USA - Sophomore has shot at U17 National Team
After Providence Day School student Tiffany Rice-Mitchell tore her ACL in April 2009, she didn't think she would be invited back to tryouts for this year's national girls basketball team. But Rice-Mitchell, a 5-foot-10 sophomore guard, is preparing to travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., on June 8-11 to try out for the USA U17 National Team. "I was scared I wasn't going to be able to play or I wasn't going to be invited this year," said Rice-Mitchell. "To prepare for the (U17) tryouts, I have worked really hard throughout the whole season."
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After Providence Day School student Tiffany Rice-Mitchell tore her ACL in April 2009, she didn't think she would be invited back to tryouts for this year's national girls basketball team.
But Rice-Mitchell, a 5-foot-10 sophomore guard, is preparing to travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., on June 8-11 to try out for the USA U17 National Team.
"I was scared I wasn't going to be able to play or I wasn't going to be invited this year," said Rice-Mitchell. "To prepare for the (U17) tryouts, I have worked really hard throughout the whole season."
Twelve athletes chosen from the participants in Colorado will continue to the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship for Women on July 16-25 in Toulouse and Rodez, France.
This year's U17 USA team will be coached by Barbara Nelson, current Wingate University women's basketball head coach and former Providence Day School girl's varsity coach.
"It's a phenomenal experience (to coach the U17 team). It's both exciting and humbling; it brings out the patriot in you," said Nelson. "Our goal is to win the world championship. Anything less than that and we'll feel like we didn't meet our expectations."
Nelson led last year's U16 USA team to a gold medal-winning 5-0 record.
While at Providence Day, Nelson compiled a 437-176 record and seven NCISAA state championships in 21 seasons.
Selections also will be made in Colorado for the first Youth Olympic Games (YOG), to be held in Singapore on Aug. 14-26.
The YOG will host about 5,000 athletes and officials from the 205 National Olympic Committees, along with an estimated 1,200 media representatives, 20,000 local and international volunteers and more than 370,000 spectators.
"I hope Tiffany does well, because we are extremely proud of her," said Josh Springer, Providence Day program head and girl's varsity basketball head coach.
One of Rice-Mitchell's concerns about the upcoming tryouts is the location, she said.
"I've heard from my friends that it's really hard to breathe in Colorado, so I don't want to pass out running up and down the court," said Rice-Mitchell.
Last season, Rice-Mitchell helped Providence Day secure its fifth consecutive championship by defeating Hickory Grove, 61-49, despite recuperating from her spring 2009 injury, said Springer. Rice-Mitchell scored 30 points and grabbed 8 rebounds during the championship game.
"I have always said, Tiffany at 75 percent is better than 95 percent of high school basketball players," said Springer.
During the 2009-10 season, Rice-Mitchell averaged 16.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. She also averaged 3 assists and 3 steals.
"She has an unbelievable, quiet confidence that says, 'Coach, I'm going to win this game for us,' and as a coach, you couldn't ask for more," said Springer.
After high school, Rice-Mitchell said, she wants to play in college, followed by WNBA and overseas play. She also said she eventually would like to coach.
"I don't have a favorite team, I just know I want to be around basketball," she said.
As Rice-Mitchell advances in basketball, Springer said his advice to her is "to stay hungry and stay humble."