U17 USA Basketball Finalists

The USA Basketball U17 Trials began with 139 players and by Monday morning the selection committee had trimmed the list down to 18 finalists. Below are my thoughts on the 18 finalists:
 
2017 Janelle Bailey- Providence Day School
 
Bailey is a strong, physical post whose confidence and game elevated after surviving each cut. Her consistent effort and rebounding was a major factor in her making the final 18. She has good footwork in the low post and can knock down the midrange jumper.
 
2017 Rellah Boothe- IMG Academy
 
Boothe was one of the players left off last year’s team that received the most out cry for being excluded. She is a special talent. I have seen her be one of the most dominate players on the floor, but the U17 trials didn’t start that way for her. At times she struggled to get up and down the floor, but as the trials went on, she got better. During Monday’s training camp when the U17’s scrimmaged the U18 trial participants, Boothe was outstanding and a beast on the boards. So mush so that she earned a spot on USA’s FIBA U18 Americas team.
 
2019 Aliyah Boston- Worcester Academy
 
Boston was one of three 2019’s to make the finalist list, which was a sign that the selection committee was committed to putting the best team together after last year’s bronze medal at the FIBA U16 Americas. She displayed good footwork in the low post and uses her body well to shield off the defender to finish with either hand. She is a physical defender who rebounds well on the defensive end.
 
2018 Jenna Brown- The Lovett School
 
Brown is a strong, athletic point guard whose consistent play was impressive all weekend. She showed a good understanding of when to push in transition and when to run a set. Her ability to play lock down defense on an opposing teams’ point guard will be a factor on her making the final team because at FIBA U16 Americas, Brazil’s Isabelle Leite lit up Team USA in their semifinal loss.
 
2019 Samantha Brunelle- William Monroe HS
 
Players come to the U17 trials to make the team, but an added benefit is the ability to make a name for themselves with the scouting services in attendance. One such player that made a name for herself is Samantha Brunelle. She has the ability to score at all three levels plus with her back to the basket, but it is her ability to consistently hit the three ball that made her a finalist for the U17 USA team. Her relentless competitiveness shows in every possession.
 
2018 Charli Collier- Barbers Hill HS
 
After just missing the cut for the FIBA U16 Americas team in 2015, Collier returned to the U17 trials on a mission to leave no doubt that she should be on the team. She displayed her ability to score in the low post, and the development of her jump shot out to the three point line, plus the ability to create off the bounce. On Sunday, Collier showed her ability to take over spurts of the game, which is one thing the FIBA U16 Americas team was lacking.

2018 Aquira DeCosta- St. Mary’s HS
 
As one of three returning players to make the finalist roster, DeCosta’s athleticism and versatility are making the case for her to make the U17 roster that will play in Zaragoza, Spain. On Sunday and Monday, against the U18 trial roster, she was a beast on the boards plus consistently scored in the low post and transition.
 
2017 Maya Dodson- St. Francis HS
 
Dodson’s length and elevation, which can be seen in the video of her dunking on our twitter account, catches your eye at the jump, but the more you watch her play you will catch the subtleties in her game. She has the knack of making plays on both ends of the floor with and without the basketball plus can score at the rim or with her pull up jumper.
 
2018 Destanni Henderson- Fort Myers HS
 
Henderson is an athletic point guard with excellent handles and can knock down the three and pull up jumper. For all her offensive abilities, it is her on ball defense that has her as a finalist. She has the ability to pressure the ball 94 feet plus does a good job of fighting over screens.
 
2018 Nazahrah Hillmon- Gilmour Academy
 
The U17 Trials are held over three and a half days and the long, grueling trials tests every players’ conditioning. Hillmon was one player who showed up to camp in great shape and it showed in her ability to play with high energy very session. She has the ability to guard multiple positions and rebounds well on both ends of the floor.
 
2018 Taylor Mikesell- Jackson HS
 
Mikesell first caught my eye after the cut to 41 when she knocked down multiple three point shots off the catch. She plays with great poise and basketball IQ plus her ability to shoot the three will help to extend the floor on the offensive end. Her leadership is something the FIBA U16 Americas team was missing.
 
2017 Alexis Morris- Legacy Christian Academy
 
Morris was USA’s leading scorer from the FIBA U16 Americas, but she didn’t let that go to her head as she entered the U17 trials. During Saturday’s sessions, she began to separate herself from the pack with her ability create and knock down open shots. Morris’s experience at FIBA U16 Americas along with her improved floor game have her on the finalist roster for USA’s FIBA U17 World Championship team.
 
2018 Olivia Nelson-Ododa- Winder-Barrow HS
 
Nelson-Ododa is another player who seized the moment at the USA U17 trials who has a very good chance to make the team. She will sky rocket up the rankings. She is a long forward who runs the floor very well and attacks the boards on both ends. Her ability to consistently finish through contact with both hands and knock down the 18 foot jumper has her on the U17 finalist roster.

2018 Sedona Prince- Liberty Hill HS
 
After her solid play at the FIBA U16 Americas, Prince spent the past year continuing to develop her foot work with her back to the basket and facing up plus extending her range to the three. She did struggle finishing at times but consistently created scoring opportunities for herself and teammates. Her interior defense and rebounding was solid all weekend plus has her on the U17 finalist roster.
 
2018 Abby Prohaska- Lakota West HS
 
 Prohaska was one of the most steady players throughout the weekend. This lefty combo guard is a natural leader on and off the court. She was able to knock down some three balls off the catch and was able to get to the second level for her excellent pull up jumper in the mid range. Abby is a blue collar guard who does the little things that teams need to win.
 
2018 Christyn Williams- Central Arkansas Christian School
 
Williams was one of the final cuts for the FIBA U16 Americas roster last summer and returned for the U17 trials with renewed determination. She displayed her improved jumper and ability to feed the post, but it is her on ball defense that could be the deciding factor for the U17 team.
 
2018 Madison Williams- Trinity Valley School
 
Williams may have been one of the best athletes at the USA U17 trials, but it was her consistent impact on games that caught the selector’s eyes. She showed her ability to guard multiple positions and rebound outside of her area plus knock down the pull up jumper. Her versatility has her on the U17 finalist roster.
 
2019 Zoe Young- Valley HS
 
The USA U17 trials is a great opportunity for young prospects to square off against older players and display their abilities. Young was 2019 prospect who displayed her basketball IQ to lead a team plus her ability to knock down the three throughout the trials.