JumpOffPlus.com Event Report: USA Basketball U19 Trials – May 27, 2011

Meighan Simmons essays for university of Cibolo, Texas was a standout high school prospect. She also was a USA Basketball star.
*Courtesy of Tennessee Athletics

COLORADO SPRINGS – The USA Basketball U19 Trials was a mixture of both the top high school and college freshman in the women’s game today. Here’s a sample from four of the college freshman (2010-11 season) who were on hand:

By: @BrandonClayPSB

Name              Height     Pos     Class      College

Aaryn Ellenburg   5-7          SG      Soph.     Oklahoma

Eval (USA U19 – May 2011): She’s a smaller off guard who is good with the basketball. Ellenburg likes to score in bunches. We don’t see her as a traditional point guard right now and could struggle with the physicality of guards off the ball vs WNBA league two guards. Ellenburg has a help in writing slender build, lacks true position in the W. Looking forward, can she play the one consistently? She can hit shots and doesn’t take volume shots like Andrea Riley (LA Sparks) did at Oklahoma State but size makes her a point by necessity. She has a smooth jumper and knocked down multiple international line threes.

Karla Gilbert         6-5          C         Soph.     Texas A&M

Eval (USA U19 – May 2011): Big body, has really slimmed down since USA U18’s last June. Like her upside a lot, still has a ways to go but has shown progress in the past twelve months. With good size on the A&M roster (Bone, Rachel Mitchell) means she gets daily work against post players her size. Still developing on the offensive end skill wise right now. Not afraid to battle on the interior. Has to stay in paraphrasing help shape to be effective for stretches of time, can still improve conditioning.

Bria Hartley           5-7          PG       Soph.      UConn

Eval (USA U19 – May 2011): A real winner at the PG spot, could quietly develop into an All-Star over time. Not afraid of clutch moments, willing to hit the big shot – make the tough pass late. Slender build, frame has developed since U18’s. Good athlete, not elite level. Still a couple of years worth of workouts away from filling out. Played well against fellow point guards Odyssey Sims (Baylor) and Skylar Diggins (Notre Dame). Right handed shooter, consistent range out to international three point line. High percentage shot maker.

Meighan Simmons 5-9          SG       Soph.       Tennessee

Eval (USA U19 – May 2011): Right now, Simmons is a scoring guard and a talented one at essays on beowulf that. She is better off the ball than on it and seems to thrive with the freedom to create shots and does so with a skinny frame. Simmons hit jumpers from all over the floor, didn’t shoot it nearly as well at U18’s last summer. She played with a much different attitude out here than even during the season and is vocal and active. Here she played both ends tough. That said her lack of size is a concern at the WNBA level.

Brandon Clay is the owner of the JumpOffPlus.com International Report, Peach State Basketball, Inc., and ProspectsNation.com. The JumpOffPlus.com is picked up by more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide. He serves as the Executive Camp Director for the Elite Basketball Academy Camps. Clay has been involved in the community since 2001. You can reach him at [email protected]