Autumn Fleary
Jerzy Robinson elevates over Ivanna WIlson-Manyacka for a jumper at the U17 national team trials. *Photo by Chris Hansen.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – Cut day is always hard at USA Basketball youth national team trials. Most of these kids have rarely, if ever, experienced being cut as they are the best of the best at their age group. The group of 42 was cut down to 22 with the cut to 12 coming before the end of the holiday weekend, presumably following Sunday’s two sessions.
The finalists are Jacy Abii, Kelsi Andrews, Jazelle ‘GG’ Banks, Addison Bjorn, Brihanna Crittendon, Aaliyah Crump, Alexandra Eschmeyer, Autumn Fleary, Lanie Grant, Kate Harpring, Lauren Hassell, Jayla ‘Jordyn’ Jackson, Lola Lampley, Jordyn Palmer, Jerzy Robinson, Emilee Skinner, Kaleena Smith, Jordan Speiser, Hailee Swain, Nation Williams, Ivana Wilson-Manyacka and McKenna Woliczko.
But making the team isn’t the only way to win on trials weekend. Being able to compete with not only an elite opponent directly across from you but when you put high level players in every gap and under the rim, your game gets forced to elevate.
The ProspectsNation.com Saturday coverage is meant to emphasize what we learned from the matchups through the first two days.
Maddyn Greenway is guarded by Kate Harpring at the U17 national team trials. *Photo by Chris Hansen.
CLAY’S STARTING FIVE
Bjorn is such an interesting prospect. Everytime our staff gets the chance to evaluate her game, she’s grown some more. The last time we saw Bjorn was at the Nike TOC in Phoenix. She’s grown since then. Her length gives a versatility that few in the gym can match even in this elite setting. Bjorn flies around the lane looking for chances to make plays on either end of the hardwood. That combination makes her extremely valuable to building a team from scratch.
Carter has been a major producer over the last twelve months. Much like Bjorn, she keeps growing and has yet to finish based on what we saw here. Carter’s skill set keeps getting better with each evaluation. Look for her to take the next step as she finishes her 2024 club season with Exodus NYC. Carter will be eligible for the 16-and-under Trials roster next May and will be one of the frontrunners to secure a spot.
Fleary’s game is so steady. She’s hard to speed up and hard to rattle. In a room full of elite level guards, Fleary shined bright. Whether it was an outside jumpshot or a dish to a cutter, Fleary consistently found ways to be effective on the offensive end of the floor. She also made her presence felt on the defensive end too with quick hands around opposing basketball handlers.
Greenway has been on the national radar for a couple of years now amassing major scoring numbers during her school seasons each year. In what might have been the deepest guard pool I’ve ever witnessed at a trials, Greenway was able to compete and hold her own. She plays with an energy and pace that few guards in her class can match. Add that to her scoring prowess and it’s easy to see why Greenway is so highly recruited.
Hurst is a two-sport standout who was named the Player of the Year in Tennessee for volleyball. She’s such a talented prospect that time becomes limited to get in the type of individual skill work that she’ll get in college. When Hurst gets a chance to receive that on a daily basis, expect her game to take another step. The talent, length and upside all align with that happening sooner than later once she arrives on her future college campus.
Kaleena Smith is guarded by Ryan Carter, two of the top 2027's in the country. *Photo by Chris Hansen.
HANSEN’S SIX IN THE MIX
Banks was an impact player both days and on both ends of the court. She brings a natural competitive energy to the floor and plays with a confidence matched by few. Defensively she put a lot of pressure on the ball. Offensively she darted and slashed into the lane to force help. She showed she could find teammates when the help came crashing. Saturday she got her jumper going as well. If that area of her game become elite there’s really not going to be an answer.
Eschmeyer is a kid we’ve seen multiple times but never in this type of setting. She did a terrific job of using her length to bother shots in the lane without swinging and fouling. She was solid in their drag action and made the bunnies you need your 5-player to make. What gave her another level of impact was her ability to hit the trail and pop three ball and draw rim-protectors away from the basket.
Wilson-Manyacka has the rare combination of size, power and mobility and she used it all on Saturday. Once she got rolling she made a huge impact. She was pulling rebounds off the rim, pushing the ball, slashing and scoring in the half court then reached deeper in her bag and started knocking down threes. Did we mention she’s one of only two 14-year-olds?
Expectations for Robinson are sky high after she led the U16 team to gold last summer. And rightfully so. She’s got NIL deals with apparel companies and everything that goes with being her. On Saturday she picked her spots to show why. She not only turned on the scoring but she was directing the offense, communicating like you’d expect from a class leader.
Smith’s hype has been off the charts which made her play at the USA Trials more under the microscope than anyone else invited. That’s not fair, but it’s where we’re at. She passed the test with flying colors. Her game adjusted and translated. Her passing and vision, underappreciated when she’s going for 30 in high school, was unmatched. She was smart defensively as well an managed to stay out of bad switches where other small guards found themselves in mismatches.
Woliczko’s play the last 18 months has been so consistent that she’s at trials without the buzz because her production is just expected now. Again, not fair, but having the label of steady and elite is hardly a slight either. The mid-post play, passing, reads in the ball screen and off ball screen action, she just knows what she’s doing. She finds extra possession as well, all while not being the biggest frontcourt option at any time. Winners win.
Brandon Clay serves as the Director of Scouting for ProspectsNation.com and owns The BrandonClayScouting.com Evaluation Report, which is read by more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide. He also serves as the Executive Skills Director for the Brandon Clay Scouting Academy Series.
Chris Hansen is managing editor of ProspectsNation.com and serves on the McDonald’s All-American and Naismith Trophy selection committees. He was a co-founder of and the national director of scouting for ESPN HoopGurlz from 2005 until 2012 and is the director of the Check Me Out Showcase and ELITE is EARNED events. He can be reached at chris@chrishansenbasketball.com.
