Anigwe trying out for the U19 team. She's got a shot as one of the only true centers. Her competition at that position looks like Kalani Brown, Lauren Cox, Beatrice Mompremier, Nancy Mulkey, and Chatrice White. Of course there are also some insanely tall 3's and 4's.

Natalie Chou will also be trying out. Mikayla Cowling was eligible age-wise but either was not invited or did not accept.

http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2015/05/wu19-trials-roster-announced.aspx

Range & Jefflo trying out for both the Pan Am and World University Games. There will be 2 separate teams so 24 total spots up for grabs.

http://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2015/05/15-wpag-wwug-trials-roster-announced.aspx

Still, both are long shots for either team. Best case scenario is that Range sneaks on as one of the final selections. But she's got to deal with players like Diamond DeShields and Nina Davis.

Congrats ladies. :cheer

Don't be fooled Wilson will be the main player in the key just as she was on all the other USA teams and for SC. She is a post even though she likes to call herself something other.

It appears Range made the World University Games team. Didn't turn out to be such a long shot.

It's funny ... I had to argue very hard to get Courtney Range any kind of respect from national folks when she was in high school. It's always fun to say "I told you so" ...

califan;842493360 said:

---

Congrats ladies. :cheer

Don't be fooled Wilson will be the main player in the key just as she was on all the other USA teams and for SC. She is a post even though she likes to call herself something other.

---

And Cox is the same way. A post who says she is a power forward or small forward or whatever. Good player, but then again the upper range of the talent level in women's basketball really has improved. The better players seem much more athletic.

ClayK;842497387 said:

---

It's funny ... I had to argue very hard to get Courtney Range any kind of respect from national folks when she was in high school. It's always fun to say "I told you so" ...

---

Tell me about it. A few years ago I noted 11th grader Range had the best film of any then Cal recruits or players and almost got hooted off the board.

BTW, unless I lost my ability to review film (this from a guy whose best was starting point in high school), Ionescu is terrific, but needs to work on her outside shot for the next level. She has all the other skills.

Have only seen Range and Ionescu live. Ionescue is more skilled but Courtney has those long arms. Ionescue shoots better from 3 point land than Courtney did.

wvitbear;842497647 said:

---

Have only seen Range and Ionescu live. Ionescue is more skilled but Courtney has those long arms. Ionescue shoots better from 3 point land than Courtney did.

---

I agree with that assessment.

I see Ionescue as a true guard that will have to develop an outside threat (she is not bad, but will need to be very good), where Range, with her size and well, range, is called on to do less outside shooting than will Ionescue.

BTW, Inonescue mid range jumper is smooth and deadly, and reminds me a lot of LC.

Among the big-name players Range beat out to make the team: Lexie Brown (Maryland), Kaela Davis (GA Tech), Alisha Gray (UNC), Alexis Jones (Duke/Baylor), Jillian Alleyne (Oregon), and others. Imani McGee Stafford withdrew.

It is not range that is the problem (and I mean range not Range lol), it is getting your shot off quick enough against athletes that can close out much quicker, are longer or being able to come off screens and shoot quickly. Most kids struggle with this and Ionescu struggled with USA on 3s. She is great at drawing fouls and will utilize the hand check rule in college 😉

I would expect Ionescu to be a player who makes open threes often enough that she has to be guarded -- and often enough that she will be able to drive around defenders.

Some players drive so they can shoot threes; others shoot threes so they can drive. Either way, though, you have to be able to make shots from beyond the arc, and finish at the rim, or you will become a specialist at the Power 5 level.

Agree

ClayK;842497862 said:

---

I would expect Ionescu to be a player who makes open threes often enough that she has to be guarded -- and often enough that she will be able to drive around defenders.

Some players drive so they can shoot threes; others shoot threes so they can drive. Either way, though, you have to be able to make shots from beyond the arc, and finish at the rim, or you will become a specialist at the Power 5 level.

---

califan;842497843 said:

---

It is not range that is the problem (and I mean range not Range lol), it is getting your shot off quick enough against athletes that can close out much quicker, are longer or being able to come off screens and shoot quickly. Most kids struggle with this and Ionescu struggled with USA on 3s. She is great at drawing fouls and will utilize the hand check rule in college 😉

---

I think they said the same about Natalie Romeo that she would have difficult with her shot because of size and because she holds the ball low when shooting. What did she do this year but led Nebraska in 3pts shooting at 35.4 (51-144). I think she started off the season slow and was injured but came on strong at the end.

Range was a better and more consistent 3pt shooter in her Jr year in high school. Consistency in outside shooting requires regular extensive practice and I suspect she might have gotten out of the habit after she left St. Mary's where she played the wing and they definitely emphasize practicing three's.

Go Court! :gobears:

willtalk;842498531 said:

---

Range was a better and more consistent 3pt shooter in her Jr year in high school. Consistency in outside shooting requires regular extensive practice and I suspect she might have gotten out of the habit after she left St. Mary's where she played the wing and they definitely emphasize practicing three's.

---

You right Wiltalk...seen it first hand her Soph & Jr yr at SMS.

Because of Courtney's size and length, she was called upon to essentially play PF at Cal with Reshanda moving to Center. The Bears' need with inside with little opportunity for Range to become established as a perimeter threat. Though they will be freshmen, I wonder how much Anigwe and Yue's presence will free Courtney to play a more versatile offensive role in Cal's front line?

Actually, in our new offense Courtney was a wing. Everybody was a wing. So it was only on defense she guarded a 4.

I guess that does reflect Courtney's athleticism and versatility.

We shot as a team, 516 attempts from 3 point land last year. The previous year we shot 466. And we shot a significant higher per cent age of those shots.

In respect to getting out of the habit of practicing 3's I was referring to her Senior year at Manteca. I believe there she played the post. Her scoring and RB average's went up considerably but I am sure they didn't spend much time practicing shooting 3's.

Willtaslk, did you see any of her Manteca games?

VitBear- No didn't. I wanted too but didn't get the chance. Logistics and being busy at those times. I hope this year the lack of league play might afford me more of an opportunity to catch some other teams.