It worked before, why wouldn't it now? Again, top tier aau ball has become a business, much more than developing the kids. Otherwise you wouldnt keep mentioning all of the money invested. Do you really think I believe they invested that money for the kids? No, they invested the money, to make more money. You gotta spend it to make it.

 

My issue isn't the business aspect of it, but the aspect that they influence the kids to choose said school so their affiliation makes money from it. You have to remember, these are high school kids, not adults.

 

Define "it worked before". Elite prospects are more skilled now than ever before, and a large part of that is the events run by the shoe companies. The development at camps run by the elite NBA guys are a huge plus to the system. The EYBL has been HUGE in developing high end talent against elite competition. Events like Adidas Nations and the Nike Global Challenge allow the kids to learn from college guys that have been through the process and understand the work needed to advance. Those are the reasons the US holds every major title in the basketball world at the moment.

 

What you fail to grasp is developing the sport is the business. If the sport is weak the business fails. Take one look at the best players in the world right now. I'd put the number at 95% that have been part of it as the shoe companies took it upon themselves to invest in the game.

 

If the side effect is one kid ends up at Kansas while another ends up at Kentucky, so be it. The end result is the game is better, and I'm perfectly fine with that...

 

Define "it worked before". Elite prospects are more skilled now than ever before, and a large part of that is the events run by the shoe companies. The development at camps run by the elite NBA guys are a huge plus to the system. The EYBL has been HUGE in developing high end talent against elite competition. Events like Adidas Nations and the Nike Global Challenge allow the kids to learn from college guys that have been through the process and understand the work needed to advance. Those are the reasons the US holds every major title in the basketball world at the moment.

 

What you fail to grasp is developing the sport is the business. If the sport is weak the business fails. Take one look at the best players in the world right now. I'd put the number at 95% that have been part of it as the shoe companies took it upon themselves to invest in the game.

 

If the side effect is one kid ends up at Kansas while another ends up at Kentucky, so be it. The end result is the game is better, and I'm perfectly fine with that...

 

It worked before as in there was never a problem to begin with. I'm not an old man, but some of the best basketball in the college and NBA ranks was played well before the aau circuit ever came around. So we will have to agree to disagree that the shoe companies helped the game of basketball by perfecting players.

 

 

Again, I don't dislike aau ball, but the top tier of it is only in it to cash in on the kids once they start making money. It also has some shady characters involved that ruin kids and coaches careers, even though the kid or coach is rarely at fault.

 

It's a business, I get that. But we survived without it before, I don't see any reason why we couldn't now. As it is, aau is just a way for shoe companies to market athletes. Outside of the marketing aspect what does college basketball gain from it? Please don't tell me coaching, because most of the aau coaches are a joke.

It worked before as in there was never a problem to begin with. I'm not an old man, but some of the best basketball in the college and NBA ranks was played well before the aau circuit ever came around. So we will have to agree to disagree that the shoe companies helped the game of basketball by perfecting players.

 

 

Again, I don't dislike aau ball, but the top tier of it is only in it to cash in on the kids once they start making money. It also has some shady characters involved that ruin kids and coaches careers, even though the kid or coach is rarely at fault.

 

It's a business, I get that. But we survived without it before, I don't see any reason why we couldn't now. As it is, aau is just a way for shoe companies to market athletes. Outside of the marketing aspect what does college basketball gain from it? Please don't tell me coaching, because most of the aau coaches are a joke.

 

Go back and look at the Wooden era at UCLA. That was as corrupt as it gets in many ways.

 

50 years ago the US was the only nation playing basketball at a high level. Of course it looks easy back then. Go look at the late 90s and early 2000s. The world was passing the US by in their own game. It was at that point when the shoe influence started to take hold and spend then funds needed to improve the game at its core. LeBron, Durant, Anthony Davis, Steph Curry, James Harden and the list goes on and on from guys that benefited for the system to develop their talents and become the best in the world.

 

Your problem is misplacing blame on ghosts that exist in a very small fraction of the system. I know most of the high end AAU coaches, and while there are a few that are a joke, the reality is those guys get exposed for who they are and are run out of the business in quick fashion more often than not. The guys doing it for the right reason make the most of their opportunity and make the kids they coach better on and off the floor. That's why the programs at the top stay there and those doing it the wrong way fade to black quickly.

 

Again. Who is going to invest in the system if the shoe company money is kicked to the curb? Who is going to invest in the development of the next group of stars if those millions being spent to do so goes away? The system is working even if some want to complain their school misses on a kid because Nike spent 50K on his development and their Adidas contract keeps them out of the mix...

You are fairly new, so I'll cut you a little slack. That said, the "what I'm hearing" and "from what I can gather" recruiting lines don't fly with me. If you are speaking to the staffs at UK, Kansas or Illinois, Bragg or his guardian Michael Graves have at it. Reading Twitter and team sites doesn't qualify... :thumb:

 

Lol not what ya call new,, I don't post much here, but I'm a mod on a UK site. Have been one on a couple sites for 6+ years. I'm just telling you what I hear and then make of it.. Not here to twist ur arm in any form or fashion..

Edited January 6, 201511 yr by Randy Parker
Rule 12

Based on the assumption that Bragg ends up at KU, I'm thinking the Cats class rounds out as Briscoe, Matthews, Skal, Newman, and Maker (if he reclasses, which I think he will). Maybe Zimmerman, but I think he stays out west.

Those arguing the AAU setup and saying it is terrible because it is a business...

 

What do you think the elite levels of college as well as professional and NBA is? It is a business. No different than a high schooler going to Performing Arts school or Tech school instead of public school, they both are honing their crafts. As GT has mentioned the money poured into the development of these athletes far exceeds any Performing Arts school, private schools, etc. No difference to me, the uber private school kid is developing to go Ivy league same way these basketball players are developing for their profession. IMO this gives them an early start at figuring out the business side as well the basketball side.

 

Go back and look at the Wooden era at UCLA. That was as corrupt as it gets in many ways.

 

50 years ago the US was the only nation playing basketball at a high level. Of course it looks easy back then. Go look at the late 90s and early 2000s. The world was passing the US by in their own game. It was at that point when the shoe influence started to take hold and spend then funds needed to improve the game at its core. LeBron, Durant, Anthony Davis, Steph Curry, James Harden and the list goes on and on from guys that benefited for the system to develop their talents and become the best in the world.

 

Your problem is misplacing blame on ghosts that exist in a very small fraction of the system. I know most of the high end AAU coaches, and while there are a few that are a joke, the reality is those guys get exposed for who they are and are run out of the business in quick fashion more often than not. The guys doing it for the right reason make the most of their opportunity and make the kids they coach better on and off the floor. That's why the programs at the top stay there and those doing it the wrong way fade to black quickly.

 

Again. Who is going to invest in the system if the shoe company money is kicked to the curb? Who is going to invest in the development of the next group of stars if those millions being spent to do so goes away? The system is working even if some want to complain their school misses on a kid because Nike spent 50K on his development and their Adidas contract keeps them out of the mix...

 

 

I can agree with a lot of your points and don't doubt that you know more about the situation than I. Again, I don't dislike aau ball, however I don't like how the top level of it is very influential on where the top athletes go to school. That's really my only issue with it, you are right about the NCAA being corrupt during the Wooden era and while I'm sure there is some of that that goes on in aau, its not my point. I probably should have left that out of the conversation, because I realise that's always going to happen to some extent with or without aau.

 

My only real issue is the influencing kids to pick said school so they can cash in on the kids. I understand your point about the shoe companies have invested in these kids. But that's a gamble in a number of ways, where the kid chooses to get his education should be up to the kid. I'm not trying to strike a nerve with you personally, I hope you don't take it that way. I like the idea of aau ball, I really do. I just believe they should let the kids choose their own path when it comes to choosing where to go to college. Which I understand they don't force the kids into anything, but they are very influential in persuading them to go to certain schools.

I just can see anyone who is choosing right now picking UK. Too many concerns about who stays and who goes.

I can agree with a lot of your points and don't doubt that you know more about the situation than I. Again, I don't dislike aau ball, however I don't like how the top level of it is very influential on where the top athletes go to school. That's really my only issue with it, you are right about the NCAA being corrupt during the Wooden era and while I'm sure there is some of that that goes on in aau, its not my point. I probably should have left that out of the conversation, because I realise that's always going to happen to some extent with or without aau.

 

My only real issue is the influencing kids to pick said school so they can cash in on the kids. I understand your point about the shoe companies have invested in these kids. But that's a gamble in a number of ways, where the kid chooses to get his education should be up to the kid. I'm not trying to strike a nerve with you personally, I hope you don't take it that way. I like the idea of aau ball, I really do. I just believe they should let the kids choose their own path when it comes to choosing where to go to college. Which I understand they don't force the kids into anything, but they are very influential in persuading them to go to certain schools.

 

I get that concern, I just don't have a problem with it. Plenty of great schools under each umbrella to choose from...

 

I get that concern, I just don't have a problem with it. Plenty of great schools under each umbrella to choose from...

 

They do, but some have more options than others, due to their affiliation. Just ask RickyP, he'll tell ya. Which as a UK fan, which is a Nike school, it wouldnt bother me at all as a fan. However, if you take my fandom away, its easy to see the problem.

 

Aau ball as a whole is great for the kids though, I guess I'm nitpicking. A kid has to be at an elite level to deal with what I consider to be the problem in aau ball.

:lol: Did anyone just see Carlton Bragg's presser?

 

He put on the Kansas hat, and said "Next year I'll be playing at the University of Kentucky...I'm sorry, Kansas". :lol:

Does the coach they call Slice do the recruiting, if so we just lost one we had tried to get.

Does the coach they call Slice do the recruiting, if so we just lost one we had tried to get.

 

Bragg wasn't a take for Kentucky at this point. Uncertainty on who is coming back, and better players still available...

Who was the last Adidas kid that went to a Nike school?

Who was the last Adidas kid that went to a Nike school?

 

Adidas hasn't had many elite kids of late, and they don't do a good job of keeping the 4 star types in house. Chris Walker and Casey Hill were Adidas and went to Florida. Embiid played on the same Adidas team and ended up at Kansas, but he wasn't considered an elite kid until late. Shabazz stayed in house, but that is really about it...