Sunday, May 17, 2009

Club basketball

Watched an interesting piece on ESPN's "Outside The Lines" Sunday morning. The show's centerpiece discussed the effects AAU or club basketball has had on the high school game.

Some interesting points for and against club basketball.

In the "for" category:
1. Makes it easier for college coaches to recruit.
2. Provides greater competition.
3. Gives student-athletes an opportunity to travel and gain life experiences.

In the "against" category:
1. Can lead to recruiting at the high school level.
2. Can undermine the teachings of a high school coach.
3. Takes players out of class during the spring and, if needed, the summer.

As for myself, I'm all for club basketball. It's something soccer was doing when I played in high school. Why not test yourself against strong competition? Locally, I don't see the things going on with club basketball that was discussed on "Outside the Lines." If Western Pennsylvania was more of a hoops hotbed, my opinion may differ.

Here's a link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/otl/index

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

AAU Basketball is great for players trying to make it to the next level.But I do have to tell u not all AAU Teams are true AAU Teams anyone can put a team tog and call it an AAU Team but 80 percent of the teams in Western Pa are true AAU Teams.U have to get the best 8-10 players in that age group on one team to even think about been able to compete on the AAU Circuit.I have been around AAU for about 7yrs with my son and have been to many AAU Tournaments from Pittsburgh to Las Vegas and Fla NC to Ohio and NY AAU has helped my son with his recuirting. At many times he's playing in front of 100 D1 and D2 coaches and as far as its effect on high school coaches it really has no effect at all.And yes there are many AAU coaches who try to get there players to other school to play with other kids from there AAU Team and I can say truely I have had a few coaches try to get my son to transfer schools to play with players that he plays with all spring and summer so it does happen in Western Pa.

Anonymous said...

If anything, AAU basketball has helped my daughter excel at the high school level. Playing against the best girls from a certain area is how you get better and in some cases you are playing against older girls. Yes there are some coaches that feel it is necessary to play older girls down just to prove that they can be successful. Not sure what lesson that is teaching?

Anonymous said...

Speaking of High School Basketball, I saw a posting for a new varsity girls basketball coach at McGuffey. Any rumors out there on who might be interested?

Anonymous said...

It is the way to go if you can afford it. It give your student athlete a chance to play with other players from different areas that are exceling in their sport. it also gives them the exposure they need to receive scholarships. It's not as political as high school sports either.

mike_kovak said...

I believe the recent improvement of area high school teams has a lot to do with the top players playing AAU.

Anonymous said...

Mike I agree with u on that comment. Well like I said all teams are not AAU teams the ones that are true AAU teams everything is paid for my son's team in an Nike Elite Team and they pay for nothing no tournament fees no hotel fees no plane fees everything is paid for by Nike but once again them are only your true AAU Teams.But again the cost is high if your just on a team made up of players that are avg at best because u do have to pay for everything from uniforms to hotels to tournament fees that range anywhere from 300 to 500 just depends on wat level of tournament u go to.

Anonymous said...

Mike, there is no question that the AAU programs in this area has had a positive effect. We need to thank the local AAU teams that have gone above and beyond to take basketball to another level be Girls/Boys.

Anonymous said...

True AAU teams are teams that the kids don't have to pay anything? Thats not a true statement I have seen a lot of teams on the circuit that are sponsored teams. How can we write off some money!! My son/sons have been in AAU since 5th grade and I have seen it all. We haven't paid a dime to play but if we had to we wouldn't hesitate. Remember its getting the kids to play year round that helps the sport and keeps our kids off the street

Anonymous said...

good comment i agree my son have been playing aau 7yrs and for the best team in western pa by far and a top 15 team in the usa so belive me when i tell u i have seen it all from vegas to fla from ohio to nc and ny and every big tournament in the usa i have been at and if your not a ranked team u cant get in tournament. so once again alot of these so called aau teams are just teams to keep the kids playing all year round and thats good im all for it. but not every team is an aau team!!!!

Anonymous said...

I understand what your saying about the big tournaments,,,,the way it works is how many kids do you have on your team that is being recruited...If,you have at least 40% on your team that is being recruited in any Division I II III you can get in the big tournaments. No question per the committee!! Bottom line thank you for AAU for this area because its been a blessing for all girls/boys.

Anonymous said...

That last statement is not true my son's team have 10 players goin D1 or D2 and we couldn't get into the bob gibbions tournament of champions at duke and unc last year just cause we weren't a nike elite team so we had to finish in the top 20 in thr usa to get a spon from nike and D3 is out no offer no full rides and anyone can go play D3 ball cause your payin to go to school anyway so if u have a team of all D3 your not gettin in to any big tournaments I coach AAU and have for 7yrs will for the next 6yrs so belive me when I tell u I know AAU inside and out

Anonymous said...

Not questioning your AAU knowledge personally. The Gibbons criteria is correct in what you are saying BUT there are loopholes if you know people example( Mr.Keller or Mr.Wachtel)and your team has at least 40% college talent) Now on the Div.III level that you speak of that there is no money for .There is money available for kids and the coaches find ways to get you the money. Please don't fall into believing that there is no money in Div. III there is. You will be told that per NCAA guidelines schools are not giving athletic money. but in reality they do. You just won't here the words full athletic scholarship. Enjoyed the conversation and always like passing out information to anyone that can use it .

Anonymous said...

AAU Basketball is a good thing but H.S. Coaches should not be involved with coaching those teams because they do recruit players from the those teams. It was no coincidence that John Miller(Blackhawk) & Suzie M.Serio(Oakland Catholic) just happened to have the best players "transfer" to their schools. They do indeed undermine the players home H.S.Coach and recruit players to their school. While AAU basketball is a good thing tighter regulations regarding the coaching needs to be applied.

Anonymous said...

to many kids miss summer league games with there HS.Its ok for a couple of games but those tourney`s only showcase the elite teams with some players from out of state if your that good than you should be all over the country if not pick up the ball at home and dribble n shoot it as much as you can they`ll find if you work for it.

Anonymous said...

your right if your not playing all over the country aau isnt doin u any good cause all the torunaments in western pa beside the pitt jam fest aint worth goin too because no teams in western pa besides maybe one per age group that could play all over

Anonymous said...

I couldn't disagree more with that last comment.....AAU has been a big plus for any girl/boy ...and it has helped our kids out. No matter what tournament you go to. See the BIG picture.

Anonymous said...

the big picture is your tryin to get seen by D1 or D2 coaches thats what AAU is all about gettin seen and playing against the best and if u play in any local tournaments your not polayin the best and theres no coaches in the gym so if your looking to get a full ride for basketball u must been seen at the big tournaments cause no coaches will be at the local tournaments or let me say this no D1 or D2 coaches will be there D3 maybe

Anonymous said...

That's part of the picture. The main part is that the kids girls/boys from our area are playing and its helping the high school programs. It's not like it was in the good old days games anytime at the YMCA,Bentleyville rec center, Mon Valley rec area,redstone middle school,California courts, Monesson courts ...Now a days you barely get 6-7 kids to play a pick up game. Thats why the AAU no matter how you divide true ones or bad ones is helping pull kids to play the game even more. Thanks to Ron Moore/Jerry Cypher who started this years ago in our area its been a blessing ..Thank you

Anonymous said...

The AAU players a lot of times have the misfortune to come back to their high school coach. They get exposed to good coaching and a higher level of play then the school coach is clueless how to use their experience.

Anonymous said...

The problem comes when some of these AAU coaches are in it for a buck. They'll take money from anybody, even the kid with parents who are both under 5-8.
Let's be realistic. Unless you're over 6-0 - and in many cases bigger than that - you're not getting looks from D-I and II.
Some people need to look at their genetics and be realistic.