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AAU Basketball More Than Just A Hobby
Photo Credit: Photo Courtesy of Tommy Sirkin
West Boca Point Guard, Tommy Sirkin in his AAU team jersey
Written by Ryan Bleecher, Sports Writer
Thousands of high school coaches and AAU coaches share the ability to influence the lives of their players. Not only on the court, but also off the court, coaches can act as a father to some of these student athletes. Amateur Athletic Union basketball is a time in the summer where the most elite high school basketball players in the country join AAU basketball teams, to showcase their skills to college coaches. At the Milk House in Orlando, the National Championship is held, hosting over 200 teams and over 350 scouts and coaches come to watch the nation’s best.
As AAU basketball continues to grow each year, some high school coaches do not like AAU at all. Some coaches believe AAU can burn out a player for the upcoming high school basketball season. Tommy Sirkin, West Boca’s starting point guard, has played AAU basketball for 8 years.
He is currently playing for Nike Team Florida. He said, “I love AAU basketball. It gets me prepared for high school ball and it doesn’t burn me out at all.”
Tommy also said, “The best part of AAU is traveling the nation with your friends and playing the game you love.”
As one goes to these AAU events, they begin to realize that there are 50 times more scouts at those games then at a high school basketball games. Scouts believe by traveling to an AAU tournament then can watch talented kids from all parts of the country in one place. Also the talent level is far better as well then it is in high school. AAU has affected scouts from going to high school games for the simple fact of they can see a lot more players and talent at these AAU games. You can see one team sometimes play up to 65 games in a summer, whereas in a high school season, it usually lasts 30 games.
The current recruiting regulations imposed on college coaches, especially Division 1 coaches, makes it near impossible for these scouts to recruit student-athletes during the high school basketball season. Therefore the summer time becomes the focal point of all intercollegiate recruiting. It’s a lot easier to go see 200 athletes play in one venue then to go to 50-60 high school’s during the winterperiod where the D-I coach cannot have more than 7 recruiting opportunities during the academic year per player.
AAU Basketball is making it possible for more kids to get a scholarship for college basketball. This is giving more kids the incentive to play high school basketball, and AAU ball. This means they can go to college, and play the game they love.
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