17U trials in Colorado

[MilfordHusky]

This guy was a Paige Bueckers wannabe:

 

[Sluconn Husky]

You'll have to go full screen to see these consecutive plays from Cameron Brink. First she makes a super quick give-and-go pass for an assist, so quick you have to watch very closely. Then after her team gets the ball back and collects an offensive rebound Brink hits a long jumper.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Mark Lewis profiles the finalists:


Aliyah Boston– 2019 – 6-4 – Post – St. Thomas, Virgin, Islands– Imposing presence down low…Can establish and hold her post up against any defender among her peers…Continues to add to and sharpen her post repertoire…Spins off defenders at times…Wants the ball…Need to step to the pass at times when contested…Has improved her decisions and passing skills…Playing with more patience on the catch…Triggering the break but getting out and running the floor as well…Not the ball screen you want to run into as a defender…Aggressive defender herself…Can move her match up off the block or up the key…Impacts play on both ends…The one you want to play with…not against


Cameron Brink– 2020 – 6-4 – Forward – Beaverton, Oregon– Added length…Build is still lean but doesn’t shy away from contact…Additional strength will be an asset in the future…Agility is on display more and more…Form and touch are there on the perimeter forcing opposing bigs to close out and become vulnerable…Creating her own looks off short drives and pull ups…Will take it baseline into traffic…Gets out quickly and makes herself an option in transition…Can post up and finish down low…Reads well on the catch and can find open options passing out…Length makes her a factor on the defensive end as does lateral footspeed for size…Again, added strength will be a plus down the road


Paige Bueckers– 2020 – 5-11 – Guard – St. Louis Park, Minnesota – One of the more consistent top performers at the trials…Makes plays off both skills and instincts…Mixes her attack between penetration and an effective pull up…Off the drive delivered some lethal interior passes as the bigs came her way…Changes direction at full speed in transition…Keeps her dribble off the hesitation exploiting defenders reactions…Slender build doesn’t inhibit her in traffic or finishing around the rim…Protects the ball going up…Active defender…Takes chances at time but sees the ball from the weakside and anticipates well…Has the natural knack and intuitive game that you can’t coach


Azzi Fudd– 2021 – 5-11 – Point Guard – Arlington, Virginia– Depth of her game continues to improve…Not content to let the momentum in her game or skills stagnate…Combination of size and skills makes her a challenge to defend…Pushing the ball at opportunity…Plays with an advanced understanding of the teammates she’s on the floor with…Mixed up perimeter and interior options of her own…Has shown an interest in getting to the rim more and more…Handles contact well and gets the ball off against physical opposition…Eyes are constantly surveying the floor…Talented scorer but aware and willing to give it up as better possibilities evolve…On ball defense is becoming more aggressive and containing…Taking away options and making her match-up work for everything


Aubrey Griffin– 2019 – 6-1 – Guard – Ossining, New York– Not a surprise but certainly an impressive effort from start to finish…Smooth, fluid and athletic at the guard spot…No residual appearance of knee issues…Scored in a variety of ways…Changed speed off the drive and got defenders out of their stance or lunging…Nice elevation and touch come with her floater off penetration…Somewhat upright at times but confident going both ways…Quiet production but consistent performer…Measured approach on defense helps her utilize size and reach…Sees the floor on both ends…Made plays


Hannah Gusters– 2020 – 6-5 – Post – DeSoto, Texas– Making the most of her first appearance at the USA Trials…Combines size, strength and advancing skills…Has progressed at a constant and steady pace…Works hard down low but can make plays in the high post as well…Playing with more confidence each time out…Reads are now becoming reactions and proving to be consistent productivity…Baby hook is a challenge to contest and getting called upon more often…Gets up and down the floor challenging other bigs to dig a little deeper…Can hold her ground defensively…Imposing presence as a weakside defender…Contributes at an elite level


Jordan Horston– 2019 – 6-0 – Combo – Columbus, Ohio– Probably the most versatile player in Colorado Springs…Legitimate size with advanced backcourt skills…Throw in exceptional speed and quickness and you’ve an opposing coach’s nightmare…Wants the ball and wants to make things happen…Gets into the paint virtually at will…Can finish at the rim but elevates for the pull up or pass more often than not…Could actually look for her own scoring more to force defenders into a corner…Ultimate asset in the transition game…Actually faster with the ball than many defenders are without…Rises above the crowd…Perimeter shot is getting there…Release is still off forehead to a degree but consistency is coming…Vertical and length make her a force on the boards from the perimeter…Tools are there to be an impact defender with reach, lateral footspeed and instincts


Haley Jones– 2019 – 6-1 – Guard/Wing – Santa Cruz, California– Another elite representative of “versatility”…Has both length and speed…Combines with a fluid athleticism making her a factor in full and halfcourt…Skills are sharp but magnified even more by an impressive understanding of what’s going on around her…Well coached…Consistent and “level” emotional approach…Not too high on positive, no overreaction to bad…Creating options off the drive as she has in the past…The pull up is second choice to the penetrate and pass…Sees the floor in transition and off the drive in the halfcourt…Crossover and hesitation look even sharper…Form and stroke are sound but base is narrow on her jumper…Calculated defensively…Anticipates one and two passes away…Shows depth in every aspect of the game


Charisma Osborne– 2019 – 5-9 – Guard – Moreno Valley, California– Played some of her best basketball…Speed is deceptive because of the “smooth” approach to her attack…Utilizes both ballskills and ball fakes to get defenders off balance and out of position…Hesitation is serving her well…First step leaves opponents scrambling to recover or calling or help…Can take it all the way to rim or is just as comfortable pulling up in mid-range…Small twist dropping the left foot on her jumper could impact consistency at times…Still knocks down her share…Strength is surprising for size…Good presence on the glass for a guard…Getting more and more physical as an assertive on ball defender…Not an “invitee” but among the elite in the trials


Hailey Van Lith– 2020 – 5-9 – Point Guard – Wenatchee, Washington– Attacking and skilled point guard…Lower body strength is exceptional for a player her size…Sound speed but elite quickness…First step off ballhandling moves creates both separation and options for her…Lefthander that can get to the rim or pull up on a dime…Change of speed and hesitation are the go to elements in her attack…Quick release is there from the jumper, pull up or floater…Simply put, can score the ball…Gets it off in traffic when penetrating…Step back covers plenty of ground to get off the long ball…Can be score first mentality at times but ultimately still remains productive…Works on the defensive end and attempts to anticipate with both hands and feet…Came up with some strips but also gave up penetration on several occasions…Effort and execution


One Last Look At The USA U17 Finalists - Bluestar Media

 

[Sluconn Husky]

 

[Sluconn Husky]

 

[MilfordHusky]

Hailey Van Lith, ankle-breaker extraordinaire.

 

[Charliebball]

she plays with some nasty............UConn could always use more attitude..........

 

[nwhoopfan]

Looks like Cameron Brink snuck into the Van Lith highlight clip several times.

 

[Charliebball]

Looks like Cameron Brink snuck into the Van Lith highlight clip several times.

that would be a pretty nifty NW combination for UConn..........

 

[Dillon77]

This guy was a Paige Bueckers wannabe:

So, I had the distinct pleasure of being able to attend many New Orleans Jazz games in the late 70's and it was as if a magic show broke out during one of the last Fat Tuesday parades. An absolute hoot to attend. What wasn't shown here was his ability to set up Gail Goodrich for an automatic jumper. And Goodrich could do the same for him.
"Laissez les bon temps rouler," Pete. Thanks!

 

[Charliebball]

So, I had the distinct pleasure of being able to attend many New Orleans Jazz games in the late 70's and it was as if a magic show broke out during one of the last Fat Tuesday parades. An absolute hoot to attend. What wasn't shown here was his ability to set up Gail Goodrich for an automatic jumper. And Goodrich could do the same for him.
"Laissez les bon temps rouler," Pete. Thanks!

the guy with the crazy handle and the floppy socks........

 

[MilfordHusky]

the guy with the crazy handle and the floppy socks...

And floppy hair.

 

[UConnCat]

The final 12

 

[Fightin Choke]

The Team

Fran Belibi
Aliyah Boston
Cameron Brink
Sam Brunelle
Paige Bueckers
Zia Cooke
Azzi Fudd
Jordan Horston
Haley Jones
Charisma Osborn
Celeste Taylor
Hailey VanLith

The six NOT making the final cut were:
River Baldwin
Alli Campbell
Aubrey Griffin
Hannah Gusters
Rickea Jackson
Angel Reese

 

[Fightin Choke]

I would rank the remaining 18 players this way by position with the ones in red not making the team.
P: Boston, Gusters, Baldwin
PF: Brink, Jackson
SF: Jones, Brunelle, Belibi, Reese
SG: Horston, Fudd, Taylor, Campbell, Griffin
PG: Bueckers, Van Lith, Cooke, Osborne

You did pretty well, Coco. You tabbed 4 of the 6, omitting Taylor and Osborne and incorrectly including Gusters and Jackson. Looks like the U17 went very small, huh?

 

[MilfordHusky]

Congrats to all 18!

 

[Fightin Choke]

USA Basketball now has the article up: LINK

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Feel really bad for Rickea and her mom. She looked to be a shoo-in after missing last year. Not sure why Belibi makes it over her.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Going to be an amazing tourney for UConn fans. Seven confirmed targets on the roster with Osborne a question mark.

Along with two of the cuts (Griffin, Gusters), this is just about the entire UConn target map for the next two classes outside of Amihere.

 

[Charliebball]

You did pretty well, Coco. You tabbed 4 of the 6, omitting Taylor and Osborne and incorrectly including Gusters and Jackson. Looks like the U17 went very small, huh?

I know nothing about the size of the competition but not having a true back up post could become an issue............otherwise it looks like a pretty devastating group........

 

[Reypl21]

Feel really bad for Rickea and her mom. She looked to be a shoo-in after missing last year. Not sure why Belibi makes it over her.

No idea either. Maybe they are hoping she will dunk it in game. Who knows homestly.

 

[Charliebball]

Going to be an amazing tourney for UConn fans. Seven confirmed targets on the roster with Osborne a question mark.

Along with two of the cuts (Griffin, Gusters), this is just about the entire UConn target map for the next two classes outside of Amihere.

somewhere out there I hear whispers from the ND board saying the exact same thing..............

 

[SCspur]

They’ll regret cutting Rickea!!

 

[CocoHusky]

I know nothing about the size of the competition but not having a true back up post could become an issue..otherwise it looks like a pretty devastating group...

Brink, Brunelle & Belibi will have to be prepared to spend some time in the post if needed.

 

[Sluconn Husky]

Van Lith and Bueckers in the same back court, Brink and Boston working the high-low together, Jones and Horston hounding defensively.....

Oh did I mention Azzi Fudd?

I feel bad for the opposition.