Blue Star Basketball

Sierra Moore 5″11 wing has comitted to Duke University

COLORADO SPRINGS — With my post of the possible selections earlier today I didn’t feel compelled to again rush over to the Olympic Development Center to view the first session since fellow Blue Star evaluator, Kevin Lynch, flew into Denver last night to meet a departing Chris Mennig to cover the early 8:30am session. Regardless of watching the first morning session, I put my preliminary list up for view. I did come over to see the last section of play, greet the rest of the Media here and await the first cut which was to take this group down to half it’s size.

At 12:30pm the list was posted on the wall and I was extremely pleased that I was 10/10 with my top Group 1 players and 16/22 with my second Group 1 list. I fared almost as well with Group 2 getting 12/13 of my top players and 18/25 of my second list. I missed on 10 from Group 1 and 7 from Group 2. Overall, not a bad percentage for based on some drills and limited play. Of the overall top players I really only missed on two, 260 Alana Coates, SC and 126 Jamie Cherry, NC.

The afternoon session brought to light some of the players who were on my second list. There were no surprises but some players stepped up and moved onto my expanded 24 list by the afternoon cut as some other made themselves locks for this team. My top 24 list before the cut are:

GUARDS : 177 Jordan Canada, CA; 142 Kelsey Mitchell, OH; 154 Jessica Washington, OK; 139 Tamara Lee, OK; 141 Alexa Middleton, TN; 116 Lindsay Allen, MD; 151 Lindsey Spann, MD; 126 Jamie Cherry, NC.
FORWARDS: 219 Jannah Tucker, MD; 217 Vanessa Smith, OH; 190 Gabrielle Green, CA; 181 Kaela Davis, GA; 176 Cierra Calhoun, NY; 191 Rebecca Greenwell, KY; 205 Bayll McClard, CA; 198 Jessica Jackson, AR; 221 Breanna Turner, TX
BIGS: 273 Jataroe White, NC; 269 Mercedes Russell, OR; 267 Taya Reimer, IN; 203 Stephanie Mavunga, IN; 261 Kendall Cooper, CA; 264 Briana Horrocks, GA; 260 Alaina Coates, SC.

The morning session had the fulll contingent of players. By the end of the afternoon session it was cut down from 72 players to 53 players (G1 37 to 27 / G2 35 to 26) for the evening session. As we advanced into the evening block of workouts there were still two groups. I went back over the names I had selected above to see how it measured against the Selection Committe viewpoint. Of the 24 names I had making it to Sunday morning, four of them were cut by dinner, the most surprising were 141 Alexa Middleton, TN, who had a great afternoon session and 139 Tamara Lee, OK who was strong also during the afternoon games. 205 McClurd and 264 Horrocks had a good afternoon session but didn’t make the cut either. Middleton’s absence was a shock to all members of the Media. It was curious to see who they had going into the evening session. By the end of the night I had revised my final 24 list and could probably give odds on who could be one of the 15 players selected.

I was still confident with the Guards of: 177 Canada, 142 Mitchell and 154 Washington. 133 Linnae Harper, IL made a strong push to make this team while 126 Cherry, 151 Spann, 125 Carter and 116 Allen didn’t separate themselves enough to make this group. The Wings were easier as 190 Green, 181 Davis, 183 Drummer, CA (who was on my first list), and Greenwell, KY had a strong session. 176 Calhoun and 217 Smith didn’t do enough to get them back on my final 24 list by then end of the night. 219 Jannah Tucker, a virtual lock for this team pulled her hamstirng and had to sit out the rest of the session. She is tentative for tomorrow and the Selection Committee could still pick her on the 15 list and bring her back for the Team workouts in 10 days. The Bigs, comprised of big forwards and post players was a tougher group to select as 273 White, 269 Russell and 198 Jackson made my cut. The next batch of 267 Reimer, 203 Mavunga and 260 Coates were strong. Unexpected average play came from 221 Breanna Turner, TX, who is one of the best 2014s here and 261 Kendall Cooper CA. I have 22 names listed above for the 15 spots. The best pure athlete here is 190 Gabby Green from Oakland, CA who showed she can play the point over to the forwards spot with her raw athletic ability.

Tomorrow, Sunday, is the last day of the tryouts. Most of the Media has made their tentative selections. A full day of tryouts probably isn’t necessary but they have it scheduled with a Monday 9:30am final team selection posting. The trick to coming here and evaluating is seeing who’s player hard now and who will be back representing the USA next year for the 17u Worlds. You can pick a team you feel can win now or a team that will win later with upside talent. Last year the Committee picked almost the same 17u team that played 16u two years ago. Kevin Lynch and myself will sit tomorrow afternoon and try to figure out who should make the team and possibly a second list on what we think the Selection Committee will pick. Sometimes its not always just what we see and how you do.

COLORADO SPRINGS – Today was the first full day and I was prepared to hurry over for the 8:30am session but learned from fellow Blue Star Evaluator Chris Mennig not to rush as USAB Staff were working again on simple, build-upon drills for these young players. I went back to my hotel to work on the USJN Big Apple event in NJ and decided to come back for the after lunch session.

This event is even more full than in the past as the dual sessions and the numbers have cut down on the length of the break for all but the Media and USAB Staff. With two groups splitting three-hour blocks of workouts there would be only one hour for lunch and dinner compared to at least two hours for previous years. Chris and I got back and were greeted by Chris Hansen, Lisa Bodine and Mark Lewis who where “shocked” that I missed the morning session. We were all hoping for a more competitive and more intense drill and competition session in the afternoon. This wish was necessary as we would have to “evaluate” the entire group on this afternoon drill session and evening competition and come up with a preliminary cut group even before the USAB Selection Committee did their own work.

It was very intense and by the end of the afternoon session I had Group 2 finished and half of Group 1 as it was hard to focus on player abilities with the limited drills they were running at that time. After this session I interviewed two players, 6-0 Jannah Tucker 2013 (top five 2013 BSR) from Randlestown, MD and 6-0 Cierra Calhoun from Brooklyn, NY (top 10 2014 BSR).

“Attending the Nike Skills Academy made a difference because Ganon Baker was there (Hampton, VA site),” said Tucker who along with Calhoun play for the Philadelphia Belles travel program. “He talked about intensity and bringing energy, showing passion and doing the little things.” “I think the talent level is higher here, “ said Calhoun who is making her first visit to the Olympic Center. “The Nike Skills prepared me for this. I just have to play my game and separate myself from the other players here.”

After a quick dinner away from the Center, Chris and I returned to a flurry of evaluations as the players were not into group competition drills of three-on-three halfcourt. As this was again two sessions you only had 1.5 hrs to get through the 60-plus players, per group. This session was about cleaning up the Evals and seeing who was separating themselves from the pack.

From Group 1 I was able to pull about 9 names with another possible 10 players on the bubble. Those players are: 124 Campbell, 142 Mitchell, 154 Washington, 181 Davis, 209 Nared, 219 Tucker, 221 Turner, 269 Russell, 273 White. From Group 2 I selected 11 players with at least 11 more possible: 116 Allen, 122 Caldwell, 176 Calhoun, 183 Drummer, 190 Green, 198 Jackson, 203 Manvunge, 212 Petitbomme, 217 Smith, 261 Cooper, 276 Lapeyrolerie.

The takeaways from both sessions so far was that there are a lot of guards here and big guards, small forwards who all play a position higher due to their height and abilities. It was hard to come up with the selection of the guard. The bigger wings and small forwards was much easier as those players clearly dominate when they step on the floor. There are no great post players here. In fact, this is a very slight two classes of post players along with a small number of post players in the 2012 class which means the USA will be in a tight situation when the USAB older teams are constructed after the 2012 London Olympics. The Australians and Chinese teams are huge and they have surprising numbers of them while we don’t. as shown at the 17u Worlds last summer.

If I had to select a team, I would pick the following: 116 Allen, 142 Mitchell, 154 Washington, 176 Calhoun, 181 Davis, 190 Green, 198 Jackson, 209 Nared, 212 Petitbomme, 217 Smith, 219 Tucker, 221 Turner, 261 Cooper, 273 White.

GUARDS: Allen, MD; Mitchell, OH; Washington, OK; Petithomme, FL
WINGS: Calhoun, NY; Green, CA; Nared, OR; Smith, OH; Tucker, MD
BIGS: Davis, GA; Jackson, AR; Turner, TX; Cooper, CA; White, NC

The first cut is after the morning session. The Selection Committee should get down to at least 40 players including the above names. Who will make the guard and wing list will be up for discussion as some player may move from bubble slots to contenders for the team. There are at least eight players who did not make my 14 player selection who could move up if this next session is a breakout for them.

COLORADO SPRING – Yesterday was the first day of the USA Basketball 16u trials for the over 120 players who signed up for this latest version of a youth basketball reality show. This was not the typical day for us members of the media who have been coming to this site for the past six years to observe, evaluate and write about these various USAB team selections. For a lack of a better word, it was boring…

The 16u attendees were divided into two groups with the evening session divided into two again to accommodate the mass of players. The difference this time was the drills and teaching situations, real basic, real boring. The previous teams were older and this was USAB’s first 16U National Team tryout. The older team tryouts were more group drills with two-on-two, three-on-three and full court 3-on-3, 2-on-1 drills. By the second session they would be into half court competitions. Not this group. As we watched the vary capable staff led by former Colorado coach Ceal Barry, now a Buff admin, run the players though simple but necessary teaching situations, you could see she has not lost her passion to teach and coach despite being six years removed from the bench. The mass of players in each group looked eager as this was the first evening session.

Right in the middle of the first session in strolled Diamond DeShields, the Blue Star Index top 2013 and member of last year’s USA 18u National Team as a freshman. As an invited attendee at the 19u Trials which ended the day before, she was still at the Olympic Training Center as she missed her flight due to the weather. Her flight was not until Friday morning. She sat down next to me and we discussed a number of topics from travel, to the weight of being the top player in her class to making the 19u roster. Diamond mentioned that she was asked if she wanted to give up her 19u slot for a guaranteed position on the 16u team. Laughingly, she said she was not interested and wasn’t going to be swayed off the 19u team which she mentioned would be in Disney and on ESPN while the 16u team would be encamped at the Springs for training for their mid-June event in Mexico. The 19u team after the early June event in Orlando would come back a month later to prepare for their trip to South America and Chile and the FIBA 19u World Championships. Ever gracious, Diamond then walked along the Media bench and said goodbye to the bunch of us huddled against a wall prohibited to walk around or stand up during the sessions.

About 45 minutes before the end of the last session my phone missed a call from Brian Stewart, father of Breanna Stewart, the Blue Star Reports’ top 2012 player who’s already committed to UConn. I called Brain back to learn that he wanted to ask me how he could help Breanna get home after being stranded in Chicago. I mentioned a number of different options but as it was getting late in Chicago and it would be difficult for her to get back that evening. Brian wasn’t happy but Breanna who traveled to France with the eventual gold medal USA 17U team was fine. In the end she didn’t make a flight and stayed at O’Hare overnight for her 6:45am flight. It seemed that the weather also played havoc on five 16u attendees who didn’t make the evening session and were expect for Friday’s first full day of activities.

Hopefully the Friday session would be better as everyone will be where they need to be coming and going.

COLORADO SPRINGS – Up next after the selection of the USA Basketball 19U National Team which will compete in the FIBA World Championships in Chile this July will be the younger 16U National Team selection for the FIBA Americas Zone competitions next month.

Chris Mennig and Kevin Lynch will be coming into town to help with the Blue Star evaluations of the over 120 players will descend on the USA Olympic Training Center to get one of the coveted 12 spots on this team. Why so many? Seems as if everyone who went online besides the “invited” 35 or so players got an application online and sent it in. This return-to-the-past harkens back to the USA Olympic Festival games which saw four regional sites with over 200 kids each being funneled onto four rosters for an internal event back in the mid-80’s and early 90’s. This youth event came to an end because it was getting costly and also it was getting out of hand. College coaches were “promising” players the follwing: (1) get them invited to the Trials. (2) selected to the Regional Team (3) and possibly later on, an Olympic selection of at least a prior National Team selection. Eventually the NCAA has to stop coaches from attending these events and also the rest of the basketball community got tired of this and spoke up. How and why do you think the WBCA was formed? I was there in Syracuse when that went down. A lot of people either don’t know or forgot how women’s basketball got to where it is today.

The amount of players is so great for this level of selection they have been divided into two groups and will continue until they get down to one manageable selection list. There are a number of reasons for this, mostly the desire to eliminate summer travel team competition by the Elite college coaches male and female. (This history and pathway to that would cover five more blogs if written now.) This open format went away; it seems to be creeping back again…

A shout out has to go to Glenn Nelson for his insightful and on-point post about the issue of ranking players. Yes, I did write what you just read. A lot of people would love to have us at polar positions as unfortunately media today is based a lot on confrontation (look at our political system and today’s media, etc.). We share one base point, we’re fans of girls basketball and do what we can to bring attention to it. I rely a lot on Chris and Kevin to talk over ranking, issues and players before we do our work. I know Glenn speak with Chris Hansen and Mark Lewis about this stuff. Even I talk to Mark a lot about the issues in girls and women’s basketball. I spent a long time with Chris in France last summer doing the same. A lot of times we agree on rankings, sometimes on stories, etc. but no matter what, we will not be the same on all player rankings down to the Top 300 as there is not scientific way to do so.

In speaking to a group of very concerned and interested fathers at the Nike Skills Academy in Dallas two weeks ago, they wanted to know about “rankings.” As I do in all cases, I am the first to always say it is ALWAYS political. Why, cause you tend to evaluate who you see and you can’t be everywhere. And then you count on people who saw people you didn’t and you make comparisons to get a clue where they are. I told the parents that the critical issue is getting a scholarship, a coveted part of playing basketball in America today. That is financial freedom. I told them if their child is that good, then they are in the scholarship boat. Ranking are where you are sitting. If you want to fight over a seat, be my guest but you’re in the boat, who cares, you got the seat. I told them think of all those who are holding on to the side of the boat, think they have a seat and are in the water and those who will never get out of the water? That’s why we will have three people here at the USAB trials as this is the best vehicle to evaluate the top players and those who think they have a seat.

The following were named as finalists for the 2011 USA U19 World Championship Team were: Jordan Adams (Mater Dei H.S. / Irvine, Calif.); Cierra Burdick (Butler H.S. / Matthews, N.C.); Diamond DeShields (Norcross H.S. / Norcross, Ga.); Stefanie Dolson (Connecticut / Port Jervis, N.Y.); Bria Hartley (Connecticut / North Babylon, N.Y.); Mo Jefferson (Texas Home Educators Sports Association / Glenn Heights, Texas); Alexis Jones (Irving MacArthur H.S. / Irving, Texas); Betnijah Laney (Smyrna H.S. / Clayton, Del.); Ariel Massengale (Bolingbrook H.S. / Bolingbrook, Ill.); Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Mater Dei H.S. / Anaheim, Calif.); Meighan Simmons (Tennessee / Cibolo, Texas); Imani Stafford (Winward H.S. / Los Angeles, Calif.); Breanna Stewart (Cicero-North Syracuse H.S. / North Syracuse, N.Y.); Morgan Tuck (Bolingbrook H.S. / Bolingbrook, Ill.); and Elizabeth Williams (Princess Anne H.S. / Virginia Beach, Va.).

There was not much of a surprise execpt that six players with ties to UConn were selected for this team. There were not many players here this year at the college freshman level as there were last year trying out for this team. The USAB staff will also be selecting a World University Games team from this group and from another group of players. A number of players who made various USA teams last year and also noted college freshman did not make the cut. Most noteable was the selection of a lot of bigs for this team as down the road the USA team will face an even bigger Austrailian and China team as these players advance in age along with their competition. The guard play will be even quicker and more defensive compared to last year’s 17U and 18U gold medal teams.

Xavier sharpshooter Kate Rutan has been granted her realase from the Xavier Musketeers. Kate will continue her education at a scholo closer to her Philadelphia home.

It’s been a long summer of travel and events.  The summer will officially end for me this coming weekend with the final day of the AAU Convention in San Juan, PR.  This is the culmination of the summer every two years now as the AAU has adopted this new format for their conventions.  I have talked to a lot of people over the course of the summer since returning from Toulouse/Rodez and the FIBA 17U championships.

In between I’ve been to the following events: USJN-DC National Championshps, Nike Nationals in Augusta, GA, a wedding of a former player in Puta Cana, DM, the Nike World Basketbal lFestival in NYC, the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, the FIBA World Men’s Championships in Istanbul, Decorex and London Design Week in London, the Nike International Basketball meetings in Las Vegas and now the AAU Convention in San Juan.  That’s a lot of miles, a lot of hotel nights and time away - most of it spent collecting information and asking people about the state of basketball here in the US and globally.  No matter what anyone says, our game is in trouble and the tip of the iceberg is the declining interest in basketball.

Four years ago at the AAU Convention in Hawaii, I went to look at the presentation of the President’s Committee on Physical Fitness of which the AAU was a participant.  The most shocking and telling point of their presentation was the elimination of basketball in the top ten of activities enjoyed by today’s youth in their program. Not in the top ten?  Even when you go to the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association report on sports participation you find basketball decreasing.  This past summer, a reports from the SGMA (probably instigated by my similar remarks to some of the NBA leadership in a meeting last January) showed a decrease in the sport, the same one I saw first hand helping run the Philadelphia Belles program - fewer participation. 

No matter how you want to cut it, the recent moves by the NCAA over the past 12 months has started a series of attacks on youth basketball, not limited to their traditional whipping subject, boys basketball. This time both genders are in danger from various angles with last week’s publication of the new attempt to eliminate summer recruiting. Add this to the three-players bordering state rule and you have an out-and-out attack on opportunities for players outside the Elite 48.

I hesitate to comment deeply on the boarding state rule due to the legal challenges that will soon be constructed by the girls side of basketball, but no matter how you want to paint it, this eliminates parental choice of where a student-athlete can participate. College coaches are dictating where a child can play over a parents wishes while recruiting said player to their program which may lie outside the boarding state rule they are being blackmailed to play under. Enough on that subject for now.

The second item is the elimination of summer basketball. This was a surprise but not shocking move since this topic has been on the table for years, The alternative has been to change and limit as much player opportunities as possible. Being involved in all of basketball under the YB21.org banner, I’ve seen up close how the game works and what the real issues are. As they always say, follow the money. Well, in this case, it is the people who benefit from those key outstanding players, the milionaire college coach and the millionaire pro coach who both will be working with those student they feel can make it to the NBA (hence, another millionaire). The common denominator here is the Professional Agent and hordes of fellow travelers and runners, all looking to create the “relationship” between themselves and the player / parents and college coach. It’s makes no difference who’s important, there is always a “relationship.” And, with that “relationship” its about the money, present and potential.

The elimination of summer basketball put out by the College Conference group has been viewed as shocking. For others a typical power play by those administrators to flex their collective muscle and see if the new NCAA President has the gumption to take a stand against them as did the former President Myles Brand. It was a quick response from the NABC (men’s coaching community) that showed the real intent of those in power. The college coaches enmass decried this move. The NCAA leadership has been silent on the response. Those in the know say this is the first stage of an attack to limit the game and drive all recruiting into the collective on-campus arms of the top 10 collge coaches own on-campus events and “all-star camps.” Don’t think so, this is how men’s football is operated now and similar to the old school days when Purdue ran their famous elite camp.

What is next? People have told me that if  ”key and uninformed people” sees this movement as a “let’s clean up the game” move enough, they’ll buy into it since their is no one capable of individually getting it to slow down. There is time to unify and present alternatives. Everyone, even iHoops, the villan of 2009, is trying to find ways to make the game better. While this news made a big sudden splash, it again shows the need for unity on the event operators side, the parents and coaches of summer travel teams and the mid-level and below college coaching community to find a common idea and voice behind realistic changes. This is a perfect time for that to happen. I hope people will find the time and energy to think of their own futures and of this game. If not, they will be shoved to the side because of their own laziness and failure to step up and act.

Toulouse, France – The quiet, cozy  atmosphere of Rodez is a vast contrast to the grandness of Toulouse which happens to be this nation’s fourth largest city. The ride into town from the airport is easy and beautiful once you reach the tall, tree-lined canal that slides through the city.  That view alone is worth the trip to the quaint city.

I came to watch the other side of the bracket, Group B.  The first game is a huge contest between Australia and Belgium. The word from Rodez was that this was the more physical bracket.  If you want to count elbows before the post move by the Australians going unnoticed then its just as good as the Rodez bracket.  Belgium won this game going to the giant killing three-point shot.  They hit 12/37 three’s and took 65 shots from the two – over 100 shots for the game and the game was still close despite the Aussies 25 turnovers. The hallmark of this event has been the team that could hit the three and pull off the upset.  The Americans faced a Russia and Turkey team set on trying that strategy.  Look for the Group B teams to try and do the same.  As USA Head Coach Barb Nelson has said, “Our defense makes us go.”

The viewpoint is that most of the teams here – France, Russia, Belgium, Australia, Spain, Turkey and Japan. There is a noticeable gap between these teams and the USA at this event.  Even the loss against Australia and win over Spain prior to coming to France where both where the USA Team played poorly doesn’t close the talent-leadership gap the USA has.

If there is any team here that slightly mimics the USA, it is Belgium. They are the most American-like players here as they possess all the savvy, ball handling and three-point shooting that any USA player has.  The problem is that there are three players who’ve got it (5-7 Julie Vanloo (5), 5-9 Sien Devliegher (7) and 6-3 post Emma Meesseman (11). They are great at accepting the ball on the wing and immediately attacking the defender and the lane for a kick-out pass and fast reversal around the three-point line for an open shot.  This is the best team at passing the ball quickly around the horn.

The Aussies have their typical, hard-working set of players but even bigger this time with 6-3 wide-body Tayla Roberts (13), and two big forwards in 6-4 Gretel Tippett (11), 6-2 Sara Blicavs (15) and two 6-6 post in Alexandra Bunton (9) and Carley Mijovic (5).  Even their wing, 6-1 Stephanie Talbot (7) and 5-10 point guard Aimie Clydesdale are big by FIBA 17u standards. And, they are not playing in the usual Aussie unitard uniform that is legendary at the Olympic level.  Except for Roberts, this is a tall, lean, very strong (they are all in a lifting program and show it) team. If there is an heir-apparent to the famed Lauren Jackson, it would be Tippett as she’s the best inside-outside threat at 6-4 and doesn’t mind wearing a bow in her hair unlike 99% of the contestants here.

Unlike prior Australia teams at the Olympic level, this group is being geared to deal with the Russian and USA teams that have always overwhelmed them in size regardless of their play. This young group has all the makings of giving the USA a hard time in the next 8 years when all these players will advance to the Olympic level.  With this team, at least 2/.3 of this group will make their Olympic team in 2020 where the USA will have the leftovers of the group about to replace 70% of our team that plays in London for 2016.

The other observation was the desire of college coaches to learn the “pro-ness” of each player on the teams participating here in France. There is no doubt that these girls could play in the US at the D1 major college level but are they willing to leave home at this age, forego the money and go to college and study like the American players do?

When Candace Parker played in Reze, France (about four hours from Rodez), she dominated the Cadette International Reze event (which the USA-Select team won) as a sophomore and was offered a pro contract where she would make a salary and receive a home and car so her parents could follow her.  Other foreign players who’ve come to the US have foregone the money for an education. Some even left after a few years just to take advantage of the money prior to the financial meltdown that has decreased the money across women’s basketball in the Eurozone.

Who could play in the US?  Well, that’s almost like constructing a non-American all-star roster from this event.  And, the second question is what level of success would they meet with their style and skill sets?  If I were picking an All-Star team from each Group…

Group B would be:

USA                5          Ariel Massengale                 5-6      point guard

USA                8          Brianna Stewart                   6-4      post

USA                15        Elizabeth Williams               6-3      post

Turkey            15        Ozge Kavurmacioglu          6-2      post

France           14        Christelle Diallo                   6-4      post

France           7          Olivia Epoupa                       5-4      point guard

Japan             14        Moeko Nagaoka                   5-11    wing

Canada          8          Nirra Fields                           5-8      point guard

Group A would  be:

Australia        13        Tayla Roberts                       6-3      post

Australia        7          Stephanie Talbot                 6-1      wing

Australia        11        Gretel Tippett                        6-4      forward

Belgium         11        Emma Messeman                6-3      post

Belgium         5          Julie Vanloo                         5-7      guard

China             8          Meng Li                                  6-1      wing

China             12        Dong Yu                                6-5      forward

Spain             10        Yurena Diaz Castellano     5-9      guard

Rodez – Yesterday was considered a vacation day for me.  It was the off-day of the 17u FIBA World Championshps in Toulouse-Rodez, France. A group of parents and accompanying fans did the three-hour road trip down to the Mediterranean to see the sights and the water. Me, been there done that and with this being my third trip (one in the winter to visit my friend Jake in Caumont outside Rouen, second to Paris for the Euroleague Championships) to France this year, I wasn’t in an acute need to see the French countryside.  

I spend the day sitting in an Irish pub called O’Sullivan’s in Albi, enjoying a beautiful day, drinking French cider and reading “How We Decide.”  It wasn’t an off day per say as the phone started to ring sometime past 8pm my time as it was only 2pm on the East Coast and 11am on the West.  Between a ringing blackberry and Nokia 6700, it wasn’t much of a vacation but a respite from the madness and work prior to the USJN-DC 17u National Championships that will start on July 22^nd.  With over 340 teams between the 17s and 15s-13s, this has become the biggest single girls basketball event in the US. Regardless of time zone, people want to confirm, complain or connect.  Communications in the 21^st century leaves people scratching their head thinking about how things ran 10, even 20 years ago – before netbook computers, instant email, handheld cell phones, PDAs and PDFs.

All USA Team Head Coach Barbara Nelson could talk about in the post-game press conference was the lack of communication between her players on defense after a interesting 84-55 win over a tough Turkey squad.  ““We struggled to communicate. Sometimes we weren’t on the same page,” said Nelson. “I looked at the stat sheet and we had a lot of turnovers.  We weren’t communicating, we were leaving people open and our guards need to recognize that.”

If there is an Achilles heal in this event for Team USA, let alone any other team, it is the three-point shot. China shocked Australia hitting 14 three’s, Belgium gets past China in another upset today as they held them to 7-26 (26.2%) from the three while both teams hit over 50% from the two for the game. Russia tried to use the three to upend the USA, today Turkey used it to stay in the game.  Luckily the USA’s 21-4 first period lead enabled them to coast  It enabled the USA Team to use different lineups throughout the rest of the half and get other players in the game.

“We’re all working towards a common goal, to win the championships,” said 5-11 guard 2012 Jordan Adams about the change in roles for players use to starting and playing every minute. “You are use to controlling the ball and playing a lot and with a team this talented you learn to let the ball go out of your hands because you know someone will make the play.”

“The big difference in playing against this style of international basketball is the pump fake and the jump skip.” Adams continued.  “They are more disciplined on their moves, where you think you’ve stopped them and now their on the side of you. They’re tough to defend.”

If there is any obstacle between the USA Team and the first 17u World Championship it will be the continual struggle to keep focused on defense, know where the shooters are and sharing the ball.

Tonight I am headed to Toulouse to watch the last day of pool play, this time the other side of the bracket where people are saying it’s more physical.  Initially this was supposed to be a pool dominated by Australia. The USA (Group A) remains the only undefeated team in the event as Group B has three teams at 3-1 records (China, Australia, Belgium).  As noted earlier, this event is not loaded with premier teams. Reports to me said it would be a good event with good teams outside the USA Team.  Spain which is 2-2 will have to wait until it’s game tomorrow against China to know if they’ll get to play the USA as the No. 4 Pool B crossover opponent for Team USA in the championship round.

It was a great time in Rodez, the people and organizational committee ran a great, friendly event.  This was international basketball at its best, personal and within reach unlike the major boy or men’s / women’s events where security and distance is the norm.  Shortly I’ll be back in the USA getting ready for USJN-DC and the wonderful, stress-free American parents and their teams.  I’ll miss the flyes that became a pesky annoyance daily. I’ll leave them to Chis Hansen who’s taken over the role of fly killer. Goodbye Rodez!