Homer eighth-grader to represent U.S. on hoops tour </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 8:17 PM on Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Homer eighth-grader to represent U.S. on hoops tour

By Aaron Selbig
Staff Writer

In a few months, 14-year-old Valerie Mastolier, whose only experience outside of the United States has been a trip to Mexico with her parents, will travel to England for a two-week tour, sans parents, of the United Kingdom. Many eighth graders might be a little apprehensive about taking such a leap into the unknown, but not Mastolier.

"I'm not nervous," said Mastolier. "I'm just really happy and excited."

Mastolier, a point guard for the Homer Middle School Huskies basketball team, has been playing hoops since the third grade. She was chosen by the prestigious NBC Camps program in October to represent her country on the tour.

Photo provided

Homer Middle School point guard Valerie Mastolier has been chosen to represent Alaska on a tour of the UNited Kingdom sponsored by NBC Camps.

She is the only 14-year-old from Alaska to be chosen and will play for NBC Camps' youngest team on the tour, which pits American kids against teams from England, Ireland and the Isle of Man.

"We're very proud of her," said Valerie's father, Dave Mastolier. "We were a little apprehensive at first, but we also realize it's a once in a lifetime thing that she'll tell her kids about someday. We're really excited for her."

Mastolier got her shot at the tour by participating in a basketball camp in Anchorage last year. The camp, sponsored by NBC Camps, was a two-week intensive crash course in basketball fundamentals.

"They push those girls hard," said Dave Mastolier. "From the time they get up to the time they go to bed, they're living and breathing basketball. If you love basketball, it's a good camp to go to."

Out of more than 10,000 student athletes who attend NBC Camps programs worldwide, approximately 1,300 are invited to apply for the U.K. tour. Out of those, only about 125 end up qualifying.

"A good attitude is one of their greatest criteria and that's Valerie's strength," said Dave Mastolier. "She just loves every challenge. She doesn't mind meeting new people and she's real easygoing."

Mastolier will continue to train on the court leading up to a July trip to Auburn, Wash., where she will finally meet her new teammates. From there, it's two short days of practice for the team before they are off to England, where the players will stay with the families of their opponents.

The trip is estimated to cost about $6,000 and Mastolier has been working hard to raise funds. She has been selling cookies, doing odd jobs and, last Saturday, she washed and detailed a truck for $100.

"I'm having fun," she said. "The thing that I like about basketball is that it never stops. You just keep playing."

Aaron Selbig can be reached at aaronselbig.@homernews.com .