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Carly Apfel

Didn't know he had a sex change in the offseason.

LOL whoops

Day 1:

The Season 15 NT Camp is in full swing as 48 players try to compete to make a spot and represent their country on the national stage!

As I passed by the various groups of players and watched them each compete in a various amount of drills, I could see the hard work that these men have put in the regular season and the offseason.

I managed to chat with some of these players during their down times and over a lunch break.

Walking over to Clay Moore, Gavin Wood, and Tracy Owen, I asked them all the same question:
"Do you think you've got what it takes to make it past the first cuts?"
Clay Moore - " I believe I do... I mean I'm competing with all these guys, I've got what it takes!"
Gavin Wood - " Yeah... Definitely. I'm a MUST for this team."
Tracy Owen - " I've made a few mistakes today I wish I could take back, but hopefully the coaches will see what I got in me and keep me around"

Veterans Joe Bronson and Ismael Grubbs were helping some young players as I approached them for some questions about the new guys in camp.
"So Joe and Ismael, what do you guys think about all this young talent around you here at camp?"
Joe Bronson - " It's nice seeing them around, they're all great players! we might just have a hidden gem among them"
Ismael Grubbs - " O yeah, I've been here for a long time and it's always a great feeling seeing this next generation of USA athletes taking charge out here on the basketball courts"
"Speaking of the young talent, who here has impressed you the most?"
Joe Bronson - " I'd have to say that Nigel Marcus and Joan Weston have both impressed me today and would like to see them continue to grow and develop into our future stars. They've got the youth and drive to do it."
Ismael Grubbs - " I'd say Clay Moore... good young talent and I like his stuff"


After heading over to food courts I took a seat by Jairo Alejandro Renteria. Munching on some cheeseburgers, I asked Jairo some questions.
" What do you think of this year's NT camp?"
Jairo - " Es muy bien!"
" That's great to hear.. so what are you doing after finishing up today's workouts and drills?"
Jairo - " Como la comida y me ducho y me cepillo los dientes, y me acuesto."
" Awesome Jairo.. well good luck in camp and i'll see you around"


The drills and workouts continued after lunch and all 48 players were being examined to find their strengths and weaknesses to analyze the different components of the team as a whole.

During a simple spot-shooting drill a fight had erupted. Herbert Gagnon and Herbert Guajardo were seen wrestling on the ground trying to fit as many fist in at each other as several players seperated the two. As I approached the scene, it was best not to approach the Herberts. Instead Morris Scales filled me in stating that the fight was the cause of a disagreement on who was the better Herbert. Both players were kicked out of camp.

Finally, I managed to get a statement from newly elected NT coach, Jfarb001:
"Well, its obvious the players are out of shape after a long offseason. Some of the players are overweight cough Jordon Brown cough cough. Overall, I'm pleased with the group we have this season, right now we are just trying to identify our strengths and weaknesses and how we can compensate for that. The international game is different from what us Americans are used to, so we must adapt... HEY DUBE!!! YOU TIRED ALREADY?!? NEED A BREAK?? MAYBE YOU SHOULD TRY LAYING OFF THE DOOB. HIT THE SHOWERS!!"

As you can see a very successful first day of NT Camp. Stay tuned as tomorrow night the first cuts are posted and Day 2 Coverage!

-SpF-

You have a gift.

Day 2:

Arriving at the National Team's Training Facility the cuts were posted on the front door as follows with these men making the team after first cuts:

Derrick Anglin
Dan Billingsley
Ray Taylor
Mikey Bergman
Damian Gan
Ronald Trickle
Aiden Sharpe
Doug Gomez
Joe Bronson
Charles Dube
Ricardo Madrid
Dexter Dennison
Willis Lundy
Willie Dillard
Irwin Velasco
Richard Ugona
Jairo Alejandro Renteria
Ismael Grubbs
Inez Arzapalo
Zane Ritter
Gavin Wood
Cliff Gonzalez
Lynn Tirado
Nigel Marcus
Clay Moore
Jordon Brown
Eugene Williams
Geoffrey Galloway

Drills and workouts continued as I stepped inside the facility. I greeted the players and took a seat watching the remaining 28 players go up and down the court.

I noticed a commotion and walked over to the scene to find Perry Gipson who was cut earlier that day in an argument with Willis Lundy. I couldn't hear what their argument was exactly about it seemed to me that Gipson was angry he was cut. To settle their argument a quick game of 1 on 1 was set. The game was tight with both players trading baskets. Tied at 11, Perry Gipson took the ball and with a reverse jam posterized Willis Lundy. Gipson taunted Lundy in a very unsportmanslike way. Every player and staff member was in awe that Gipson had done this to Lundy. However Lundy scored 10 straight and won 21-13. After the loss Gipson was escorted out of the building but he had left his mark on Lundy.

Walking over to Ronald Trickle and Dan Billingsley I was curious to see what they thought of this years team.
Ronald Trickle - " We've got ourselves a great ball club. Every single one of these guys can play with the best of them so for the rest of the world, you better watch out."
Dan Billingsley - " I agree. We do have a good team but we have to keep our focus and continue to grow... try not to get to big of heads *cough*.

Finally I walked over to NT coach Jfarb001. He was working with Richard Ugona and Joe Bronson.
"Coach could we have a statement?"
Jfarb001 - " Camp is really a competitive environment, all of these guys are very talented, so making cuts is difficult to say the least. Right now we are just trying to find the right combination, we have a few players here who are truly elite, so there are a bunch of guys battling for those last few spots. They are going to have to show us... HEY UGONA!!! U GONNA PASS THE BALL AT ALL TODAY?!? YEA THATS RIGHT I SAID IT!!! I'LL BE HERE ALL WEEK, UNLIKE YOU!"

As you can see although these 28 players may have made it past the first cuts they're not officially players for the United States National Team. They will have to continue to grow and compete with one another to earn the honor to play for this team. The United States first game is January 24 vs. Bolivia. We will have our final roster so stay tuned sometime before the big game for a final roster release and USA NT community competition information.

-SpF-

I noticed a commotion and walked over to the scene to find Perry Gipson who was cut earlier that day in an argument with Willis Lundy. I couldn't hear what their argument was exactly about it seemed to me that Gipson was angry he was cut. To settle their argument a quick game of 1 on 1 was set. The game was tight with both players trading baskets. Tied at 11, Perry Gipson took the ball and with a reverse jam posterized Willis Lundy. Gipson taunted Lundy in a very unsportmanslike way. Every player and staff member was in awe that Gipson had done this to Lundy. However Lundy scored 10 straight and won 21-13. After the loss Gipson was escorted out of the building but he had left his mark on Lundy.

We should be grateful Lundy emerged without an injury... Gipson's such a thug...

And Lundy is not?

Gipson is a well known thug. He single handedly-demoted Jelme in his only legitimate D.II season but chose to only demolish Lundy's pride in their head to head match-ups.

I hate Gipson. Glad he was cut.

Gipson is a well known thug. He single handedly-demoted Jelme in his only legitimate D.II season but chose to only demolish Lundy's pride in their head to head match-ups.

Minus the fact that Lundy had more points and assists in their two matchups together, it was his lack of teammates that did in the Tardeders...

a win's a win!