Breaking News: Walz in Colorado Springs for USA squad...Staff recruiting -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE - News Paper

WALZ WORKS U 18 SQUAD WHILE STAFF RECRUITS

July. That month in the year where NCAA women's basketball coaches get two chances to scour the country (and abroad) to evaluate high school talent and identify players who might make up the future rosters at their colleges and universities. A huge month for the talent-rich camps, showdowns, shootouts and tournament for club ball and AAU events. 

The second evaluation period of the month has begun and Cardinal coaches are spanning the globe to watch and observe. Louisville head women's basketball coach Jeff Walz is out at his "home away from home" Colorado Springs, CO...coaching up the USA U 18 squad to get them ready for the FIBA Americas Tournament in August. USA goes to Mexico City to begin play on August 1st. 

This time he didn't cross the Mississippi River alone. Associate coach Steph Norman and special assistant to the head coach Beth Burns were with Walz at the U.S. Training Facility over the weekend to watch a couple of girls on the squad who are still undecided on their university choice in the 2019 class. Maori Davenport (Henderson High School, Troy, AL), a 6'4" center and Aijah Blackwell (Whitfield School, Berkeley, MO), a speedy 6'0" guard are the interest there. Both are top-25 prospects going into their senior seasons. 

If Walz doesn't know his way around the US Training Facility, Air Force campus and streets of Colorado Springs by now...he's as geographically challenged as Paulie...

Cardinal great Sara Hammond with Sam

Meanwhile, Sam Purcell is overseas in Minsk, Belarus monitoring the USA U 17 squad and their games. He's probably not getting much time to sample borscht, caviar and sip vodka, with future Cardinal prospects in the 2020 and 2021 classes Azzi Fudd, Zia Cook, Charisma Osbourne, Jordan Horston and Haley Jones on the court. USA has rolled past Italy and Mali in their first two contests in Minsk and takes on China Tuesday. If you want to watch, the link is facebook.com/USABasketball

"Sardechna Zarashayem!" is a greeting Sam will no doubt hear from the locals a few times while in Minsk. Don't accept any fake rubles, Sammy. 

Other places of interest stateside for Cardinal coaches include the United States Junior Nationals in Washington, D.C. 2019 prospects Jada Boyd and Rickea Jackson remain high on the Cardinal observation list. 

They probably won't have time to hit The Deli At Watergate...but if you find yourself in D.C., it's highly recommended. The pastrami is incredible there. 

Recruiting. Maybe best summed up by the quote: 

"In recruiting, there are no good or bad experiences...just learning experiences" 

Here's hoping the Cardinal coaches learn a lot and the players learn that the UofL coaches and campus offer a lot for the continuation of their student/athlete process. 


KATIE VS.

Local television sports reporter Katie George (WDRB) has started a series where she takes on players at their sports. She went up against Cardinal Couple favorite Jaz Jones in the first segment. Jaz "Myisha'ed" her, as you'll see in the link below. 

Kudos to Katie for the "Katie Vs." segment. It's a rehash, in sorts, of several other sportscasters' attempts to show their (sometimes lack of) athleticism. "Domine Does It" comes to mind, as does "I Challenge Fred" from past years. 

An entertaining segment, for sure. We'd like to see if she could score on UofL Field Hockey goalkeep Ayeshia McFerran...

LINK: KATIE VS


paulie
xxxxx




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Breaking News: Walz in Colorado Springs for USA squad...Staff recruiting -- MONDAY CARDINAL COUPLE - News Paper