Wrap Up: Developmental National Team Mini-Camp

Colorado Springs, Colo. • Oct. 7, 2012

Sunday is the final day of the 2012 USA Basketball Men's Developmental National Team mini-camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., where 44 of the nations top high school preps are getting an introduction to USA Basketball.

The training camp, which will help USA Basketball evaluate players from the high school class of 2015 and 2016, is being led by Don Showalter (Iowa City H.S./Iowa City, Iowa), who has captured four straight gold medals as the USA Developmental National Team head coach from 2009-2012.

Hear from Coach Showalter, as well as Georgia forward/center Daniel Giddens, New Jersey guard Malachi Richardson and Wisconsin forward/center Diamond Stone, about their experiences at camp thus far, and check out the action in our PHOTO GALLERY.

Don Showalter (Iowa City High School, Iowa)
Can you summarize the two days of mini-camp?
I think on the first day everybody is finding out how good they are, what the skill level is. I think after the first day, the feel a little more comfortable with what they are doing. And so, I thought everything picked up another level today, just because they feel a little more comfortable with the players around them and the coaching staff. We try and we want to get enough scrimmaging in so that the kids feel they can show what they can do in game situations.

With 44 players, I think you pick out positions and you watch what positions are playing well, who is playing well at what positions. So, I think you get a pretty good idea of what is going on, and after two full days, kids get a little tired, but you can also pick up who can fight through being tired and who understands what we want. So, you get a good picture.

What do you hope the players take away from this weekend?
We just talked to the players about that. They have to understand what their weaknesses are. When they are playing against really good players all together, their own age, they find out maybe they are not as good of ball handlers, they are not as good of shooters as they thought they were. Now, they have to figure out, OK, what do I need to go back and work on so next June I can come and be a better player.

What is the benefit of the mini-camp for USA Basketball?
For what we do with USA Basketball, it helps us identify a lot of players that have some abilities, obviously, and then it gives us a great chance to give them the philosophy of USA Basketball and what are beliefs are as far as developing a team, not an all-star group. Those kind of things are important. We want to give them a feel for the big picture of USA Basketball.

What is your impression of this group of players?
I think this group is really strong with our bigs, our front court kids are really strong. Our perimeter, wing players are very, very good. I think our point guards have a little bit of catching up to do, but overall I think it's going to be a very good group.

Are you pleased with their effort?
I thought today they picked it up. You feel more comfortable with who you are playing with, and I think that helped them pick up the effort. We had kids diving on the floor for loose balls, taking charges, doing those little things that catch the coach's eye. I thought yesterday they were a little hesitant. So, we talked about their comfort zone, and I think they got out of their comfort zone today.

Daniel Giddens (Wheeler H.S./Mableton, Ga.)
Has training camp been what you expected?
It actually hasn't; it's been more than I expected because it's been more fun. I thought it was going to be more intense, like cutthroat. It's actually been very upbeat. The players have been coming together, and I call some of these dudes my brothers now. I love the coaching staff, and I like what they've done. It's just been fun. It's competitive, too, and it's fun at the same time, so that's what I'm enjoying about it.

What is your focus over these two days?
I'm just trying to feel myself out, and this 2015 class. I'm trying to see, what are my strengths, what are my weaknesses.

How do you think you are playing?
Right now, I'm playing pretty good. Yesterday was an excellent day for me. This morning, I was a little tired, a little slow. Then I came around and picked up my defense and my mentality.

Have you learned any new skills?
I definitely have learned to be more aggressive on the offensive boards and defensive boards. Also, I've learned that when I get the ball in the low post, I don't have to rush it like I usually do -- take my time, get my moves down.

How do you think this experience will help you?
It's going to help me in every part of my game. It's going to help me in my mental abilities. It's going to help me become a better person and a better player at the same time.

Malachi Richardson (Roselle Catholic H.S./Hamilton, N.J.)
Has training camp been what you expected?
Yes. It was tough at first, but I got things going. It's great being here with a bunch of different, great players.

What is your focus over these two days?
Just doing everything I possibly can, playing as hard as I can.

How do you think you are playing?
The first day I played OK, but today I picked it up a lot. I hustled, hit the floor for loose balls, everything.

Have you learned any new skills?
Being able to play with great players. It's not pressure, but it's a different experience, because everybody here can play and do different things.

Are you enjoying camp?
Definitely. Just chilling with all my teammates, especially in the dorm rooms.

How do you think this experience will help you?
It should be good, because I will be able to play and compete with different players once I get to the next level, even in high school level.

Diamond Stone (Dominican H.S./Milwaukee, Wis.)
Has training camp been what you expected?
Well, yes it has. I knew there were going to be a lot of people to compete with, I knew the environment was going to be very good. All of the coaches, coach Showalter, BJ (Johnson), so I knew it was going to be good.

What is your focus over these two days?
I'm practicing and polishing up all of my moves, drop steps, and trying to bring chemistry to the team.

How do you think you are playing?
I'm doing good. I think I could work on my defense a little bit, overcoming being tired and rebounding.

Have you learned any new skills?
I learned different post moves. We've heard a lot of quotes and different strategies.

Are you enjoying camp?
Yes, I am. I love basketball, always have. Playing it fulfills me.

How do you think this experience will help you?
I think this experience will encourage me not to stop working. I didn't really know these people, know all of them, now I do. I know there are people trying to pass me up, and I just need to keep working.