This time of year, Diamond Miller of Somerset, N.J., should be taking final exams and revving up for a summer of AAU basketball. The 6-foot-1 guard is doing both those things, but she’s also embarking on an exciting adventure, representing her country as part of the USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team.
Miller, 16, earned her spot on the 12-member roster currently playing in the 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after an intensely competitive training camp in Colorado Springs that began with 133 athletes. She decided to try out after she received a national ranking, and her father encouraged her to go for it. Miller aspires to be an Olympian like her basketball idols Maya Moore and Candace Parker, and now she’s on that path.
“The big-time colleges will see that I can compete with international players,” said Miller, who took study hall and her sophomore year finals while at training camp in Colorado. “I’m not sure where I want to go to college, but I’m thinking about Maryland, Notre Dame or Michigan.”
She added, “This is so exciting; it’s a roller coaster. The determination and all the hard work are paying off. … I don’t get a break. We get home the 15th and then AAU picks up in July.”
Celeste Taylor, 15, from Valley Stream, Long Island, is also making the trip to Argentina. The 5-foot-11 guard said it has always been her dream to play for her country. She pushes herself to be the best and takes pride in her work ethic. In addition to training diligently, she scrimmages with boys to toughen up.
“[Making this team] is an amazing opportunity that not many in my town get to receive,” said Taylor, who will join her AAU team when she gets home. “I was invited this year, and I decided to come and try out. I worked my butt off in the trials.”
She continued, “I pushed myself as much as I could because I knew that this was a huge opportunity I hope to get a gold medal with my teammates. I created amazing friendships. We’re all team-oriented.”
The other local on the team is Kylee Watson of Linwood, N.J. In addition to medals, at stake in Buenos Aires are four berths in the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup.