Present meets future

NEW YORK – Candace Parker sprinted across the court, put up both hands and violently swatted the ball back at a male practice player, who thought he had an uncontested layup.

The spectacular block happened so quickly, and with such force, that it drew “oohs” and “aahs” from players and coaches who were watching.

Even more than that, it made a statement: Parker will be someone to be reckoned with during the selection process for the 2008 U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball team.

“I was wondering when it was going to happen,” said Delisha Milton-Jones, who played on the 2000 Olympic team. “You knew at some point during the day, she was going to get her hands on the shot pretty nasty. I’m just glad it wasn’t me.”

Perhaps that play was just a reaction to having the ball stolen in a layup drill, or maybe it’s an attitude.

One thing is certain, the Tennessee standout, who was a member of the U.S. bronze medal team at the 2006 World Championships, has the kind of game that plays well on the international court.

Parker, Courtney Paris, Candice Wiggins and Sylvia Fowles – the only four college athletes selected among the 27 players invited to the U.S. training camp in New York and Philadelphia – are the future of U.S. women’s basketball.

They might even be the present.

With their play at camp, the four college players are going to make it difficult on the selection committee, which will pick the 12 players that will head to Chile to play in the FIBA Americas tournament at the end of September and try to earn a berth for the United States in the Beijing Olympics.

“They all have their own special qualities,” assistant coach Dawn Staley said. “I think they are going to make the committee’s job in selecting players over them that much tougher. They each bring something which is very unique.”

Staley, who won three gold medals for the U.S., feels that the only thing the college players are lacking is experience.

“If they don’t make the team, it just means they aren’t ready for international play at this time. We can’t afford to throw them in since we’re not world champions at this moment.”

In practice Wednesday, the national team scrimmaged for the first time. One team consisted of the four college players and Sue Bird. The other was made up of five current WNBA players. It was no contest as the college players won easily, dominating on both ends of the floor, scoring at will and playing stellar defense.

“They are very good,” Bird said of her young teammates. “There definitely weren’t players like that when I was coming through college. They have a versatility. Candace Parker is in class of her own. The things she does at her size, the ball handling, she can do it all. That’s how the game is transforming. You’re having players like that playing like guards.”

It would be easy for the four to be awe-struck playing with America’s best, but they haven’t let it show, which has impressed coach Anne Donovan.

“They have such an innocence and eagerness about them that it’s been really a pleasure for all of us to be around them and see how coachable and how good they are,” Donovan said. “Whether it’s this team, or another international team down the road they are going to be very good.”

Playing at the camp this week has been an incredible and sometimes surreal experience for the four “young-ins,” as Staley calls them.

“We’re here among the best players in the world,” said Parker, who became the first collegian to play on a women’s national team since Chamique Holdsclaw in 1998. “It’s really something that hasn’t sunk in.”

Fowles, an LSU senior, and Paris, an Oklahoma junior, were part of the senior national team that played in Italy in April and gained valuable international experience. Wiggins was a newcomer, being invited to the camp late last week after helping the U.S. win gold at the under-21 tournament and Pan American Games this summer.

“I know for me, every day is just trying to absorb as much information as you can,” the Stanford senior guard said. “To be on the same court as these veterans and play with them I’ve learned so much.”

Fowles was only able to attend the New York portion of the camp as she had to go back to LSU for classes. However, she left a strong impression on some of her teammates.

“She plays above the rim,” Kara Lawson said. “It’s unbelievable watching her go get that ball and put it back in.”

Despite having to head back to school soon, all four college players have enjoyed their national experience and would love a chance to play for the U.S. team in Chile and help America qualify for the Olympics.

“We’re learning as much as we can from them so we can keep the USA on top,” Parker said. “After playing in the world championships and losing to Russia we’re trying to bring basketball back to the United States.”