Last week in April for Colleges to watch kids play...

AAU Basketball has grown so much throughout the years...   At one time, only "THE BEST" players made the team and they traveled around the States to compete at high levels vs other top players in other States...  Each State may have had 4 - 5 teams and they were all very good with "HIGH MAJOR" players... 


College Coaches were able to go to a camp like 5 star and just park themselves on a bench to just watch all of the top talent in the country compete in one arena....  Each tournament director had respect for the others and they wouldn't schedule tourneys on the same weekend because it caused conflict....  Plus it was easier for College Coaches to plan their travel schedule out.....

These days, there's an aau team in every county and there's probably over 1000 tournaments happening on the same weekends.....   To keep it real, aau is "WATERED DOWN" .... 

Lots of people think that aau is what will get kids a scholarship to college, at one time it was true....  It still can happen if you play for the right team.... 

Some kids would rather play on a team that would feature them instead of playing on a team with lots of good players....  If a player scores 20 points for a team that loses by 20 points, it doesn't mean much at all because there's another player on a really good team who scored 7 points, 6 rebs, 5 assist but won by 20 points....   That's the kid who stood out more because the college had a chance to see that kid interact and perform with other good players....

It's no secret why teams like Team Final, Team Takeover, Metro Hawks, DC Assault, etc....  load up their teams....   Colleges come to watch the games that feature really good players....  They aren't too interested in seeing the "Mom and Pop" teams....  

You can get away with it in the Middle school but once a kid gets to High School, it's time to do it the right way....  

This area isn't big enough to have more than 1 REALLY good team on each grade level....  There's some coaches out here who try to get kids the exposure they need but it's tough when they don't have the kind of team that can really compete against teams with four 6'8 kids who are 16 years old.... 

If the aau coaches in this area could just put all egos aside and come together for a couple of tournaments, they can combine to make some really competitive teams....  By doing that, it will bring more exposure to the Harrisburg area... 

It only take one person to step forward and make it happen.....  BUT WHO WILL BE THAT ONE???

This weekend, Hoop Group is having the Jam Fest in Philly which should be jammed packed with College Coaches....  Most of the best teams across the country will be there and at Lebron James tourney in Ohio....  If you're in HS and looking to be seen, that's where you should be this weekend, point blank!!!

Hopefully the local teams have enough fire power to compete and get some wins out there.....  They will be undermanned but will have to play their tails off....