Additional Quotes >> 2009 USA Basketball U16 National Team

Barbara Nelson (USA and Wingate University head coach)
What are your thoughts on your 12-member team?
I think the committee did a wonderful job. We have 12 exceptional young ladies. Wonderful, very smart, very high basketball IQ, and I think that will allow us to do some great things.

I see a lot of really interchangeable parts with this roster, which will be really helpful in the offenses we plan to run. We need to establish who our shooters are because I think that is going to be key for us, and from here on out, we need to understand the transition of the game better and not just waiting to set up a play.

How excited are you to hold a team practice?
I am so excited to start practice. I am tired of watching them scrimmage, and I am ready to run some drills and teach some skills and hopefully take their basketball knowledge to a different level.

What are your thoughts about trials overall?
I saw a couple of things during trials. The kids were really getting better as the trials went by. They were very focused. They started to recognize what they needed to do in order to make the team and separate themselves. I saw a lot of good teamwork and less selfish play as the weekend went on. They genuinely started to cheer for each other, and they wanted to see everyone do well. I think that is a really important part of what we are doing here for USA Basketball.

I am very hopeful that the young ladies will read their evaluations provided by the committee. It is a chance to grow as a player and as a person.

Jordan Adams (Mater Dei H.S. / Irvine, Calif.)
Were you nervous, especially knowing the names were being called in alphabetical order?
Yes, I was. I didn't know whether they were going to do alphabetical order by first name or last name. I'm usually first with the Adams, so when I heard it I felt relief. There was a lot of pressure. I was really excited, and I felt all my hard work paid off.

All three Mater Dei High School players who came out here this weekend made the team. How will that help your team next season?
It'll probably make us play harder because we have to live up to playing for USA Basketball. Definitely we'll have more of a sense of working together. We'll have an extra summer under our belt of playing together, and that will be good.

How did you feel when you heard their names called?
I was relieved. I was excited. I knew it meant a lot to our school. It meant a lot to our families. It meant a lot to California. It meant a lot to our friends, too.

What does it mean for you to represent USA Basketball?
It means the world. I think this is the greatest thing. Just to have U-S-A on your chest and represent your country, you have little girls who look up to people who play USA Basketball. I'd just like to be one of those people they look up to.

Cierra Burdick (South Mecklenburg H.S. / Mathews, N.C.)
How does it feel to be named to this team?
It's awesome. It's a great opportunity to represent your country. It's always everybody's goal to be able to get to this level. It's a huge relief off of your shoulders. I've been praying ever since I got the letter (of invitation). I came through, and I thank everybody who helped me get here. It's just a great opportunity.

What do you think you did this weekend that put you on this team?
I was really vocal on the floor. I tend to lead. I tried to talk and get everything flowing well. I'm a real team player. It's not about me. It's definitely team before me. I think that's something that definitely stands out.

Can you describe your game, what do you bring to the team?
I'm a slasher. I'll drive to the basket, but I can also pull up. I like to do the dirty work. I love to rebound on the weak side. I definitely like to dish before I score. I score when I have to, I'm not a scorer. I don't really have to score when I play. I dish the ball, rebound, block shots, most of the dirty work. And then I just try to lead my teammates on the floor.

Justine Hartman (Brea Olinda H.S. / Brea, Calif.)
How did it feel to hear your name called as a member of the team?
I was shocked. I couldn't even think. I was like ‘oh my gosh, she just read my name off.' It was the best moment of my life when I heard my named called.

Were you nervous?
Yeah. I felt like I played okay, but I know I could have played better. I was in that nervous state thinking I probably didn't make it because I knew I didn't play my best. I was very nervous right before she was about to list everyone. I was freaking out. My palms were sweaty.

What does it mean for you to represent USA Basketball?
I get to go represent my country. This is a big deal. This is the biggest thing I think I've ever done.

Did you text K.C. Caudill (a member of Brea Olinda's boys basketball team who will be training in Colorado Springs starting on June 6 with the USA Men's Developmental National Team)?
Actually, yeah I did. He was like ‘oh, that's awesome!' I texted everyone, all my friends. Everyone's really happy and excited.

What do you think about your new USA Basketball team?
I'm excited. I love the team. It's a group of great girls. This should be fun.

Betnijah Laney (Smyrna H.S. / Clayton, Del.)
How did it feel when you heard your name called?
I was kind of nervous because I didn't know. And then when I heard my name, I was happy, excited and everything. I was a little nervous the first day because when I first went out there I was messing up. I was nervous, excited, but then I calmed down, got myself together and pulled through.

What does it mean for you to represent USA Basketball?
It means a lot. It means everything for me because I love basketball. To be able to represent my country means a lot.

What do you think you did this weekend that set you apart?
I grabbed some rebounds, made some shots, played defense.

What do you think about your new team?
I think we're going to be pretty good. I think we'll go a long way.

Ariel Massengale (Bolingbrook H.S. / Bolingbrook, Ill.)
How did you feel when you heard your name called?
I just started crying. I was so nervous. I thought they were stalling. They were just taking their time (with the announcement). It was the longest 30 minutes of my life.

How did you feel you played this weekend?
Overall I thought I did good. I felt that I led my teammates. Being the point guard, I was trying to be the leader of the team and put them in the best position to score.

Your high school teammate Morgan Tuck was also named to the team. What will it be like sharing this experience with her?
It's going to be great. We've been playing together since we were in fourth and fifth grade. Then going traveling with AAU, playing in high school and now this, USA. It's just amazing. She's my best friend.

How does it feel to represent USA Basketball?
It's amazing. I feel a sense of honor to wear the USA jersey. I'm going to go out there and play hard.

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Mater Dei H.S. / Anaheim, Calif.)
How did it feel to hear your name called as a member of the team?
It was a big relief. I was really nervous before we went in there. I was just praying that hopefully I played hard enough to make the team. Then when I heard my name I was just like ‘whew! Thank God.'

Did it help having two of your high school teammates trying out with you?
It definitely helped, but at the same time we all got to know a lot of different people and branched out. But it was definitely good to have a support system here that I've been with awhile.

All three Mater Dei High School players who came out here this weekend made the team. How will that help your team next season?
It's going to make our team a lot better next year, I know that for sure. I think it's going to be great. Our coaches are really happy for us. We talked with them after the announcement, and our coaches are ecstatic.

What does it mean for you to represent USA Basketball?
It's a big opportunity. I'm honored that I was chosen to represent our country. I'm going to try my best, go out there and work hard for the coaches and everybody else on my team.

Alexia Standish (Colleyville Heritage H.S. / Colleyville, Texas)
How did it feel to hear you name called when they announced the team?
It was really exciting. My heart stopped. I didn't know I was going to make the team.

How did you feel you played during trials?
I felt I had played really bad Friday. I didn't play to my full potential. I think I Saturday and Sunday helped me get out of the hole I had dug for myself. So, I was glad I had played better on those days.

What does it mean to you to wear U-S-A across your chest and represent your country?
It's an honor. Walking around (the training center), seeing all these athletes, it feels like I'm a part of this now. It's just a great honor to represent my country in a sport that I love to play.

You immediately called your dad. Why did you call him first and what was his reaction?
Well, he has always been there for me, good and bad, with basketball and with life. So, I wanted him to be the first one to know, and I thought he would be really excited about it because he has helped me a lot with everything. He was shocked. He was really excited, probably as excited as I was.

Breanna Stewart (Cicero-North Syracuse H.S. / North Syracuse, N.Y.)
How did it feel to hear you name called when they announced the team?
I was very nervous. When they were calling out the names I was only waiting for mine. After, when we were talking about who else made the team, I had no idea. I only heard my name called.

How did you feel you played during trials?
I thought I did good. Sometimes I could have done better, but for the most part I did good.

What does it mean to you to wear U-S-A across your chest and represent your country?
It's going to feel cool. I didn't expect to have this opportunity.

Kiah Stokes (Linn Mar H.S. / Marion, Iowa)
How did you feel you played during trials?
Well, I thought at times I was kind of timid and shy. I think I could have done more, but I played decent. I guess I had to have played alright since I am on the team.

How did it feel to hear you name called when they announced the team?
I was so excited. I was a little surprised, too. I was just hoping to hear my name. I really didn't know who else had made the team. I was just worried about myself.

Did you get a sense during trials what your role on this team will be?
Not really because I'm not the biggest or the strongest, so I'm not exactly sure. I am willing to do whatever Coach Nelson asked.

What does it mean to you to wear U-S-A across your chest and represent your country?
It feels great. Especially since it was a diverse group from all across the country, and I am from Iowa. I feel like I am representing my state, as well as my country.

Morgan Tuck (Bolingbrook H.S., Ill.)
You played in half the sessions due to injury. What were you thinking this morning before the announcement?
I was really nervous. I didn't think I would make it because I missed about half of the try out. I was really nervous, but I talked to my mom, and she gave me words of encouragement. I just had to wait and see what happened.

How did you feel you played during trials?
I think I played well when I did play. I think I showed my game and what I can do. I was just hoping that was enough to convince them that I should be on the team.

What does it mean to have your high school teammate, Ariel Massengale, make the team with you?
I was really happy for her. I was hoping that she made the team also. Having another person on the team that I have known since about fourth grade, that will really help me.

What does it mean to you to wear U-S-A across your chest and represent your country?
I think it's just a great experience. I never really thought I would have the chance until I was older because that was one of my dreams. I didn't think it would happen this fast.

Alexyz Vaioletama (Mater Dei H.S. / Fountain Valley, Calif.)
How did you feel this morning before they announced the team?
I felt nervous. I was wondering who was going to make the team, if I was. Wondering if my teammates from high school would make the team. I was just nervous. My heart was beating too fast for me.

How did you feel you played during trials?
I had a few regrets of what I did on the court, but I just pushed forward and forgot about the negative stuff.

What did it feel like when they called your name?
I was just relieved when they called my name. I was one of the last ones to be called because they announced the team alphabetically. I was relieved and happy for everyone who was called.

What does it mean to have two high school teammates make the team with you?
It just a great opportunity, and it's a blessing for all three of us, coming from the same high school. I know it will make us a lot better together and individually.

What does it mean to you to wear U-S-A across your chest and represent your country?
It means the world to me. It's amazing.

Elizabeth Williams (Princess Anne H.S. / Virginia Beach, Va.)
How did you feel you played during trials?
The first couple of days " I don't know if it was nerves " my stomach was kind of messed up. I took some medicine and towards the end really picked it up. I think that really helped me out.

How did it feel to hear you name called when they announced the team?
My heart was just pounding the whole time, and when they called my name it was a great feeling. I can't even describe it.

What does it mean to you to wear U-S-A across your chest and represent your country?
It means everything. It is such an honor. Everyone here worked so hard, and this is such a great achievement to make this team.

Did you get a sense during trials what your role on this team will be?
I think part of it will be my defense and rebounding. That is basically the type of player I have been since I was young. I have really focused on defense, and hopefully I can bring that to the team.