Ezell Talks About Jones Cup Training Camp

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Iowa State junior guard Heather Ezell has been selected to play for the 2007 U.S. Jones Cup Team. The team participated in a training camp in College Station, Texas, July 1-7, and is scheduled to compete in the Jones Cup Tournament in Taipei, Taiwan, July 11-17. Ezell wrote her first diary after training camp ended and as she traveled to Taiwan, which you will find below. She will continue to write diaries for cyclones.com. Check back to keep up with Ezell's progress throughout the tournament.

Hello from College Station, Texas!

Finally after 11 practices, seven days and not enough sleep, training is over. I learned a lot in the seven days, and I think it went really well. I am very excited to no longer be practicing and am ready to start playing some games over in Taiwan.

There are 13 players on the team, six from the Big 12 and seven from other schools. The head coach (Vic Schaefer) is the associate head coach from Texas A&M.

Starting on Monday, July 2, we had two-a-day practices, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, each lasting at least two hours. At first it took a lot of work to get used to each other, but I think we finally got it. The hardest thing for me to adjust to was the style of defense we are playing. We all know the kind of defense Texas A&M likes to play, and unfortunately it's the complete opposite from what we play at Iowa State. It's a great learning experience, and to my surprise, I have adjusted pretty well. I am playing a lot of point guard for the team and a little shooting guard. It's definitely some good practice for next year.

We left on Sunday, July 8, for Taiwan, and it was a 14-hour flight. Our first game in Taiwan is on July 11, and I believe we play one of the Taiwan teams. Then our second game, which will be our toughest, is against the Australians. I will let you all know how our first couple games go so check back soon. Until then, take care and Go Cyclones!

Heather Ezell