sim111
03-18-2008, 01:27 PM
Let me start out by saying attending NCAA CERTIFIED events is the best way to get a kid exposure. Gone are the days of the HS coaches faxing tons of colleges,making phone calls or sending video. This still happens, not as much as it used to and believe it or not, it still works for some kids, however after what I have observed over the years, the NCAA events give the kids options, well some of them.
Why do I say some? Well for one reason every kid is not going to play D1 ball, there are not enough scholarships going around. Every kid is not going to play for a major or top 25 D1 program and this is one of the reasons parents why should truly consider spending the extra money, unless they are SPONSORED and SPONSORED doesn't mean paying thousands of dollars. Some kids benefit by going to these events, Bone and the Gilbreaths played for WCE and all 3 will be McDonald All Americans. Nneka was named Gatorade POY to go along with Mickey D and WBCA AA. Karima Christmas is playing at Duke after garnering WBCA AA honors so for these kids it TRULY paid off.
My daughter was heavily recruited by most of the top D1 programs in the country and in turn, kids that played on our team, Houston Insiders, were seen as well, so for our program it also was a good thing, just as it was for Nnekas AAU club, Cy Fair SHOCK. Some other area clubs over the years like Texas Blazers,Houston Hotshots,Houston Elite,Houston Cobras and Hoopin Angels have competed with the big boys and the key is to be playing against those upper tier teams with highly recuited players and if you have players who can compete, that is a big plus for the kids on your team.
Now for the cons and let me use last use this ONLY as an example. WAWG had one of the best backcourts in Texas that I saw last year. They did several tournaments with the guy who was over Adidas events last year and two of the guards wound up at TCU and UTEP, both great schools but they probably would have got the same offers had they stayed close to home and played in local NCAA events. Some folks were griping that those same kids didn't get any NATIONAL attention and the ironic part is that the director of the events they went to was on at least one major, Mc Donalds, committee. While we are on the cons, let me add that another team from Houston, the Cobras, also frequented those same events and came in 1st or 2nd in every July event but no kid received an offer until we intervened on their behalf, primarily because of sour grapes from the guy who was SUPPOSED to be looking out for the kids, he is now SELLING his CRAP to others. Since the Cobras have abandoned the old regime, I am sure things will be looking great for them in the future since they now have COMPLETE control.
It's tricky how this works and many times parents are promised things that just aren't going to happen. Through trial and error, I have waded in the BS to know if you have players, they will come. My suggestion is to try and figure out exactly where your kid is as far as their talent level, where they want to go, check out that schools roster and don't fall for the BS some of these folks are cooking. In the Houston area, I believe close to 90% of the kids wind up playing ball in Texas or the surrounding states so spend wisely and don't BUY their CRAP
Why do I say some? Well for one reason every kid is not going to play D1 ball, there are not enough scholarships going around. Every kid is not going to play for a major or top 25 D1 program and this is one of the reasons parents why should truly consider spending the extra money, unless they are SPONSORED and SPONSORED doesn't mean paying thousands of dollars. Some kids benefit by going to these events, Bone and the Gilbreaths played for WCE and all 3 will be McDonald All Americans. Nneka was named Gatorade POY to go along with Mickey D and WBCA AA. Karima Christmas is playing at Duke after garnering WBCA AA honors so for these kids it TRULY paid off.
My daughter was heavily recruited by most of the top D1 programs in the country and in turn, kids that played on our team, Houston Insiders, were seen as well, so for our program it also was a good thing, just as it was for Nnekas AAU club, Cy Fair SHOCK. Some other area clubs over the years like Texas Blazers,Houston Hotshots,Houston Elite,Houston Cobras and Hoopin Angels have competed with the big boys and the key is to be playing against those upper tier teams with highly recuited players and if you have players who can compete, that is a big plus for the kids on your team.
Now for the cons and let me use last use this ONLY as an example. WAWG had one of the best backcourts in Texas that I saw last year. They did several tournaments with the guy who was over Adidas events last year and two of the guards wound up at TCU and UTEP, both great schools but they probably would have got the same offers had they stayed close to home and played in local NCAA events. Some folks were griping that those same kids didn't get any NATIONAL attention and the ironic part is that the director of the events they went to was on at least one major, Mc Donalds, committee. While we are on the cons, let me add that another team from Houston, the Cobras, also frequented those same events and came in 1st or 2nd in every July event but no kid received an offer until we intervened on their behalf, primarily because of sour grapes from the guy who was SUPPOSED to be looking out for the kids, he is now SELLING his CRAP to others. Since the Cobras have abandoned the old regime, I am sure things will be looking great for them in the future since they now have COMPLETE control.
It's tricky how this works and many times parents are promised things that just aren't going to happen. Through trial and error, I have waded in the BS to know if you have players, they will come. My suggestion is to try and figure out exactly where your kid is as far as their talent level, where they want to go, check out that schools roster and don't fall for the BS some of these folks are cooking. In the Houston area, I believe close to 90% of the kids wind up playing ball in Texas or the surrounding states so spend wisely and don't BUY their CRAP