playedalittle wrote:I dont doubt that baller and other AAU programs serve a purpose. I am just not sure that it serves the greater good for the high school or collegiate programs. While I appreciate ballers time or anyones time for that matter that works with kids, I would still debate the worthiness of AAU programs in the big picture of basketball under its current structure.
I would love to debate the worthiness of AAU programs in the big picture under its current structure. I honestly do not understand where the debate is.
There is a reason that 95% of the top players in every state are playing AAU.Now while ballers passion is evident, I am surprised he did not take credit for the Lebron and Kobe being so good. I am not going to throw out statistics, or quote names, quite frankly I cant.
What has more weight, me saying that our players have improved, or me providing concrete examples of who has improved and how that has happened? Any individual can say that they are doing something, I can back it up with facts. You posted that programs do not work on skill development. I countered that statement with factual information.
It is an absolute
fact that a player from the middle of nowhere North Dakota who averages 5 points and 4 rebounds as a sophomore does not get looks from 5 Division 2 schools if he does not play AAU.
But I am willing to bet that a percentage of both high school and college coaches would do away with AAU programs if possible. Ask them. They cannot say publicly because of the influence that the AAU organizers have over where the players may be going at the next level.
Interesting. Easy to counter.
ECI - Moorman and Williams are Century assistants. Calvin Kraft is the head coach at Enderlin. Bud Etzold is a former head college coach.
Dakota Pride - Parent run program, so in this case, they have more influence over their players than their high school coaches do, as they are coaching their own kids.
Phenom - Pintar is an assistant at Century. Wilhelm is an assistant at Bismarck. Kleinjan is the student assistant at NDSU. Benson is an assistant at multiple levels in West Fargo.
University of Mary's head coach, Jevin Budde, is a former coach of All Iowa Attack.
In some scenarios, high school coaches do not like AAU. I've talked to an AAU coach in Wisconsin who doesn't like high school basketball. It can go both ways. Personally, I like both.
The number one reasons that I have encountered where college coaches don't like AAU are when players are playing all summer and should be in summer school, or programs run gross things.
I also can think of instances where local colleges are not happy about AAU, because a guy who would not have got major looks (Austin Dufault) if he did not play AAU, would have been a game changer for a University of Mary or a North Dakota State.
Again, baller 45 should be commended for his work with youth. My point is that AAU while benefitting the individual athlete, owes something to the whole program of the highschool, and the coaches.
Winner-within should not forget the past or history of ND basketball. Lots of good.
Embrace change, yes, forget the past. No
In my opinion, what we owe to the high school programs is to send them a player who has improved. When we stop improving players, coaches will stop sending guys to us or letting their guys play.