U16

33 top players invited to U16 National Team Trials

USA Basketball has invited 33 of the nation's top freshmen and sophomores to participate in the U16 National Team Trials at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 23-27.  The elite group will compete for 12 roster spots along with an additional 100 to 125 players who will attend the trials as part of the open application process. The entire trials roster will be announced prior to the star of trials in mid-May.

The team is expected to be announced early on May 27 after several days of workouts and scrimmages.

USA Basketball to hold open trials for U16 National Team

USA Basketball will conduct open trials for the Women’s U16 National Team, which will be held from May 23 through May 27 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., the organization announced Thursday. The squad selected will compete in the 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship where they will vie with teams representing seven other North, Central and South American nations for a berth in next year’s U17 World Championships.

USA Basketball Opts for Power Over Style Points in U16 Women's National Team Selections

In the end, power proved to be more important than style.

The 12-girl USA Basketball roster that will play in Merida, Mexico, June 13-18 in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship is heavy on muscle though of course theres plenty of skill as well. Still, the three-person selection committee clearly opted for size as it tried to sort through 115 candidates who came to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, May 26-30.

Proposed Changes to Shot Clock and Backcourt Rules for Women's College Hoops -- a Big Step Backwards

The first question is always this one, even though it really misses the point: Why doesnt the womens game have a 10-second count in the backcourt?

That has become a more interesting question now that the rules committee is considering adding the rule to womens game. Most people think the rule has somehow been left behind by the women, when actually its just a relic of past attempts to speed up the game.

USA Basketball Goes "Back to the Future" for U16 Tryouts

USA Basketball is going back to the future for this springs girls Under-16 tryouts.

As always, USA Basketball is inviting 30 or so players to try out for the 12-member team that will play in the FIBA Americas U16 championship in Mrida, Mexico in June but this May 26-30, theres a twist. Anyone who fills out an application can try out too, as long as they pay their own way for the trip to Colorado Springs.

These kinds of open tryouts have taken place in the past, but USA Basketball finally stepped away from them, in part because of the inherent economic elitism involved. After all, a girl from a family that can more easily come up with the funds for a plane flight for mom and daughter, plus room and board, is much more likely to attend than a girl from a family thats struggling to pay the rent.

In fairness, though, no system is perfect.