No Longer The Youngest, Diamond DeShields Embraces Leadership Role

After competing as the youngest member of the USA Women’s U19 World Championship Team in 2011 and the USA ’s U18 FIBA Americas Team in 2010, Diamond DeShields is back to playing with athletes her own age as she participates in trials to determine the 2012 USA Women’s U17 World Championship Team.

Not that DeShields, who attends Norcross High School in Norcross, Ga., couldn’t hold her own and then some against her older opponents. While playing as a 15-year-old at the 2010 U18 FIBA Americas Championship, she was USA’s third leading scorer as she averaged 9.0 points per game to help the U.S. to a gold medal and 5-0 record. She followed that up by averaging 4.7 points per game and 2.6 rebounds per game to help the USA to an 8-1 record and gold medal at the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship.

Now, however, the 2011 Gatorade Georgia Girls Basketball Player of the Year is no longer the youngster, but rather the most internationally experienced of the 33 participants at the Women’s U17 Trials. 

Prior to the opening session of trials, DeShields took a minute with USABasketball.com to answer a few questions about taking a different approach to these trials, as well as her connection to baseball.

Last year you were the youngest player on the U19 team and in 2010 you were the youngest member of the U18 team, now you’re the veteran. Are you taking a different attitude into this summer than in previous years? 
I definitely know being a part of people who are my age, especially having had been here two years prior, I definitely  know that they’re expecting me to be more of a leader and take more of a leadership role this year. I’ve kind of taken it upon myself to do just that, be vocal and help the people who are new to this because I know how I felt when I was first here. I just want to make people comfortable and make people feel like they’re ok just being here playing basketball. That’s what we’re all here to do, so they can just feel comfortable in their skin doing it.

What players helped you and took you under their wing at previous USA Basketball events?
Definitely Ariel Massengale, Bria Hartley, Chiney Ogwumike and Cierra Burdick helped me keep my head focused. Even in practice, when I felt like I couldn’t do it, they were always there to pick me up. I really respect them for that and appreciate them for helping me develop into the player that I am. They were indirectly coaching me, and now seeing their success in college, I’m glad to have been able to play with such great players.

Are you planning on taking a similar role now that you’re the more experienced player?
I definitely know I’ve grown tremendously as far as becoming a leader. Whatever I can do to help, I will do. I may not be as ‘big time’ as Bria and all of them were, but having been here two years, I have the ability to help a lot of people out, especially first-timers.

What have you personally taken from your past experiences with USA Basketball?
I’ve gained a lot more pride in my country playing against other countries and seeing their excitement when we’re playing. That loss we took to Canada last year really heightened things for everybody on the team as far as pride. I’ve taken a lot of pride away, I’ve taken a lot of leadership and just respecting your own game and knowing you can do anything because I would have never thought as a 15-year-old that I would have been playing up the way I was. It made me have a lot more faith in myself and faith in God and just be thankful for all the opportunities I’ve gotten.

You’ve already won two gold medals, describe that feeling and what it would mean to you to possibly win a third before your senior year of high school?
That’s amazing. That’s the standard for USA Basketball, period. Gold medals are the standard. I expect nothing less this year with whoever ends up making the team. The committee does a great job of choosing people who will win, so I expect nothing less this year and I know USA will get the gold at the (FIBA U17 World Championship) because that’s just what we do. The players here are going to work for it and are going to earn it and we deserve it.

With your father, Delino DeShields playing 13 years of Major League Baseball, did you play softball growing up?
I played softball; I stopped playing last year actually just to focus on basketball because at a certain point, basketball becomes life. I was very good at softball; I played shortstop. I started as a freshman. It was a lot of fun for me. I always wanted to be a professional baseball player, but we all know that’s impossible but that’s just what I love to do. I love softball.

When did basketball begin to take priority over softball?
Last year because I was busy. I ran track, I played softball and I did basketball. It was starting to wear on my body and I’m committed, so I realized this is what I want to do in the future, so I don’t want to injure myself doing something else.

Your brother, Delino Jr., is in the Houston Astros’ farm system and was the eighth overall pick in the 2010 MLB draft. Having another elite athlete as a brother, do you two ever play one-on-one?
My brother could not guard me. When we were younger we would play and he used to beat me because he was just stronger than me. But now I’ve developed and he’s just a baseball player and that’s all he is. He’s like 5-8, so I’m way taller than him. He’s always like, ‘I’m still bigger than you,’ but he definitely couldn’t check me.