Team USA teenager

Ever since she picked up a basketball, Faith Pavalonis has excelled at the game. The Wilkes Barre Clutch player is one of the best 13-year-olds in the area.

Faith Pavalonis, TEAM USA (Riverside) says, “I love the whole game. Like, I'm really aggressive. I just like putting my body in this ball. With you guys getting on my shot and falling. Everything about basketball is awesome. “

Added Wilkes Barre clutch coach Irelyn Jannuzzi: “She’s very dynamic. She can play all five positions. She is vocal. She is a leader on the field. and she's a great teammate. she definitely welcomes new girls with open arms. And he has a good attitude all the time. And she is very coachable. “

Because she was so good, Clutch nominated Faith to play on the American basketball team that would go to Europe. This came as a surprise to the player.

Pavalonis says: “It means a lot. I was on Instagram one day, and then I got a DM, so I read it, and then my mom sent an email, there's an email, and I was like, you nominated yourself for the USA road game I was like, oh my God, and then he said, one of the Wyoming girls coach reps. named me, and I called him and I was like, is this real, yeah, they want you to play.

Jannuzzi added: “It’s really great for the girls and the organization to see another player leave. And I think that definitely gives them a lot more motivation, that she's going to perform and represent as well. “

Getting better at the game is always Faith's goal and playing with and against other girls her age will help her develop.

Pavalonis says: “I just want to try to improve every day. Playing with girls. It's more like a completely different country and continent.

Playing with girls I had never played with before. And it's going to be exciting to see what that brings. »

He will soon be an eighth grader at Riverside Middle School. Faith has big goals with Kylee Lavelle and Ciera Toomey.

She plans to play division one college basketball.

Pavalonis said: “I want to go play D1 and then see what happens after. If I make it, maybe the WNBA, but I definitely want to try to go to college and play. “

Jannuzzi added: “I think she will definitely be one of the best in her frame. Fingers in the nose. She always did. I mean, she's taller than me and she's in seventh and eighth grade, so she's definitely going to grow a lot more. And his skills will only grow from there. So I think she will be one of the best.

The United Games for Fatih will begin next week. The trip will take her to Germany, Austria and Italy.