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.
Two team practices a week will not help you individually as a basketball player!
You need to get in a gym and practice. Period.
Every year I got tremendously better as a player because I worked out consistently with a basketball plan. Ultimately, my superior basketball skills, enabled me to earn a Division-1, Full-ride, College Basketball Scholarship.
The great news is you can always improve as a basketball player. The method for consistently improving as a basketball player is fairly simple:
BASKETBALL WORKOUTS (consistently, intensely, and correctly) + PLAYING AGAINST GREAT PLAYERS = ADVANCEMENT TOWARDS YOUR BASKETBALL GOALS
This method will never get old throughout your basketball career. Every level you go to, keep using this method.
AAU basketball is a key component for furthering your basketball career past high school. It’s important to join a respected AAU program with a quality coach. But that’s not all, YOU MUST WORKOUT CONSISTENTLY throughout the off-season on your individual basketball skills. The combination of these two aspects will greatly increase your chances of earning a college basketball scholarship. It won’t be easy, but that’s what makes it so valuable and rewarding. Start Today!
AAU Basketball – The Greatest Advantage and Hidden Risk of AAU Basketball Teams
