USA Basketball invites 35 to try out for U16 team

Whoa, check this freakin LIST, and so many newbies:

Accepting invitations to trials from the Class of 2013 are 17 athletes, including: Alaina Coates (Dutch Fork H.S./Irmo, S.C.); Kendall Cooper (St. Anthony H.S./Carson, Calif.); Davis; DeShields; Makayla Epps (Marion County H.S./Lebanon, Ky.); Allisha Gray (Washington County H.S./Sandersville, Ga.); Rebecca Greenwell (Owensboro Catholic H.S./Owensboro, Ky.); Linnae Harper (Whitney M. Young H.S./Chicago, Ill.); Jessica Jackson (Jacksonville H.S./Jacksonville, Ark.); Stephanie Mavunga (Brownsburg H.S./Indianapolis, Ind.); Erica McCall (Ridgeview H.S./Bakersfield, Calif.); Taya Reimer (Hamilton Southeastern H.S./Fishers, Ind.); Mercedes Russell (Springfield H.S./Springfield, Ore.); Karlie Samuelson (Edison H.S./Huntington Beach, Calif.); Jannah Tucker (New Town H.S./Randallstown, Md.); Sydney Umeri (The Lovett School/Acworth, Ga.); and Kendall Waters (Bishop O’Dowd H.S./San Ramon, Calif.).

Representing the Class of 2014 among invited trials participants will be 18 players, including: Recee’ Caldwell (Claudia Taylor Johnson H.S./San Antonio, Texas); Sierra Calhoun (Christ the King Regional H.S./Brooklyn, N.Y.); McKenzie Calvert (Byron P. Steele II H.S./Schertz, Texas); Jordin Canada (Windward School/Los Angeles, Calif.); LaJahna Drummer (St. Bernard H.S./Los Angeles, Calif.); Courtney Ekmark (Saint Mary’s Catholic H.S./Phoenix, Ariz.); Mackenzie Engram (Hillgrove H.S./Powder Springs, Ga.); Gabrielle Green (Saint Mary’s College H.S./Oakland, Calif.); Taryn Griffey (Dr. Phillips H.S./Windermere, Fla.); Erin Mathias (Fox Chapel Area H.S./Pittsburgh, Pa.); Kelsey Mitchell (Princeton H.S./Cincinnati, Ohio); Jaime Nared (Westview H.S./Portland, Ore.); Alyssa Rice (Reynoldsburg H.S./Reynoldsburg, Ohio); Chastity Taylor (St. Anthony’s H.S./Islandia, N.Y.); Brianna Turner (Westbury Christian School/Pearland, Texas); Mikayla Venson (Yorktown H.S./Arlington, Va.); Makayla Waterman (Kettering Fairmont H.S./Dayton, Ohio); and Jatarie White (Providence Day School/Charlotte, N.C.).

Not at all surprised that Mercedes Russell and Erica McCall made the list, but I’m not the type to say “I told you so.”

Chris Hansen of ESPN has the list too.

Cool slideshow/interview with U18 Diamond DeShields.

The U19s have a new website.