound, there was a small delay in changing from “offensive brain” to “defensive brain” (I put it that way because in the half court 3 on 3 they obviously don’t sprint back on defense). Players didn’t make themselves available for quick outlets on both sides, and mostly the ball got dribbled out to clear the ball for the possession. Defensive players didn’t immediately position themselves in position based on the ball and the person they were guarding.
Many people say the transition to the next level is made most difficult because everyone can play a little bit and then ultimately it’s the athleticism and speed of the game. These are both true, however, I think the biggest hurdle now is the ability to focus and truly pay attention and be engaged for an extended period of time. The decision making time/recognition time doesn’t have a forgiving window at the highest level of college basketball. This, to me, is the thing that these players are struggling with the most as I spend more time with young players from all over the country.
Team Offense
The last session on Friday night was designated to teach the basic U17 Trials Offense in the half court. They used a basic and traditional offense that starts out with a PG and two wings, with the posts on the block. I am sure everybody has seen this offense run in their basketball lives. With special emphasis on wing to post entry, good screening, and timing, the offense began to take shape.
For the rest of the evening, the players scrimmaged in 5 on 5 full court situations.
Saturday/Sunday May 28th-29th
For the rest of the trials, each session began with a dynamic warm up, a little bit of running to get the blood flowing, and then either shooting, position work, or offensive breakdown in the half court or transition.
Saturday afternoon saw the roster of 139 cut to 101. Immediately, the intensity picked up a little bit. The pace and quality of play improved some as well. Even with the better players, I think this is where the nerves settled in ever so slightly. Having to look for their number on a list and that list deciding whether or not they stayed helped the players come to the realization that this is not a game.
Before the Saturday evening session, the roster was cut from 101 to 73. Again, the quality of play immediately improved. Not only did the rhythm of the games improve because of the quality of players on each team now, but there was an even more noticeable rise in the competitiveness of each game. The will to win was becoming more evident in those that really stood out.
Sunday morning saw the roster cut from 73 to 40. This is where the real debates started as to who some of the cuts were. This was no easy task. There was a lot of talent in that 73 and obviously there is always more than one way to go about getting things done. However, it got real Sunday morning. It was time to shine for these players. There would be no hiding now. The physicality picked up, the emotions started showing, the enthusiasm was at an all time high, and it was time to perform.
Monday morning saw the 18 player Training Camp Roster announced. Obviously, from some angles of thought, there were some surprises, but Monday’s basketball during the U17 vs U18 scrimmages was the best basketball of the Trials. Admittedly, initially I disagreed with some of the choices. However, the quality of basketball was a beautiful thing to watch Monday morning. The ball moved quickly up the floor with nice outlets, effective dribbles, and advance passes. Posts ran the rim hard. Once in the half court, passes zipped, the ball got reversed, and posts got touches. The appropriate players were taking quality three point shots and knocking them down. Defensively, the effort was impressive. The U17 posts had a real challenge on their hands with the U18 post players. A few of the U18 guards are particularly talented off the dribble, and the U17 guards did a good job keeping them in front and, when needed, rotated to help and recovered well. I’m sure the last couple of days they have improved their ball screen defense, but other than that, nothing was glaringly missing. They were beginning to look like a TEAM. There was a Division 1 intensity and quality of play, and some of the players were as young as 2019’s! No one wanted to lose.
The Monday evening session was much of the same. These players had been putting a lot of training hours since Thursday, yet were still finding the strength and energy to put forth the effort and play needed to continue their growth as a team.
The overall experience of the USA Trials was like none other. It was by far the best evaluation event I’ve ever attended in years of recruiting and then now on the recruiting service and evaluation circuit. The players show up and it is no nonsense. There is not hand holding and codling, just coaching and accountability. This is a pressure packed tryout for these players and seeing how the players adapt and ultimately perform is a nice predictive factor to success at the next level. Especially as the cuts are made, the environment changes for these players and they have to continue to step it up in all facets of the game. I appreciated seeing who loves to compete and who has another level. Some of the players got a little selfish and tried to do too much to stand out. Others became better teammates and the leadership and poise really stood out to me. Consistent shot making and scoring in these situations helped really separate some of these players for me. The post play got more and more physical. The best ones played in small space and were very efficient with their power moves or counter moves when they put the ball on the floor. All of the posts that made the final 18 made concerted efforts to post hard and most of them really got physical on box outs when it was time to rebound.
One other rewarding part of the U17 USA Basketball experience was getting to visit with the players after sessions. Seeing some of them get interviewed and how they handled their media attention was a unique aspect. Everyone that I talked to was very appreciative of their opportunity and knew how much of an honor it was to be there amongst the best players in the country. Their maturity and personalities let me know that they will transition well into the next level. They all touched on the focus and work they know they have ahead of them.
Samantha Brunelle (2019 – VA) was impressive from the first five minutes of the first drill Thursday night. She was energetic and intense with a tightness to her game that showed in her appreciation of the fundamentals. I was not surprised by her mentality coming in at all. “My mindset is I’m going to make this team,” she said. “But, you know, if that doesn’t happen, I get this experience that not many freshman get – to tryout for the U17 USA team, so I’m going to take my experience from this and get better for next year.” I asked her about her work ethic and how she developed her game and she gave highly regarded trainer, Damin Altizer, a nice shout out, “He is helping me develop my game. We are in the gym all the time.” The word is she is a gym rat and it shows. This girl can PLAY.
It didn’t take long to notice Sydney Parrish (2020 – IN) either. I have to admit I did a double take and a follow up check when I saw she was in the 8 th grade. She is a 6’1 skilled and fearless wing, and was certainly one of the most consistent shooters at the trials. I caught up with her after they made the cut from 101 to 73 and she shared her thoughts with me. “It was definitely a lot tougher because it’s the best now that came back, and, I mean, it’s just a great experience coming back,” she humbly told me. When you see the ones who truly love the game, it stands out. I asked her how long she’s known she wanted to be a high level basketball player. “Since I was little. I grew up in a basketball family.” She is a certified HOOPER. She is looking to attend camps at Indiana, Purdue, and Notre Dame this summer, and she also mentioned Maryland and Michigan State. Something tells me the list of options in the near future will be something like… anywhere she’d like to go.
I really liked the poise and confidence of Jordan Nixon (2018 – NY). She was remarkable in her analysis of the play and experience. She has a very cerebral approach to guard play and mentioned Chris Paul as someone she has watched a lot and studied. “My favorite player is Chris Paul, but I wouldn’t say I pattern my game after anyone. I want to do it all,” she shared. I mentioned to her that I was impressed with the ease in which she found her voice in directing her team as the lead guard. “I’ve tried to incorporate leadership and communication into my game,” which is very evident as her eyes are always up and she is surveying the floor. She directed the break and the half court offense very effectively. I asked her to evaluate the play after the cut to 73 and I thought she had a very perceptive answer: “I would say there has been more selfish play, just because, you know, this is it – its do or die now. You have to seize the opportunity you get. It’s definitely more competitive.”
Nixon said she hasn’t made any visits yet, but hopes to see some campuses this summer. She is a savvy guard with no glaring weaknesses and is wise beyond her years.
A couple of other young ones that I was impressed with were Zoe Young (2019 – IA) and Kennedy Brown (2019 – KS) Zoe had a very insightful way of describing her experience. She is very articulate and thoughtful in her conversations. She certainly is confident and she oozes personality. She is going to be a really good player and once she is on campus somewhere, a great recruiter because of the positive influence and addition to any locker room that I believe she will be.
Kennedy caught my eye early on because of her physical play. As a freshman, she lacked some of the natural strength of the older post players (not by much), but that didn’t deter her one bit. She had a very healthy approach to the trials. She was there to experience what it takes to be the best and to come out and compete. She has the ability to play on the block, works on the glass, and is very capable in the high post area.
I can’t say enough how much of a tough task it is for this committee to choose a final 12. They did a wonderful job putting together a very solid 18 from which to choose. Choosing a TEAM for such a prestigious event in such short time in this manner takes wisdom, experience and vision. I trust they will come through and the U17 team will be successful.
We are all patiently waiting until Thursday evening to see the final U17. After watching this process, I am really looking forward to seeing this final team compete at the U17 World Championships in Zaragoza, Spain. Congratulations to the U17 USA Basketball committee ( Bill Larson, Sherri Pegues, Jody Patrick, Jill Rankin Schneider, Yolanda Griffith) and Carol Callan, USA Basketball Women’s National Team Director.
Just for fun here are my 12 Finalists picks:
Alexis Morris
Jenna Brown
Taylor Mikesell
Abby Prohaska
Maddie Williams
Chrisyn Williams
Maya Dodson
Samantha Brunelle
Acquira DeCosta
Charli Collier
Olivia Nelson-Ododa
Sedona Prince
Premier Basketball wishes the best to the coaching staff:
Head Coach: Dori Oldaker – Mt. Lebanon HS (PA)
Assistant Coach: Dianne Lewis – Thomas Edison HS (VA)
Assistant Coach: Samantha Quigley – University of St. Francis (IL)
Special thanks to Jenny Johnston, USA Basketball Communications Manager, for taking care of us during the Trials.
Look for the full U17 and U18 Trials Report as a Premier Basketball Report Subscriber
