COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - In most countries, picking out the top 12 girls basketball players 16 and under isn't that difficult – but in the U.S., it's an almost impossible task. There's so much talent and so many players that sorting out the super-elite from the merely elite is like picking out the healthiest leaves on an oak tree.
The three-person USA Basketball Women's Developmental National Team Committee did its best at the U.S. Olympic Training Center here over Memorial Day weekend, and though there's always a little controversy, the final 12 should have problem rolling through the FIBA Americas U16 championship in Merida, Mexico, June 13-18.
Perhaps the biggest surprises were the inclusion of
Jannah Turner (a 6-foot guard from Maryland), who had a foot injury and only participated in one day of scrimmages, and the omissions of
Gabby Green (a 6-0 guard from California), who was on the court with most of the players who made the team in the final scrimmage, and
Brianna Tucker (a 6-3 wing from Texas), who is widely considered the top player in the Class of 2014.
There were difficult choices up and down the roster, though
Kaela Davis (a 6-2 guard from Georgia),
Mercedes Russell (a 6-5 post from Oregon),
Taya Reimer (a 6-3 forward from Indiana) and
Rebecca Greenwell (a 6-1 guard from Kentucky) stood out through the four-day selection process.
In the end, though, the committee – which was down to three members due to the absence of both high school representatives (Sue Phillips from Archbishop Mitty in California and Jill Meerman from Decatur Central in Indiana) – opted for size up and down the roster as opposed to quickness and shooting on the perimeter.
Here's a look at the 12 who will go to Mexico:
Kaela Davis, 6-2 W,
Buford (Ga.), 2013: The consensus best player in Colorado Springs, Davis (daughter of former NBA player Antonio Davis) can do everything. She can run the offense, post up, shoot the three, block shots and defend on the ball – and she's much improved in the past two years. She'll dominate in Mexico and is on track to be a future Olympian.
Mercedes Russell, 6-5 C,
Springfield (Ore.), 2013: Russell has game on the block, and can step out and knock down a three – and she's not nearly the player she's going to be. Russell hasn't filled out but she's still strong enough to more than hold her own inside, and will be a gamechanger at every level, starting in the FIBA Americas.
Taya Reimer, 6-3 F,
Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.), 2013: Reimer is a strong, multiskilled lefthanded post player who showed she can play inside or outside, and is athletic enough to handle the ball in the open court. She should be a perfect complement to Russell and can handle the five or three if necessary.
Rebecca Greenwell, 6-1 W,
Owensboro Catholic (Owensboro, Ky.), 2013: Tall wing shooters are a necessity at the international level, as the USA will always have to have one or two to keep other countries from settling into zones – and Greenwell is a tall wing shooter. She's also a very good all-around player, though her shot selection could use a little refinement.
Jordin Canada, 5-6 PG,
Windward (Los Angeles, Calif.), 2014: Like many other guards at the trials, Canada is plenty athletic and can make all the plays, but she got on the team because of her steadiness and ability to get the ball to the scorers. Canada didn't shoot all that well, but she did everything else.
Jatarie White 6-3 P,
Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.), 2014: A strong lefty, White is reminiscent of Washington Mystic Crystal Langhorne. She's tough inside, and makes it difficult for opposing guards to score in the paint. She and Russell will be very difficult for FIBA Americas' opponents to handle.
Recee Caldwell 5-8 G,
Johnson (San Antonio, Texas), 2014: Caldwell came on during the trials, and pushed her way onto the final 12 thanks to her deadly outside shooting and solid floor game. She's not the most athletic guard in camp, but made very few mistakes and will be cast, along with Greenwell, as a designated zonebuster.
Linnae Harper, 5-7 G,
Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.), 2013: Harper plays power forward for the Dolphins, and even among the tall trees at the trials, she was a force on the boards in Colorado Springs. She also has extremely quick hands, and is a shutdown perimeter defender. She's not as comfortable outside on offense, but she adds enough toughness to offset whatever gaps there are in her game.
Stephanie Mavunga, 6-3 PF,
Brownsburg (Ind.), 2013: Mavunga understood her role: Bang inside, rebound and score from in close, and she did just that. The committee clearly wanted power on the post, and they got it in the active Mavunga, who should only get better in the coming years.
Erica McCall, 6-3 F,
Ridgeview (Bakersfield, Calif.), 2013: A solid all-around player, McCall showed speed and passing ability, though she wasn't as flashy as some of the other players in camp. Again, the committee went for size as opposed to selecting a shooter or a more athletic wing.
Jannah Tucker, 6-0 G,
New Town (Owings Mills, Md.), 2013: Strong, skilled and smart, Tucker made a big impression in the first two days of camp before being sidelined with a foot injury. She's yet another example of the committee's bias towards size and strength.
Sydney Umeri, 6-1 PF,
Lovett (Atlanta, Ga.), 2013: A non-stop battler, Umeri just keep pounding away in the paint, and it earned a spot on the team. Her strength is a major asset, but she also knows how to operate under the basket, using pump fakes to create space to score.
