USA BASKETBALL Amber Bland to train at U.S. Olympic site

The Boardman High senior will be one of 47 girls at the four-day session.
By ROB MEYER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Northeast Ohio region may be getting too small to contain Amber Bland.
The 5-foot-10 Boardman High senior will take her dominating basketball presence to Colorado Springs, Colo., on Wednesday to compete in the USA Basketball Women's Youth Development Festival at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
Bland, the two-time Vindicator girls basketball player of the year, will be one of 47 girls from across the country to compete in the four-day event.
The 47 girls, all entering their senior year, will be divided into four teams from the North, South, East and West regions and will play in a five-game round robin tournament.
The event also will feature teaching seminars from eight of the nation's top Amateur Athletic Union coaches. The sessions will include topics such as team skills, media training and proper eating habits for athletes.
Was going to AAU meet
But Bland almost passed on the opportunity. She was expecting to attend an AAU state tournament June 11-13 before she learned of her invite to the USA Basketball Festival.
"I am excited about going to Colorado, but I have mixed feelings about going," she said. "I wanted to go to the AAU tournament. But this will be a great opportunity for me to enhance my game."
Bland is looking forward to competing with talented girls such as the USA Today National Player of the Year, Candace Parker, from Napersville, Ill.
"I'll be playing against girls who are on the same level as I am," she said. "This is a big honor for me, these are the 47 best seniors in the country. This is the best tournament in the world."
As a junior last season, Bland averaged 28 points per game and led the Spartans to a 19-1 regular season record, and a ninth straight Steel Valley Conference championship.
College search
Bland also will be continuing her college search this summer. After receiving interest from every major college program in the country, Bland will visit many colleges this summer, including Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana, Florida, Virginia and some Ohio colleges.
"I don't know where I want to go," Bland said. "I'm still receiving mail. I don't have a preference as of right now."