Missing Two Bigs

[BrooklynSaints]

It looks like the USA 19 & U team are missing Tina Charles (shoulder) and Jayne Appel (ankle). Do they have enough to win the gold ?

[YourCrimsonNightmare]

It looks like the USA 19 & U team are missing Tina Charles (shoulder) and Jayne Appel (ankle). Do they have enough to win the gold ?

Brief answer: ABSOLUTELY.

[scoutnwhoops]

Remember that the qualifying team was also without Elena DelleDonne and Angie Bjorklund. Yes those are two different players from Tina and Jayne but will give them an added element missing from the U18 trials team, pure shooters.

Best of luck to all the young women trying out this week!

[BrooklynSaints]

Remember that the qualifying team was also without Elena DelleDonne and Angie Bjorklund. Yes those are two different players from Tina and Jayne but will give them an added element missing from the U18 trials team, pure shooters.

Best of luck to all the young women trying out this week!

I guess this is a different argument. We won last year without great perimeter shooting. Now we lose two post players. Can we make up the difference?

Also the competition last year was at a lower level than what the girls will play this year.

[connboy]

"Do they have enough to win the Gold?"

I guess that depends on how good the replacement bigs are. To win it all you need the complete package, good post play, as well as good guard play. If your outside shooting is off you are going to have to go inside, and if you don't have good post players you are in for a long day.

[chimera]

I don't think they are necessarily lost. My understanding is that if a player cannot play in the trials but would be available for the games and wishes to be considered, she can ask for a waiver and still be picked for the team. That is what I thought Appel did. No doubt it is a big disadvantage to miss the trials, but perhaps less for those who played on USA teams last summer.

[scoutnwhoops]

GBuzz is down in Colorado now so I'm sure we'll get his opinion. He was at the qualifier last year so he will be able to compare the two teams first hand.

[joemontes]

include:

- 6'9 Allysa DEHAAN (#2 in the nation in blocked shots as a college freshman for Michigan State last season)
- 6'4 Jantell LAVENDER (#1 center from the HS Class of 2007),
- 6'6 Kelly CAIN (#2 center from the HS Class of 2007),
- 6'5 Amy JAESCHKE (#3 center from the HS Class of 2007),
and
- 6'5 Quanitra HOLLINGSWORTH

Even without Tina CHARLES and Jayne APPEL, I think the USA U19 Team post play will still be in good hands...


Just consider a potential frontcourt consisting of:

SF - Maya MOORE 6'0 (#1 player overall from the Class of 2007)
SF/SG - Elena DELLEDONNE 6'5 (#1 player overall from the Class of 2008)
SF/PF - Kayla PEDERSEN 6'4 (#4 player overall from the Class of 2007)
SF/PF - Victoria BAUGH 6'4 (#5 player overall from the Class of 2007)
PF - Crystal THOMAS 6'5 (#7 player overall and #1 power forward from the Class of 2007)
CC - Allysa DEHAAN 6'9 (#2 in D1 college basketball in blocked shots last season)
CC - Jantel LAVENDER 6'4 (#3 player overall and #1 center from the Class of 2007)
CC - Kelly CAIN 6'6 (#12 player overall and #2 center from the Class of 2007)

I've never seen a USA women's or girls' national team with seven (7) quality players who are 6'4 or taller!

And then round it out with a backcourt consisting of:

SG - Angie BJORKLUND 6'0 (#2 player overall and #1 SG from the Class of 2007)
PG - Italee LUCAS 5'9 (#5 player overall and #1 PG from the Class of 2007)
PG - Jasmine THOMAS 5'9 (#8 player overall and #2 PG from the Class of 2007)
PG - Khadijah RUSHDAN 5'10 (#10 player overall and #3 PG from the Class of 2007)

[BrooklynSaints]

[QUOTE=joemontes;544]include:

- 6'9 Allysa DEHAAN (#2 in the nation in blocked shots as a college freshman for Michigan State last season)
- 6'4 Jantell LAVENDER (#1 center from the HS Class of 2007),
- 6'6 Kelly CAIN (#2 center from the HS Class of 2007),
- 6'5 Amy JAESCHKE (#3 center from the HS Class of 2007),
and
- 6'5 Quanitra HOLLINGSWORTH

Even without Tina CHARLES and Jayne APPEL, I think the USA U19 Team post play will still be in good hands...QUOTE]

Kelly Cain & Jantell Lavender were on the team last year. For what I see of Cain she is more of a defender. Jantel is tough but I'd be surprise if she is as tall as she is listed.

Dehaan, Jaeschke and Hollingsworth are not replacements for Charles or Appel

The fact that Appel has a sprained ankle should assure her playing this summer.