Two Down ... Three to Go

May 15, 2009 - Colorado Springs, Colo.

With the second session finished in the 2009 USA Basketball U19 National Team Trials, athletes are shaking off jet lag, altitude issues and anything else that might keep them from having their name called on Sunday morning. After a shaky session on Thursday night, Friday morning's trials session saw some crisp passes, no-look assists, sly fake-outs to the basket, steals, smooth 3-point shots and everything you'd expect from the top 19-and-unders this nation has to offer. Three sessions now remain for these athletes to impress the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee, which will announce the fate of 27 athletes on Sunday morning.

USABasketball.com pulled three players out of the pack: one who won a gold medal last summer with the USA U18 National Team, one who missed the cut at last year's trials and one who had never donned a USA Basketball uniform or trials jersey in her young hoops career.

2009 Gatorade National High School Player of the Year Skylar Diggins, who will take her game to Notre Dame in the fall, has played on a pair of USA Basketball teams. A member of the 2007 USA Youth Development Festival White Team, Diggins posted 8.6 ppg. and 5.0 rpg. in helping her team to a perfect 5-0 mark and the gold medal against a Brazil junior national team and a pair of U.S. squads. Last summer, Diggins again went 5-0 to claim gold, but this time the competition was all international. She averaged a USA second-best 10.8 ppg. as the 2008 USA U18 National Team mowed over opponents at the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

At the 2007 Festival, Ohio State-bound Tayler Hill aided the USA Red Team to the bronze medal. Like Diggins, the 2009 All-American garnered experience playing against Brazil. However, during the 2008 USA U18 National Team Trials Hill missed the cut. Despite her best efforts, she was not selected to compete for the United States last summer and has a little more desire to hear her name called on Sunday morning.

Finally, 2009 Big East All-Freshman Team selection Pepper Wilson is soaking it all in. She very much wants to make this team, but comes into trials this weekend not knowing what to expect. However, Wilson went up against some very tough talent as a freshman starter at Pitt so don't discount this towering 6-6 center just because she hasn't been here before.

So, what do these three have in common? All three are trying to make the most of this weekend's trials. All three are enjoying the camaraderie of her teammates. And, most importantly, all three have a burning desire to suit up for USA Basketball this summer as the 2009 USA U19 World Championship Team fights to defend its two consecutive golds at the U19 Worlds.

Skylar Diggins
How did your experience as a member of the 2008 USA U18 National Team help you prepare for this year's trials?
You kind of know what to expect now a little bit. We know what they're looking for. You have to come out here and stay positive, not show your emotions on your sleeves, work hard and they'll pick the team from there.

Make sure you're staying well-conditioned at home, eating right, getting prepared to come out here. The altitude also, knowing how that effects you. You just have to come out here and playing your best.

Did your experience last summer help you during your final year of high school?
It definitely helped a lot. Some of the drills that we did I took and implemented that in our high school program. It helped me pick up my intensity level and let me know what to expect next year in college.

Have you spoken with anyone who has played at the next level or above in international competition, like the U19 Worlds or Pan Am Games?
My teammate, Melissa Lechlitner, played for the U19 team. I was working out with her and the team before I came out here and she told me what to expect and that you really have to go hard. Just having her, someone who has gone through it before and having gone through it last year, that really helped coming in this year.

What is your overall impression of the trials so far?
Everybody's good. It's definitely competitive. Everyone wants to make it. We're starting to separate ourselves a little bit. We just need to continue to work hard. Everyone here is rooting for each other, we all want to make the team ourselves, but we're all looking out for each other and want to see others do well. I think it's good that we have people who are not selfish, who want to see others do well, as well as who want to see themselves do well.

Tayler Hill
How is trials going for you so far?
It's been going good, they've been pushing us hard and we've been learning a lot. It's a blessing just to be down here and be able to experience this.

Do you know anything about the international game?
I know a little bit. I didn't make the team last year, but two years ago (at the USA Basketball Youth Development Festival) when we had Brazil out here, I know it's totally different. It's a new style that you learn and experience.

Did you do anything different this year to prepare for trials?
Just made sure I was conditioned before I came out.

Did you talk with future Ohio State teammate Samantha Prahalis at all about her experience last summer with the USA U18 team?
Yeah, we talk all the time. She told me to keep working hard, play defense, stand out on the defensive end and communicate with everyone.

What's it like here at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, have you been talking with other athletes from different sports or just with the other basketball players?
It's a great experience to be here. To be able to be back here, meet new people, and be back with the people I know from before.

Pepper Wilson
What are your overall impressions of trials so far?
I'm really excited that I've been afforded the opportunity to come here. I think the main thing I was focused on was adjusting to the altitude. My coaches were saying that the air is really thin, there's also some mental things, so it's been about adjusting to that. This is a really great group of girls here with great attitudes. It's been a wonderful opportunity so far.

How do you feel you've played so far?
I think today I did a lot better adjusting to the altitude. Yesterday I was really winded and breathing was kind of a problem. But today it was a lot better. I felt a lot better getting up and down the court. I'm more focused. I'm like, ‘okay, I've got to get down to business. There are only two days to prove to the committee to prove that I could be a possible candidate for the team.'

What do you know about the international basketball game?
Not too much. I know that if you're selected, obviously you're considered as one of the best in your position. But none of my teammates now have ever experienced this, so I don't know too much except for my coaches giving me a little advice for what to do and what to expect.

Did you watch any of the Olympics last summer?
I had the opportunity to watch a few games. I know that it's really competitive and the girls take it really seriously. It's a great honor to be able to represent your country.

How much do you think your experience playing at Pitt and in the Big East last year prepared you for this weekend?
I think that starting as a freshman on my team has really given me the experience. Playing against people like Tina Charles and Kia Vaughn has really helped me in my position. Even though I wasn't out here last year (at trials), I think I have the experience. I was exposed to a lot of great talent and I think that will help me throughout the trials.

What's it like being here at the U.S. Olympic Training Center? Have you met any athletes from other sports or are you trying to stay focused on basketball?
I'm just trying to get to know every girl here because they could possibly be my teammates. I see a lot of girls from other Big East schools so I'm like ‘hey, what's up?' I'm trying to get to know everybody and have fun.