[brassmonkeys]

passtheball, I personally believe that no more than 4-6 AAU events are needed the whole entire calendar year (January- Decemeber) for any one AAU team, once they reach the high school age. By then they have played enough games in their career. The NCAA actually has periods throughout the year when they can talk to kids and recruit kids, etc.

Here is link
http://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/...170209.pdf


I would even say they need one AAU warm-up tourney, and the rest of games they need to try and get the best competition they can (in front as many coaches as they can, usually NCAA sanctioned Exposure Events). If they cant prove themselves to a college coach in that many events, its time to start working on skill refinement.


Skills and players are developed in empty gyms. I think it would be more advantageous to a player that is not a visual freak (pass the eye test that they are better than anyone on floor) or genetic standout (Taller, Faster, and Stronger than anyone) to work on becoming a better all around player. The more skills a player possesses the more attractive they become to a college. I don't know if any of you have ever seen this, but some great high school scorers will not be recruited or struggle at the college level, because they never passed the ball in high school. Their only stat was scoring, no assists, 2 rebounds, 1 point, and hit and miss on defense. Scoring may have been these kids only weapons. So they go to college and other kids are bigger, faster, stronger, and they can no longer score, so their coach now has a liability on their hands.



I have always believed the more skills a player has, the harder it is too take them out of game. Kids play too many games and do not work enough on their skills. So my suggestion is spend 2-4 days a week in off-season working on skills then play free pickup ball (at a park or get a group of players together) and try to work on those skills during that setting, dont try these things at this "Exposure" events, or you are going to get "Exposed"


Did anyone growing playing at a park or open gym and had to sit out if your team lost. That will help a person improve real quick if they want to play. It is a little hard for girls to get alot of players together in offseason, but it can be done.



I would say that video is good evidence, but college coaches will want to see whole game film and not just see highlights. You have to be realistic about the level they can play too and if my daughter averaged 5 points a game at the varsity level, Im not sending videotape to Tennessee. I would tell a kid that loves the game that is not getting any D1 looks to think about what they may want to major in college and make my aim towards that so at least they can get an education in their preferred field.


I would talk to them about what part of country they want to live in (close to home, warm weather, etc). I would tell them the difference between costs of private and public schools and community colleges (JUCO). If the family has little income coming in they will probably get grants that will pay for most of school even without a scholarship, if they go the JUCO or public school route. I would tell them you play because you love the game and most smaller colleges have empty gyms. Its not glamorous, its long bus rides at most places and only the big time D1 programs get the glamourous luxuries. I would paint the picture, its about the love of the game.



Colleges basketball coaches want to see how the kid played on every facet of the game, they will look at the kids demeanor, body language, offense, and defense. Most small college programs, not D1, dont even turn a profit with their teams, so they also want good kids and bad kids will get booted off teams quick and many programs don't even want to take a chance on them. Some smaller colleges will not fire their coaches either with bad records, but they still have to field a team, so they go after good kids that can play basketball.


Sorry this is probably more than anyone ever wanted to know.