USA Basketball Rookies Experience First Trials

June 10, 2008 � Colorado Springs, Colo.

USA Basketball is currently holding the Women's U18 National Team Trials at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee invited 34 of the best female basketball players in the country to come workout in hopes of being selected to the 12-woman roster that will compete in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women. Twenty -seven of the invitees participated in the 2007 USA Basketball Women's Youth Development Festival and had some familiarity with USA Basketball whereas seven are newcomers.

After the first session USA Basketball had a chance to catch up with three energized and hopeful newcomers; Markel Walker of Philadelphia, Pa., Josyln Tinkle of Missoula, Mont., and Cokie Reed of Waco, Texas.

Markel Walker, F, 6-1, Philadelphia, PA- Schenley H.S.
What was your initial reaction when you found out you were invited to the trials?
I was shocked but my coach said she was going to try and get me in, but she never knew I would make it. I was happy. I was in my house and I told my mom and she started yelling 'Oh my gosh!'

What do you know about USA Basketball?
A lot of great players have played for them.

Have you played with any of these girls before?
I have played against them, but not with them.

How have you prepared for the trails?
I was working out with my high school coach three days a week. She made it more of a running thing when she found out I made the team trials, she wanted me to get used to the altitude.

What are you looking to get out of this experience?
I am looking forward to possibly traveling to Argentina!

What has been the best part of trials thus far?
The best part has been to see how all the players can come together as one and help each other out.

Did you ask your sister (Marcedes Walker, 2006 USA Women's U20 National Team Trials participant) have any advice before you came out?
She told me keep my head up, to stay positive and work hard. She said if I play how I play that I should be okay.

Josyln Tinkle, F, 6-3, Missoula, MT- Big Sky H.S.
What was your initial reaction when you found out you were invited to the trials?
I was actually in school when my coach received the letter from USA Basketball. It was pretty exciting for us and it was a neat experience to share with my coach and teammates.

What do you know about USA Basketball?
They have had tremendous success in the past and it is a great honor to be able to try out, and possibly make the team and represent your country across the world.

Have you played with any of these girls before?
No, I haven't. This is really interesting coming in and meeting all these girls from all over. It is really fun I had no idea who was going to be here.

How have you prepared for the trails?
I obviously knew that conditioning was key and that it was going to be intense and that they were going to work us hard. I have been playing every day, getting to the gym as much as I can, and playing a lot of basketball.

What has been the best part of trials thus far?
I would definitely say the best part has been getting here and meeting all these new people that I can grow relationships with. It's also been a lot of fun to just get out on the court and show what you've got.

Did your parents give you any advice before you came?
Yes, both my mom and dad were happy for me. They told me to relax, to play my game and to have fun with it.

Cokie Reed, F, 6-4, Waco, TX- Midway H.S.
What was your initial reaction when you found out you were invited to the trials?
I was coming home from school and saw this envelope in front of my door, and I said 'USA Basketball?' When it sunk in I got really excited, and I was like wow that's a real honor because not many people get invited out of the whole country.

What do you know about USA Basketball?
They had a lot of success in the past and some big names have come out of it that are in the league now (WNBA).

Have you played with any of these girls before?
I have played with a couple of them.

How have you prepared for the trails?
I spend a lot of time with weight training and conditioning.

What are you looking to get out of this experience?
Just to be here is a real honor in the first place. If I make the team I am looking forward to traveling and being part of USA Basketball would be big.

What has been the best part of trials thus far?
I can tell you the worst part iss the altitude. The best part is just being with some of top girls in the country and just being a part of it.

The USA U18 National Team will be announced on June 12th after three days of trials. The 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women will be held July 23-27 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.