Fairfax Stars Showcase

[asiancoach]

Was at the FFS thing, four courts of basketball. Court 1 featured FFS vs.....FFS so on to court 2 which also showcased FFS vs FFS, as a matter of fact all the courts had FFS vs FFS but they were different age groups. 16's played 15's, 17's played 14's and so on. The new look RBS was in the house and the speedy Destiny Williams was streaking end to end. Players were rotating back from RBS (elite summer league jerseys) to FFS 16 (FFS jerseys). There was also a team from VA, Prince Williams area maybe 4street can help. They had orange uni's and had Gwen Newsome and the tricky guard formally AAU Virginians on the team (name escapes me). Franklin was at the top of the 2-3 for RBS with Moore playing the post. Richmond in street clothes and no PA girl. 16's had the PA girl whom will from here on out be reffered to as Sydney or Big Syd or Ms. Wilson. FFS 15's looked scatttered vs FFS 17's in a head to head tie game. St. Johns HS was in the group in FFS disguise but the coach gave them away. Speaking of coaches there were about 12 with Hofsta, Gtown(KB), and the Hawks?, as a few. However being divided amongst 2 courts made it look like even less. I know I said four courts of action, however if you didn't play on courts 1 or 2 you got no love. The Metro Lady Stars 16 were in the house, not to be confuse with the Stars, played against FFS 13's, not sure if anyone scored. Games were over so quick if you blinked you missed it. Clock did stop on shooting fouls though. I didn't see any Teal Blue or Burnt Orange in the house maybe they are waiting til tommorrow. Most coaches that I talked to (3) said they wouldn't be coming back though and mentioned being at Black Coaches in the am part of the day. Good luck on day 2. I stayed untill the end and even watched the last two sets of games with that 1 college coach at the corner of the gym.

[4street]

Gwen Newsome and Taylar Wells (the tricky guard) play with Mountain View High School down in Stafford County.

[Pundit2007]

I thought it was a good event. I didn't realize that the FFS had so many talented players.

Regarding the team mentioned above, I had a chance to see the Mountain View play and they look like they could be a state contender. Any time you have good guards (and they had some real good guards) you have a chance.

I also got a chance to see some of the other FFS teams. I was particularly impressed with the two guards playing on their 14 or 15 team. They had 2 guards that were impressive. I heard that one plays for St Johns and the other plays for Riverbend. They also had an excellent 3 point shooter.

[bballmom]

I think you saw the 15 team, as the 14 team has no impressive guards.

You're right, though. FFS has alot of talented players. It takes a couple of full time professional thieves to steal cultivated art out of other folks houses.

[CoachTammy]

I believe that there is one thing that is given in life - choice. People choose what they want to do. You can't steal players. You can't kidnap them and get them to play against their will. The honorable thing to do is acknowledge the recruiting skill and look forward to a new twist in the coming year....

P.S. I HAVE NO CONNECTION TO FFS!

[teammom4]

You are very bitter toward the FFS and quite frankly it's getting old. I have a 13 yr old who plays and because of all the havoc that's been displayed(especially on this board) I will not be letting her play for ANY AAU teams past this year. She was a part of Team Sol & too much BS was going on there, the whole team seperated and is now a lone team part of NO organization & I believe I like it this way best. EVERY time I'm in the gym someone from an organization is asking can she play for them, that's not stealing because its up to me if she plays.
Get over the FF thing...too much negative energy!:cool:


OH speaking of the FFS...heard they were 0-2 up Philly. Anyone know what team went & if this is true? They play the Silver Bullets today if my sources are correct. Anyone, Anyone...

[pgcop]

ffs have been doing aau events for years and are very good at it. they are new however to showcase stuff. this event was ran well but it seemed more like an aau event without the trophies and not a showcase because the lack of college coaches and multiple stars teams. it was advertised as ffs showcase and I think it was an opportunity for the ffs to showcase there org and players for colleges and also alow some outside teams and players to join in. the 15's, 16's, rbs, sjc,metro and mountain veiw had some very god players although many of them played on multiple teams at no point did I see more that 8 coaches score was kept and games were over quick. this event is what it is an opportunity for a select group to do their thing they need to find a way to attract more coaches in the future, the list schools given was very inaccurate.

[hoopslover]

I'm going to give my opinion since I coached in it. The event was run very organized. Some of the games were behind, but that happens at every tournament. The disappointing part was that this was not what it was advertised to be. Most of the schools who were supposed to have coaches representing them, didn't show. Like someone said before, this was really a FFS and RBS Showcase. If you were not on the main court there were hardly no coaches. My team, who I will be the first to say is not the greatest team in the world, but we are decent had a total of 5 games. The fifth was added because I complained about our schedule. We are 16u team that had 5 seniors 3 juniors and 2 soph, and our first game was against a 13u Team Sol team, then a 14u Fairfax Team. We did play against RBS on the main floor in the 3rd game, and the last 2 games were against the individual sign up team and Fairfax's 13u. We had one game on the main floor which we lost to RBS by 10, and it had 3 coaches watching the game. All of the rest of our games were on side courts. We had 2 coaches watch our first game, and 3 watch our last game. We did not get to play against any of the other HS teams or older Fairfax teams. So I would have to say unless you are with the FFS then there was no benefit to anyone else. Now I am no hater, but I really think if you advertise something then stick to it. IF there want just a FFS showcase then do that, don't bring in other teams if they are not going to be afforded the same opportunity. Is my team better than the FFS Elite team, no, but we would have liked a chance to play them in front of the coaches, so that the girls on my team that can play at the next level can show what they could do against better competition. Now remember this is my opinion whether you like it or not I really don't care.

Now as far as the players there was some talent in the house. Ashley Fossett (spelling) is a ball player, she is going to be a heck of a player on the next level. I got a chance to watch big Syd, and thats all I see is big. The FFS 15's got some players on that team also, didn't know the names but are good. The team from Mountain View had some very good quick guards, but that was pretty much it. I won't comment our my team.

[bballmom]

Teammom4, I'm just telling it like it is. I agree with you, just let kids be kids and play. I just can't stand coaches who go after players and families who are otherwise happy with their situation and try to convince them they're not happy. Besides,

I don't like habitual cheaters and those that act like they're above the rules, like FFS.

The DMV hoops world would be a better place for our kids if we just let the kids play and we didn't have to deal with the sharks. If you're kid was happy at Team Sol, I hope you let her play.

Ok, I'll let it go now....

The FFS Showcase was put on by FFS. Therefore, I'm sure they feel like they have every right to showcase their players and their teams above others, especially when most of the eyes were at PG Community College, and maybe they do. I think most groups would do the same. Next time, for those that feel this isn't right, spend your showcase money with a sponsor that has no teams of their own and you won't have to deal with it.

Finally, this off the FFS website this morning:

"THANK YOU for your tremendous effort...for your amazing talent and sportsmanship...and for making the Fairfax Stars Team Showcase one of the premier exposure events in the nation."

FOR REAL, you buying that ??!!

[DadNCoach]

I am going to be a little less nice about the FFS tournament than some people here have been. In my opinion the tournament was a complete rip off and AM owes the teams that participated an apology and a refund!

The tournament itself was run well but the assignments where ridiculous. How can you have a tournament and invite other teams and no one gets to play on the main floor accept you and your affiliates (RBS)? What happened to the "over 100 coaches" who attended last year. Very few coaches in attendance and all they got to see was FFS teams. You have some concept of the number of coaches that will attend your event, tell people and don't just straight out lie. This was an affront to all non FFS teams and Aggie owes a lot of kids and parents an apology. On the bright side though they didn't have the balls to charge people $5 to get into this farce.

This is without question my last FFS event! The level of bias towards their team was so egregious that it bordered on the ridiculous.

I understand that when you run a tournament you get to make the schedule but don't ask me to pay for gym time so your organization can be showcased. Aggie screwed a lot of folks this weekend and we won't forget.

[bballmom]

Well, if the shoe fits........

[michaeliceman]

I am not a huge fan of the FFS organization for my own personal reasons. BUT, I was also there observing for a bit on Saturday. I must say that I was not surprised at the way it turned out nor was I outraged by it. I fully expected FFS teams to get the most benefit out of it. If I were running the FFS, I was trying to keep my brand (and my relationship with Nike) intact, and I was trying to sell my organization to the best players, I would have made sure my teams got the most exposure. I heard through the grapevine yesterday at the fall league games that is why not a lot of college coaches attended - they knew how it would go. Personally, I do not usually play my teams in showcases sponsored by AAU clubs because this is the way it generally goes.

[teammom4]

In this world of cults, I mean AAU organizations it is very messy. These "thieves" come in all shapes sizes and colors, oh and they come from within these orgs. It ain't unheard of to have another coach within the org come try to talk you into something or out of it. My daughter wasn't aware of the BS team sol was pulling which is the way it should be. Parents should be informed and kids should be kids.
Whatever the case, I think the RBR format was a good one maybe FFS should look into doing it that way or...just send 'em on over next time!:cool:

[asiancoach]

First of all let me start by saying I don't want to pile on but since I was there on Saturday only because the directors said that they were going to have WAY more college coaches and WAY more teams than they did on Friday night, and that Friday night was just the introduction for some of their teams I came back.
Before I start memo to bballmom, I know you have more to offer than to bash FFS on every post. I mean everyone that loves FFS will still love them and those that hate them will still hate them, those that are indifferent will see for themselves. You can let go now, besides I don't want them to try make up something to sue you for.
OK back live, early on refreshed for something WAY better Ct 1 it was FFS vs FFS Ct 2 FFS vs....... with a wopping 1 college coach in the stands. Actually I hear the 16 elite had their troubles this weekend but they have some really good players. They won against the FFS U13? team. Later it was a good game FFS elite vs Freedom (Woodbridge, VA) or was it RBS? Anyway Elite won by 25 in front of 2 college coaches which 1 left half way through when elite started to stall the ball (come on guys this is a showcase). RBS played 1 game early and it was a 1 pass and shoot game. Court 2 had Mountain View vs Churchill HS, Mountain Views guards should both hold a class on dropping teardrop floaters because they both do it well with Wells being the slicker of the two and the other on smoother. They had 2 college coaches also. The last 2 set of games had 0 college coaches in the stands although 2 did stop by for a bit to give Metro Lady Stars 16's some love as they punished the FFS U12 or U13.
I'm sorry I'm bent on the college coach thing because I think that is the most important thing during the eval period. Many of these kids won't get another look until April. I had asked the directors what happened with the WAY MORE stuff and I was told that "she (pointing) will let the colleges know who is good so theres no need to come"

[bballmom]

Sorry, Asiancoach, sometimes I just can't help myself.

I guess my question to you, in regard to your post, are you buying what they were selling? It sure doesn't sound like it.

The story will be complete if the person being pointed at was The Divine Ms. AM.

[lboogie]

Once the again we have a FFS thread singed with negativity.
2 other threads about the FFS got very ugly and one had to be locked.
However, I think the nature of this thread is different, this thread is more like a consumer review, as are all the other showcase threads.

Event organizers sold a product, consumers purchased a product. If the consumers are not satisfied with the product they have a right to give feedback and of course the seller has the right to respond...think about the EBAY feedback system...I know I read feedback and check the seller ratings before I consider purchasing.

I encourage a representative from the FFS to come on the board and respond to the negative reviews

Caveat emptor is Latin for "Let the Buyer Beware"

[hoopslover]

I had asked the directors what happened with the WAY MORE stuff and I was told that "she (pointing) will let the colleges know who is good so theres no need to come"[/QUOTE]

What kind of mess is that "she (pointing) will let the colleges know who is good so theres no need to come". That has to be the dumbest of all dumbest statements I have ever heard. If that was truly said somebody needs their heads checked.

Lboogie, you are right they sold a product, and we brought the product, but i f someone sold you a car and it fell apart right in your face, I don't hink you would have too many kind words to say either. I would love to hear someone from FF respond, but they won't.

[Pundit2007]

I had asked the directors what happened with the WAY MORE stuff and I was told that "she (pointing) will let the colleges know who is good so theres no need to come. What kind of mess is that "she (pointing) will let the colleges know who is good so theres no need to come". That has to be the dumbest of all dumbest statements I have ever heard. If that was truly said somebody needs their heads checked."




A college coach told me that participation was probably down because they were informed by FFS that only 13 teams had entered the event. As such, some coaches probably opted for other showcases in the DC area.

Also worth noting, the coach went on to say the talent level was much greater than he expected.

Does anybody know how many coaches attended the Hoop Magic Showcase?

[aaubballmom]

Whether or not you like Aggie, if you're going to be completely objective about things, she actually is a very good judge of talent, and she knows what kind of skills a kid has to have to play college ball, particularly D1 college ball. She recruits so well because she knows which kids have the talent she needs and who will help her organization to win at a high level and keep the FFS name out there.

There are certainly others in the area who have the same talent and abilities as well. There's lots of other things to debate about, but you have to give credit where credit is due.

[4street]

I thought it was a good event. I didn't realize that the FFS had so many talented players.

Regarding the team mentioned above, I had a chance to see the Mountain View play and they look like they could be a state contender. Any time you have good guards (and they had some real good guards) you have a chance.

I also got a chance to see some of the other FFS teams. I was particularly impressed with the two guards playing on their 14 or 15 team. They had 2 guards that were impressive. I heard that one plays for St Johns and the other plays for Riverbend. They also had an excellent 3 point shooter.
The 2 guards were Nicola Zimmer from St Johns and Joia Coleman from Riverbend. The 3 point shooter was Audrey Cunningham from Seneca Valley (Kelsey Wolfe's running partner)

[Pundit2007]

Freedom also had a nice big guard, who was she?