USA Basketball Boys 3x3 Team Opens Training Camp

Sept. 4, 2011 • Fairfax, Va.

After arriving in Fairfax, Va., from cities throughout the country on Sept. 2, the eight members of the 2011 USA Basketball boys and girls 3x3 teams opened training camp with two practices at the Patriot Center at George Mason University on Sept. 3.

Following two more practices on Sept. 4 and one the morning of Sept. 5, the U.S. squads will travel to the inaugural FIBA 3x3 Youth World Championship, which is being held from Sept. 9-11 in Rimini, Italy.

The teams have just days to prepare before embarking on a three-day tournament that will feature 36 boys teams and 24 girls teams from all around the world and mutlitple games a day.

"Training is going to be a very big challenge," said BJ Johnson , USA Basketball Assistant Men's National Team Director and team leader of the boys team. "The players are a somewhat familiar with each other from U16 training, but this is a different team. The approach that we are going to take is that every game is one fourth quarter, so everything matters, and to really be aggressive. Any wasted dribbles or time will be very costly, so we need to be focused on what we need to do and trust our instincts."

Named to the USA boys 3x3 squad were four members of 2011-12 USA Basketball Developmental National Team: Shaqquan Aaron (Mater Dei H.S./Apple Valley, Calif.), Rondaé Jefferson (Chester H.S./Chester, Pa.), Malik Price-Martin (Monsignor Edward Pace H.S./ Miami, Fla.) and Jordan Swopshire (Fort Zumwalt South H.S./Ofallon, Mo.).

The USA girls team includes: Kaela Davis (Buford H.S./Suwanee, GA), Rebecca Greenwell (Owensboro Catholic H.S. /Owensboro, Ky.), Linnae Harper (Whitney M. Young H.S./Chicago, Ill.), and Taya Reimer (Hamilton Southeastern H.S. /Fishers, Ind.). All four were members of the 2011 USA U16 National Team that claimed gold at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in June.

"We went with players that are shooting guards, wings or forwards, trying to make sure we are as athletic and versatile as possible," said Jamie Carey, USA Basketball Assitant Women's National Team Director and girls team leader. "We tried to add some physicality this year as well. Particularly when the women played Australia in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games last year, we just got out-muscled."

The competition will be divided into preliminary round groups, and the top four finishing teams from each group will advance to medal-round playoffs.

"The thing that really separates 3x3 basketball is the pace of the game," Johnson said. "It’s a quick game and very intense. You can’t take a possession off, or you are down by six points before you know it, and you don’t always have time to recover."

Under FIBA's 3x3 rules, each game will consist of two 5:00 periods, with one 1:00 overtime period if needed. If the game is still tied after the first overtime, a second and final overtime is played and the first team to score two points wins. The team leading after completion of regular playing time, or the first team to score 21 points, will be declared the winner. Shots made outside the 3-point line are awarded two points, shots made inside the 3-point line are awarded one point, and each made free throw is worth one point. Additionally, a 12-second shot clock will be utilized.

"One thing that is unique in the three-on-three game is that you can really space the floor offensively, and that’s something that will be a huge thing for us," Carey added. "If you have good spacing, that makes you difficult to defend."

After practices on Saturday evening, USABasketball.com spoke with two of the team members, Price-Martin and Reimer, to hear about their first day of training and 3x3 basketball.

Malik Price-Martin (Monsignor Edward Pace H.S./Miami, Fla.)
How was the first day of practice?
It was good. The rules are very different. You've really got to get the ball inside and play quicker. It was good though.

Were you in shape coming into training?
I really didn't know what to expect, so I had the mind set of being prepared and being in shape.

What do you think of 3x3 basketball?
There are a lot of options on offense, because there are only three people and you can really space the floor. It's a lot different from five-on-five basketball.

Are you looking forward to traveling to Italy?
I'm really excited because I've never been out of the country before. This will be my first time. I'm can't wait to see what it looks like, to meet people and to taste the food.

What does it mean to you to have another opportunity to play for USA Basketball?
(Price-Martin was named to the 2011 USA Basketball U16 National Team in June, but withdrew due to a death in his family.)
I think it's great that they invited me back to have another opportunity to go out of the country with USA Basketball. I'm really looking forward to it.

Taya Reimer (Hamilton Southeastern H.S./Fishers, Ind.)
How was the first day of practice?
Three-on-three is a lot different because the pace is so much different. There really is no stop time. In five-on-five, you take the ball out after a make and you run up and down the court, but in 3x3 you take it out of the net and go. We had to get used to that today, and we did some conditioning and went over the rules.

Do you enjoy playing 3x3 basketball?
I do like it. It's really fun. It's not as structured, so you kind of just play. We've been having fun with it. We are getting used to each other again, and I think we are going to do well.

What does it mean to you to have another opportunity to play for USA Basketball, alongside three of your teammates from the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship?
It is really awesome. When they called and invited me, I was so excited for the whole experience. Since it's different from five-on-five it's whole different experience through basketball. And I love the girls, so we are just really excited to be going.

Training has just started, but do you have an idea of what this team needs to do to win?
Well, we've been focusing on getting to the rim and pounding the ball inside right from the get-go and also looking for quick buckets before the defense has a chance to prepare.

Are you looking forward to traveling to Italy?
This will be the first time that I actually travel outside North America, so it will be a new experience. We've heard the area is really nice, so we are excited to see a different culture.