Catching Up With the Paris Twins

NORMAN, Okla. -- Forget a summer vacation.

Ashley and Courtney Paris have a summer jam-packed with school and basketball. The twin sisters will leave Thursday for the USA Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo. Both are vying for a spot on the U20 World Championship Team, which will reconvene in late July in hopes of claiming a world title.

The twins are just two of 37 athletes trying out for 12 spots on the USA team. They will be joined at the US Training Center by incoming freshman Amanda Thompson (Chicago). Thompson, who is a 6-1 forward, was one of just five high school athletes invited to the trials.

Before, between and after the Sooner stars will be busy with summer school, OU basketball camps and off-season conditioning.

Ashley and Courtney stopped by SoonerSports.com at different times this week. Both answered a similar set of questions. Below is the trascript from those conversations:

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How did your first academic year finish?
Ashley: I am happy with it. I had a 4.0 GPA my first semester and I believe my spring GPA will be above a 3.5. So I can't complain.

It was good year. Coach Coale has high expectations of her players and she tries to make academics and family our top priorities. That made it easy for me.

Courtney: It went really well, especially my first semester. Our academic advisor does a good job of setting you up with classes you will enjoy and succeed in. The second semester was tougher with traveling, but I feel like I adjusted well.

Now that you have a year under your belt, what was the biggest adjustment as a student?
AP: I am just a freshman, so the classes weren't the toughest in the world. But from high school to college you get so much more support: from the academic support system, to tutors whenever you need them. That really took away any of the transitional struggles for me.

CP: Being away so much, you are always trying to get caught up and once you do, it seems like you fall behind again. You feel like you can never get your feet on the ground because you miss so much class.

Are you close to declaring a major and do you know what you might want to do with that degree?
AP: When I first started college, I thought that I wanted to do journalism, but now that I am considering several other options. I am not so sure. I am keeping my options open for the time being.

CP: I am going to pursue a degree in jounalism and mass communications. I would love to be a sports writer and a broadcaster. I would love to stay in women's basketball and continue to have a hand in the sport when I'm done playing. I think my playing background, coupled with a degree from OU, could lead to a great job.

Every player on the OU team was honored at the end of the year banquet for having at least a 3.0 GPA. What's the biggest challenge in maintaining such a high level of academic success?
AP: We are all athletes and most of our time is consumed with traveling, basketball and practice. It is real easy to get distracted, but you just have to stay on track.

CP: There are many challenges and it's not easy. If it were, everyone would do it. The thing about Coach Coale and our team is that we take pride as much pride in our grades, as we do in going undefeated in Big 12.

You be the teacher now and give yourself a grade for your performance on the court as a freshman?
AP: Probably a C+, a little bit above average. I didn't accomplish everything I wanted to, but I learned a lot and I am ready to take that into next season.

CP: A+ with extra credit (an extended laugh). Seriously, maybe an A- or a B+. I think the coaches would give me a B+, but it's my choice so I am giving myself an A-.

Were you drained at the end of the season or anxious to begin preparation for
2006-07?
AP: I was really drained. We all expected to get to the Final Four and when we didn't, it felt like we had a few weeks left. That has made me motivated for next year and I am ready for it to begin today.

CP: A little bit of both. You have to let yourself be drained and enjoy a break. Although, it seemed like I didn't really get a break because of the awards traveling I did after the season.

On the other end, I am anxious because we didn't finish the season the way we wanted to. I am ready for next season to pop up and so we can get back to the tourney and go after a national championship.

What was your biggest personal accomplishment on the court last season?
AP: Just learning and understanding what's expected of you as a college athlete. I had to learn how to work hard and I feel like I am nearing that level.

CP: At the end of the season and as the tournaments came around, Coach Coale talked to me about learning how to play hard for 40 minutes. I was good at coming out of the gate and finishing games strong, but in the middle I was too relaxed. We talked about playing hard and playing with a high energy level for 40 minutes. More than anything, I am proud to say that I played hard for the entire game during the conference and NCAA tourneys.

What was the defining moment of your freshman season?
AP: I will remember the people we had on our team. It was a very fun year and we we had two special people, Laura Andrews and Beky Preston, leave us. I won't forget their presence on this team.

CP: It's actually two moments that work together. In the locker room after the Michigan State loss at home and in the locker room after we beat New Mexico the second time. That was the defining moment for this team. We decided that day (at New Mexico) that it was going to be a special year.

Okay, lets have a little fun. What was more challenging, your freshman season of basketball or getting your drivers license?
AP: Beky taught me how to do both of those things, so I would say it is pretty even. You might want to ask her.

CP: They go hand in hand. One was impossible without the other since I needed Beky Preston to train me on both. I made some mistakes on the court, but I also hit a curb while parallel parking during the test. I would say they were an even struggle.

You and your sister are sharing a car, how is that going?
AP: For the most part, it is going pretty well, but Courtney tries to hog the car. I was expecting that though.

CP: It is going great for me. I have the stronger arm, so I always get the keys (laugh). I am kidding. It's going well. I think our Dad may buy us another car and then it won't be an issue.

You both moved out of the dorms and are renting a house in Norman, who is going to be the cook now that you don't have a cafeteria?
AP: Probably Courtney, although I bet she said Erin Higgins.

CP: Probably Erin Higgins. Erin and Chelsi Welch are living with us as well. Erin just seems like a cook. We have not thought about it much, but I guess that is a big deal. We will probably end up ordering or going out for most meals.

Give us three parts of your game that you will focus on improving this off-season?
AP: Number one is being more consistent.

Then working on my game from the elbow in. I need to be able to hit that outside shot, as well as being able to drive to the basket from the elbow.

Number three is my back to the basket game. The goal is to become more consistent and more aggressive in the post.

CP: Patience, maybe it isn't an obvious part of the game. I had too many turnovers last year because I rushed things. If I can work on my patience and my footwork and slow things down, it will be really good for me.

Second is developing a face-up game. I will work on a jump shot from the free throw line and doing some different things from the trail spot.

Three would be free throws and tuning up all the little things in my game.

There was some realignment for the summer workouts and assistant coach Chad Thraikill has worked with the posts during individuals, how has that worked so far?
AP: I have not had many opportunities to work with him because he was with the guards during the regular season. He has been really good for me and our group of posts.

He brings a different voice to the position. It is always good to work with different coaches, especially one with his knowledge.

CP: It was pretty good. He claimed that (assistant coach) Stacy (Hansmeyer) and (assistant coach) Jan (Ross) could help me be an All-American, but he would take me to player of the year status. I am excited to see if it will all come true and I believe in him. We've got a little two-man game going.

What is the plan for the next three months of your life?
AP: Tryouts for USA Basketball, then work some camp and do the summer school thing. That is it, nothing too extravagant.

CP: I am going to stay here and do some summer school. Then I will tryout for USA Basketball and come back to finish summer session. Then I will work a little OU basketball camp before hopefully going to Guatemala with USA basketball in July and August.

Are you going to take any real vacation this summer?
AP: Probably not.

CP: Your looking at it. Summer school is my vacation. I might also go visit Beky Preston in New Mexico.

How exciting is it to get another invite from USA Basketball?
AP: Extremely. Anytime you have the opportunity to represent your country it is an honor and I can't wait it.

CP: I am very excited and its weird to see that a lot of people are not coming back from last year's team. That should provide an opportunity for me to meet some new, interesting people.

It also is a new opportunity for me to take on a new role with the team, if I make it. I hope I can be a leader for the team and guide us to a gold in a world tourney.

You didn't make the team last summer, what did you learn from that experience?
AP: They had a great team last summer and I was disappointed I did not make it, but it is a learning experience. I just have to go in there and do my best and lay it all on the line.

You didn't start for the team last summer, what did you learn from that experience?
CP: As far as not starting last summer, it was a good situation. You learn what you need to do when called upon and you learn your role. I think I did a good job of filling that need by scoring and rebounding. Last year we had some very good post players on our team and that was an advantage to me this past season. I was able to play behind posts like Crystal Langhorne (Maryland) and Erlana Larkins (North Carolina) and really absorb what they did to succeed.

More than anything I just need to be myself, play hard and rebound.

37 players will be in Colorado Springs for USA Trials, what will it take to make the squad?
AP: Laying it all on the line.

CP: I just have to remain the biggest and strongest player there. I think that has been my ticket the last few years. I am a different type of player and something the other countries don't have. I can be a secret weapon, if you can believe that.

Are you excited about the opportunity to spend some time with incoming freshman Amanda Thompson?
AP:I am excited about that opportunity. From the little I know of her, she is a great kid. She is extremely talented and I am excited about what she will do for this program.

CP: She is a great girl and I have heard a lot of good things about her. I am excited to get to know her before she arrives in Norman. I played with her once at a Nike Camp as a junior in high school. She's always had a good game.

Do you have any advice for Amanda, who is one of only five high school players trying to make the team?
AP: Honestly, I think she is in good shape. She works really hard and is aggressive and confident. I think that will give her as good of an opportunity as anyone else. I do not think her age will matter.

CP: I think you have to buy into what USA Basketball is all about and that is the team. It is all about the team concept. I have seen Amanda play a few times and that is one of the things I like about her. Even in the All-American game, she was high-fiving and constantly encouraging her teammates. That a different situation because you don't know the other players well, but she was going out of her way to build camaraderie. I think that gives her an upper hand on a lot of people and if she makes the team, it will be for the right reasons.

Are there any players you are looking forward to matching up with in practice during the trials?AP: I am looking forward to seeing Devanei Hampton and Alexis Gray-Lawson from Cal. Those two and other players we grew up playing against, like Rene Montgomery of UConn. That will be fun.

CP: I have already played against a lot of the post players that will be at camp, so I am pretty familiar with the group. Honestly, I am excited to see my girls from Cal-Berkeley again. I have not seen them since I started college.

You have been a part of a few other USA teams, what has been the biggest thrill so far?
AP: For me it was the USA Basketball Festival. I was on the West Team with Abby Waner (Duke), Erica Arriaran (Texas), Devanei and Alexis and we won the gold. It was a blast playing with all that talent and taking the tourney.

CP: The people you meet and the places you get to go. It is the best experience in the world. You travel around and you are playing on the best team in the world. It gives you the chance to grow as a person and that is the best part of it. It isn't so much about basketball, but the people you meet the and the life experiences.

What was your proudest moment from watching your sister play this year?
AP: I don't think it was moment, more just her consistency. She went up against Tiffany Jackson (Texas), Sophia Young (Baylor) and Liz Shimek (Michigan State) and those players were supposed to own that matchup. She really handled herself well all season. She consistently held her own and outplayed the opposing team's post.

CP: I think it was in two losses. In the UConn game, she really played hard and took some jump shots at the top of the key. She just had an urgency about her when the team needed her to step up. Then the Stanford game. There was a play where she dribbled left then came back right and off a screen before hitting a jump shot. She didn't play in a shell when we needed her most and that is very promising for our future.

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