The importance of AAU basketball has
overtaken the high school basketball world. It has changed how high school
players earn a college basketball scholarship. If you want to give yourself the
greatest opportunity to succeed in today's murky basketball world, start by
understanding these truths.
Unfortunately, high school
basketball has taken a backseat to AAU. In general, high school does offer a
better environment to grow as a basketball player (depending on the coach).
More practices, better team chemistry, deeper understanding of basketball
concepts, community involvement, representing your school, etc.
The biggest problem is - the high
school season is during the college season.
College head coaches are not
primarily focused on recruiting during these months. They can't be. Each coach
at the collegiate level is extremely competitive and dedicated. They are
constantly focused on their team throughout the whole season, and if they're
not, they'll lose games... and then their job.
Once the college season is over
their primary focus turns to recruiting. College coaches know recruiting is the
lifeblood of their team. If they don't have talent, their coaching career will
be short-lived.
Enter AAU basketball.
AAU allows college coaches the
ability to see players compete at a high level in the off-season. This is the
main advantage AAU basketball has on high school basketball... and it's a huge
advantage.
If you want to play college
basketball, get on a good AAU team that travels to the big tournaments in the
off-season.
It's common sense: more
opportunities you get to play in front of college coaches, more likely they'll
notice your basketball skills, and begin to recruit you. Once you get noticed,
momentum will build on itself.
But here's the catch:
AAU basketball DOESN'T INCREASE YOUR
INDIVIDUAL BASKETBALL SKILLS.
Before the AAU boom, players didn't
have practices and games year-round in the off-season. There was time to
practice and improve your individual basketball skills.
Right now, players get lost playing
to many games. The problem with playing games year-round is the COACH DESIGNS
PRACTICE NOT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL PLAYER, BUT FOR THE TEAM.
So if you play year-round on an AAU
team, you're not developing your skills enough. Just because you're on a team
doesn't guarantee you anything.
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