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OneWayCoach2
Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 1596
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 Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:26 am Post subject: UPON FURTHER REVIEW, MAYBE ELITE AAUS HAVE IT RIGHT... |
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I'm wondering, after a few conversations in the past several months, if Illinois AAU Basketball isn't the sorriest state of affairs I've been involved in...
In the next several days/weeks to come our wonderful atlethes will embark on the beginning of the 2009/10 HS season. It is a time when the High Schools can enjoy the fruits of their labor.During the spring/summer the mishandling, mismanagement,miscoaching,mis-educating and general misuse of a system that exploits young people in the name of extracirricular activities/HS basketball belongs to AAU! We ALL KNOW how bad HS basketball's hijinks are, but what about AAU BASKETBALL on the RANK AND FILE LEVELS?
In this dramatic mess, you'll find many MANY stories of so-called well-meaning adults who ACTUALLY couldn't care less about anything but themselves!
Not once will I use proper names, insinuate anything beyond what you read/comprehend;in fact,the characters portrayed are not based on actual persons that I will confirm or deny.It is for the entertainment of those who'd be entertained by such goofiness on a message board.
There, thats all the disarming needed. Remember, as much as Illinois AAU inspires this, I can't imagine anyone would find any of this offensive;the representation here involves the NON/NOT YET ELITE AAU TEAMS of the AAU world.To be offended would be tantamount to removing masks.I don't expect that here...
Find anything familiar, its purely coincidental... STAY TUNED! |
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Gas Man
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 7:48 am Post subject: |
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| Plenty of wrong to go around in the high school game. High school has just as many "basketball" transfers as the AAU scene has guys switching teams! |
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oldschoolrules
Joined: 03 Jan 2007
Posts: 58
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:00 am Post subject: UPON FURTHER REVIEW, MAYBE ELITE AAUS HAVE IT RIGHT... |
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The difference between AAU and H.S. ping-pong is that for a H.S. kid to change schools usually requires a change of residence, while a move with AAU is just a stroke of the pen - if even that.
Unfortunately, AAU is almost a necessary evil for pre-H.S. kids because park district and grammar school programs are so poorly run and diluted that AAU is the only game in town kids with hoops talent and desire. That goes in spades for the Catholic grammar schools, most of whose programs aren't even high-quality recreation because of no-cut policies, lack of A/B teams, equal playing time rules, inept dad/mom "volunteer" coaches, etc.
But I cringe just a bit when every announcement of a H.S. kid choosing his college comes from his AAU coach rather than his H.S. coach. The term "street agent" comes to mind. |
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OneWayCoach2
Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 1596
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:08 am Post subject: |
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Ah, here we go! REMEMBER, NO PROPER NAMES USED. PLEASE!
I will say this, though...
The Elite teams get ALL MY PROPS from here on out.ANY disrespect, disregard,disingenuous behavior or words I've EVER exchanged with/to/about/on any of the Illinois Elite teams, MY HUMBLEST APOLOGIES!
SINCERELY! Those of us at the next levels all the way towards the lower levels/start-ups that have the genuine interests of the athletes[ESPECIALLY THE GIRL'S ORGANIZATIONS] should ASPIRE TOWARDS THEIR STANDARD OF ACHEIVEMENT AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
It occurred to me, and I KNOW I'll make enemies saying this, that I'm speaking on ANOTHER FAILED INITIATIVE OF BLACK PEOPLE/ORGANIZATIONS ATTEMPTING TO FURTHER AN AGENDA THAT WOULD BENEFIT THEM.
We are SO BAD at that... |
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Gilateen
Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Posts: 592
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| Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:51 pm Post subject: |
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| to hell with AAU, Danny Granger style...LOL |
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OneWayCoach2
Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 1596
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| Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 12:12 pm Post subject: Re: UPON FURTHER REVIEW, MAYBE ELITE AAUS HAVE IT RIGHT... |
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| oldschoolrules wrote: | The difference between AAU and H.S. ping-pong is that for a H.S. kid to change schools usually requires a change of residence, while a move with AAU is just a stroke of the pen - if even that.
Unfortunately, AAU is almost a necessary evil for pre-H.S. kids because park district and grammar school programs are so poorly run and diluted that AAU is the only game in town kids with hoops talent and desire. That goes in spades for the Catholic grammar schools, most of whose programs aren't even high-quality recreation because of no-cut policies, lack of A/B teams, equal playing time rules, inept dad/mom "volunteer" coaches, etc.
But I cringe just a bit when every announcement of a H.S. kid choosing his college comes from his AAU coach rather than his H.S. coach. The term "street agent" comes to mind. |
AH, Very well-informed poster here!
With all that occurs in HS basketball from November to March, the official calendar dates of season, many programs offer opportunities to engage in 'spring leagues', while others conduct business under AAU banners/names.Nothing inappropriate about that.
Its why I laugh at the guys who'd criticize, no, I should say I laugh at the criticisms I here from guys who'd bemoan AAU, while not even REALIZING how many programs are represented, in fact governed by HS coaches. This is at the HS level as well as the Grammar school level.
Those that don't, well, they're doing themselves an INCREDIBLE disservice, and again, without saying names, a little casual research finds the guys who've signed recently , with a few exceptions, come from a group of AAU programs geared to providing those types of opportunities.The bulk of the 2010 Class will sign during and after the season, and a majority percentage will do so because of their combined HS/AAU exposures.
I know there are three levels of this, I can talk about it casually here, and its fairly obvious w/o naming names to insiders with whom I refer.
For others, the Elite Level guys are the guys who YEARLY have top 25 kids on their roster, and top 50 to round them out.Sponsorships are the guiding light of these programs;without them, who's to say what AAU basketball would look like? Like them or no,trust them or no,the value that trickles down from them can NEVER be underestimated. You play well against them, people take notice,beat them EVERYONE takes notice.Go to Vegas,Orlando,Minnesota,Georgia,North Carolina? Piece of cake.Pay to play? Doubt it. Shoes,clothing,accessories?Depends on who you ask, I know you don't have to bring a bone if you already got a bone. Elite players seek their level, like water.Elite programs serve the elite players in most capacities.Of the utmost importance, to me, is type/style and level amount of COACHING/TEACHING they receive. In my opinion, the players provide FAR MORE to the Elite Programs than you'll EVER hear from the Elite Programs folks...
The Mid-Level guys are the programs that compose of the bread and butter, the meat and potatoes of AAU Illinois basketball.They each have a couple of players ascending towards top 50 status, if not already top 50.The rest of their rosters have HS regulars/starters looking to blossom and receive notice through their exploits vs good to Elite competition.Playing on one of these teams is great for the players, who think highly of their games, and gravitate towards the opportunities it presents.Mid-Levels, however have tremendous financial issues, limited sponsorships in this economic climate, and players who believe they shouldn't payfor whatever reasons, and guys who can't pay for obvious ones. Yet, the quest for Nationals, Traveling, entering big regional tourneys moves on, much to the stress of program directors.Would the love the value,the opportunities sponsorship provides?Absolutely.Would they be as committed to the cause if afforded those benefits?Good question.One thing's for sure, the animal that is Elite Teams DEFINITELY DON'T WANT THE MID-LEVEL TEAMS TO GET MONEY LIKE THAT!
Start-ups/Local Teams fit the criteria of both the mid-level teams and strangely enough, the Elite teams.These programs, at the HS level, contain players from similar teams,similar backgrounds and generally similar basketball circumstances.Some teams/programs would be shocked that I'd consider them at this level, which would expose their naivete', to be sure.Their ability to collect funds to function, their basketball ability and especially the coaching they can provide is at the core of their confusion, both positively and negatively.Up til recently, I had this program.Wonderful ballplayers, some with actual futures playing basketball for free-reduced cost educations. They had no money.They had no sponsorships.Many thought they were superb, and definitely believed they were worth a gamble, but finances, like dreams and wishes, face cold reality when your eyes open.Tale as old as time, played out all over the country.But, with 2:00 left vs a competitive start-up/local team, a team dedicated to teaching the fundamentals, the nuances,the technical and tactical skills necessary to get to that 2:00 left in the game...this level is where it comes from.It where HS coaches get their 4-10 rotation players.AND TRUST ME, where HS coaches benefit the MOST.
Its why, to enhance AAU basketball in Illinois, HS TEAMS SHOULD EQUIPT, OUTFIT, COACH, CONDITION, TEACH ETC THEIR PLAYERS DURING AAU SEASON!.
You wouldn't find better basketball ANYWHERE in America if you did.Look at the examples of success we can point to, in relation to scholarships received/signed this very week... |
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OneWayCoach2
Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 1596
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| Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Too important to let this slip by... |
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