No More Doubting Thomas

Jasmine Thomas, one of the nation's elite prospects in the Class of 2007, picks up the pieces after being left off the USA Basketball U18 roster. She has moved ahead - and how - at the Nike Skills Academy, setting up a summer of redemption.

STORY & PHOTOS BY GLENN NELSON
BEAVERTON, Ore. - Rejection has a way of prompting one to churn through the gamut of emotions - hurt, anger, confusion. Even doubt. Jasmine Thomas, the elite Vienna, Va., point guard, felt all of those when she was not among the 12 who were named to the USA Basketball U18 FIBA Americas World Qualifying Team a couple of weeks ago.

Add philosophical to Thomas' list. It was, after all, her first rejection - in basketball, at least. And her omission from the USA roster was among the biggest surprises to emerge from the trials in Colorado Springs.

"What's done is done; I can't change anything now," Thomas said after the Saturday night session at the Nike Girl's Skills Academy. "It was something that I've never been through. I hope I'll get invited again, go through it all over again, and make it next time. ... It hurt at first. I'd never been cut by anyone before. And I wanted to make it so bad, it hurt real bad. But it's motivation to get better."

Jasmine Thomas

In that regard, the Skills Academy has been a Godsend for Thomas. She and 15 of the other top rising seniors and juniors from around the country are receiving focused, professional-level skills development, in addition to nightly scrimmages with and against her peers. The timing of the event - on the eve of the critical July evaluation period - could provide a boost to participants looking for one.

Thomas certainly is leading the hunt. Coming out of the USA Basketball trials, she wasn't certain of her shortcomings, so she is taking the tact that every part of her game needed work.

"Even though you think you worked as hard as you could, you can only assume there was something we didn't do as much as you should have," the 5-feet-9 Thomas said. "Here it doesn't seem like it's about individual talent. Even though that's not what USA Basketball was supposed to be about, that's what it felt like. Everybody just wanted to do their own thing.

"Most of the time, I'm just satisfied to play for myself. That's why I play - for myself. None of the writeups or any of that matters to me at all. Really. After USA, everyone acted so surprised. I was surprised myself, but instead of trying to figure out why I didn't do things, I just wanted to work on everything. If there was something that made me not to be picked, I just wanted to work on everything in case I hit that one thing."

Thomas, a five-star prospect, according to HoopGurlz.com, already is one of the very best prospects in the Class of 2007 - which is why many were surprised she didn't make the USA team. Thomas is quick and smooth, with nice combo moves on the dribble, good vision of the floor, and great application at the defensive end. She tested at last year's Academy with the best vertical leap at 32 inches, which serves as a basis for the sweetest part of her game - her jumper.

During the first three sessions of the Academy, Thomas, already well known for her fierce competitiveness, has attacked the drills and scrimmages with renewed vigor. She has been determined to shoot more and play harder and is bent on learning to change her speed of play.

"I told myself that, after Colorado Springs, I wouldn't do anything less than 100 percent - anywhere," Thomas said. "No breaks. Everything hard, hard. I can't wait for End of the Trail. I can't wait to go to Nike Nationals. This is my last year to do everything I can do. ... It's something that I've wanted since I started - I just want to be the best. I want to be the best that I can be."

Doubting Thomas may not, in the end, be a negative for USA Basketball because it has an opportunity to rectify the snub when it chooses its team for the U19 World Championships next year. In the short term, the ones likely to pay will be any team that crosses pathes with hers, the Fairfax Stars, this summer.

Rim Shots

Ta'Shia Phillips issued a terse "no comment" when asked about her rumored decommitment from Purdue. However, sources indicate that, while Purdue may not be completely off the 6-feet-6 post's list, she is at least planning to visit Baylor, among others. ... Brookilyn Pope, a 2008 prospect out of Fort Worth, Texas, had a breakout evening scrimmage. She wowed observers in the open court, during one back-to-back sequence she ripped rebounds off the glass, transported the ball upcourt and finished. The second time, she executed a filthy spin move. During drills, the explosive Pope also has come close to dunking some shots. ... Nadezda Grishaeva, the 6-5 Russian turned Philadelphian, seems to be getting more and more hip to the American way of hooping. Today she asserted herself more, knocking to the floor several players, including Krystal Thomas, the 6-4 forward out of Wyndemere, Fla. Previously she had shown more of a finesse game with a sweeping hook as her pet shot. ... Caroline Doty, of Doylestown, Pa., often is overshadowed by her Fenor club teammate, Elena DelleDonne, considered the nation's best 2008 prospect. Not this week. With DelleDonne resting her ankle for the End of the Trail next week, Doty has shined on her own at the Academy with her shooting, hustle and court sense. She looks a little on the thin side, but gets very good lift on her shots, particularly during competition. ... Marah Strickland, the oustanding shooting guard of Towson, Md., turned her left ankle early in the evening session. Doctors said she likely would not be ready to participate during Sunday's sessions, but she disagreed. Strickland, who seems bigger and stronger than in the spring and still is light's out on her pullup jumpers, may be the most impressive player in the Academy so far. ... Shela White, of Portsmouth, Va., arguably got the best in the first battle of the true point guards against Cetera DeGraffenreid of Cullowhee, N.C. But DeGraffenreid came back strong on Saturday, particularly at the defensive end. So call it all even, with two days to go.

Caroline Doty rises on Ashley Cimino

Brookilyn Pope blocks a shot by Kim Rodgers

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Our Complete Nike Skills Coverage Menu:

Magnifient Marah
Marah Strickland has staked her claim as one of the nation's best '07 prospects.

Stanford Bags Another Big
The hot-recruiting Cardinal land a 6-feet-5 shooter.

A Krystal Clear Forward
Krystal Thomas has made it clear that she is an elite 2007 power forward prospect, and not a post.

No More Doubting Thomas
Jasmine Thomas picks up the pieces after not making the USA U18 team.

Opening Salvo
A look at the opening session of the Nike Women's Skills Academy.

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