Olivia Anderson Gets USA Basketball Invite
Photo: Sniper Media Group
Nars Martinez
In this article:
Big news hit the scene yesterday with Ellensburg, Washington’s own,
Olivia Anderson
Olivia
Anderson
6'6" | PF
Ellensburg | 2023
State
#37
Nation
WA
, announcing her invite from USA Basketball to the U16 National Team Trials. USA Basketball is the national governing body for sports in the United States. The Developmental National Team is responsible for all trials and team selections.
The 6’6 stretch forward has seen her stock recently rise with ESPN HoopGurlz tweeting her name out, Prep Girls Hoops ranking her #37 nationally and a handful of top 25 nationally ranked colleges reaching out and actively recruiting her. The invite from USA Basketball adds to the 15 year old's following and this news was especially impressive due to the fact only 30 girls in the entire country received an invite to tryout for the 12 team roster. "My initial reaction was surprised and thankful, with there only being a limited number of girls going I was not expecting to be able to go," said Anderson. While humble in her reaction, the gangly sophomore's volleyball "spike-like" blocks and three point swishes are quite a bit more brash.
The last girl out of Washington to represent USA Basketball grew up just one hour from Anderson’s hometown Ellensburg. That player was 2020 grad, Cashmere High School legend and freshman starter at the University of Louisville,
Hailey Van Lith
Hailey
Van Lith
5'7" | PG
Cashmere | 2020
State
WA
. The competition of making any USA Basketball team is extremely difficult, but there is something to be said for the talent coming out of the Central Washington region in recent years.
"I hope that I can take away as much new knowledge as I can from the USA Basketball experience. I’m hoping to grow as much as I can, not only as a player, but as a person," Anderson stated on what she hopes to take away from the National Team Trials. She will report to the Trials (Location TBD) on May 31st and participate June 3-6 with 29 of the other top girls under 16 years old in the country. The final 12 player roster will participate in training camp everyday until June 19th and then head to the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Santiago, Chile. The International event will last 7 days, concluding on June 27th.
Olivia
Anderson
6'6" | PF
Ellensburg | 2023
State
#37
Nation
WA
, announcing her invite from USA Basketball to the U16 National Team Trials. USA Basketball is the national governing body for sports in the United States. The Developmental National Team is responsible for all trials and team selections.
The 6’6 stretch forward has seen her stock recently rise with ESPN HoopGurlz tweeting her name out, Prep Girls Hoops ranking her #37 nationally and a handful of top 25 nationally ranked colleges reaching out and actively recruiting her. The invite from USA Basketball adds to the 15 year old's following and this news was especially impressive due to the fact only 30 girls in the entire country received an invite to tryout for the 12 team roster. "My initial reaction was surprised and thankful, with there only being a limited number of girls going I was not expecting to be able to go," said Anderson. While humble in her reaction, the gangly sophomore's volleyball "spike-like" blocks and three point swishes are quite a bit more brash.
The last girl out of Washington to represent USA Basketball grew up just one hour from Anderson’s hometown Ellensburg. That player was 2020 grad, Cashmere High School legend and freshman starter at the University of Louisville,
Hailey Van Lith
Hailey
Van Lith
5'7" | PG
Cashmere | 2020
State
WA
. The competition of making any USA Basketball team is extremely difficult, but there is something to be said for the talent coming out of the Central Washington region in recent years.
"I hope that I can take away as much new knowledge as I can from the USA Basketball experience. I’m hoping to grow as much as I can, not only as a player, but as a person," Anderson stated on what she hopes to take away from the National Team Trials. She will report to the Trials (Location TBD) on May 31st and participate June 3-6 with 29 of the other top girls under 16 years old in the country. The final 12 player roster will participate in training camp everyday until June 19th and then head to the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Santiago, Chile. The International event will last 7 days, concluding on June 27th. 
