Hoopmania

Wow I didn't know they were playing for that team. Both started off with Club Ohio last year but neither finished. Its good to hear they have somewhere to play and are doing well. That Club Ohio team was really good last year. They actually ended up in AAU's national preseason power rankings because of their season last year. http://image.aausports.org/dnn/boysbasketball/pdf/clubrankings/10thGrade-DI.pdf

I thought Hatton didn't play at Spiece? Wouldn't that make a difference? They still aren't better than All Ohio Red (neither are the Travelers), but it could change your opinion of them.

Under Armour is just now getting into the grassroots circuit so its going to take time for them to build a name. You will begin to see more regular name programs become Under Armour in the near future.

IMO a program that is sponsored will always remain elite. Their younger ages might not be on the level as the 17U was, but most teams aren't. If you can get kids to play and travel for free you will always attract the best kids. Some of the kids from the teams you mentioned could possibly end up playing with the Magic.

? I don't think I follow you but its no big deal take it however you want its not worth arguing. Coaches wanted April to be open again for travel and cost reasons. They spread the days out again last year.

And thats fine if thats how you read it. College coaches thought the same thing. Proposals would alter college basketball recruiting calendar yet again - ESPN I understand this is another opinion piece, but these thoughts came into adjusting the schedule from college coaches as well.

Not being naive at all. Its just being realistic. And not just a Travelers vs Magic issue. Its a Nike vs non-Nike issue. The 17U Magic team has earned their recognition because of how good they are and have been. The Travelers don't have that because they haven't been as good. But they are still playing in the biggest exclusive tourneys in the country that most teams can't attend. And this is without doing nearly as much as the Magic 17U has. If the 17U Magic weren't as dominant as they have been these past two years and were just average, do you think the amount of exposure and recognition would be on the same level as what the Travelers get? Thinking the loser will be hurt by one game is not thinking rationally. The Travelers play in the EYBL. That is the undoubtedly Mecca of AAU right now. That alone will get them their share of the top kids in KY and the region. They currently have arguably the top 15U and 16U kid in Kentucky because of that very reason.

Agreed. But this allows for more events as most teams didn't attend events covering every day due to travel and fatigue.

IMO, playing in front of scouting services is always good, but adding the two weekends in April and three in July, scouting services aren't nearly as important as they were a few years ago. Coaches can now rely on their own judgement a lot more.

It sounds like you are talking as a fan, or as a parent who cares more about winning and accomplishments during high school. The Magic can be the "Elite Program," but at the end of the day, that's all propsective. As a parent of an elite kid, I don't care who wins more between two AAU basketball teams. I want my kid to play in the tourneys that will play in front of the best/most big time coaches. That right now would be in the EYBL. Most elite kids want to do the same. Nike took a huge step forward when they added the EYBL. With so many new tourneys being added, the competition in these April and July tourneys are really being watered down. So again the Magic have the better team right now, but until Adidas does the same thing Nike does with their grassroots program, the Travelers program (as long as they have a Nike sponsorship) will always be highly regarded and have that clear advantage over the Magic program.

Even if they would beat the Travelers, how would it hurt "what they are trying to do?" It might help the Magic, but it won't really affect the Travelers. With the Travelers being the Nike program of the state, they will always get their fair share of elite kids because of the fact that they get to play in the EYBL (no matter how good or bad they do). I think the Magic need to play the Travelers much more than the Travelers need to play the Magic.

I didn't say anything about the state tourney. Thats local and they could go to that. But the 15u and 16u teams don't go to all of the EYBL events so its not the same situation.

Did any EYBL teams that weren't local go? They might have sat that weekend out to rest for the next EYBL session this coming up weekend in Dallas. IMO it wouldn't make too much sense (physically or financially) to hit the road for another 4+ hour out of town tourney that didn't matter. Especially when sandwiched in between two EYBL sessions. The Magic might be the better team, but I doubt they avoided the Run n Slam just because the Magic were going.

Who is on the 16u team?

Colerain's star is Milt Davis. He played and was the leading scorer. Their starting pg Kiere Bennie is out with a broken wrist though.

1. He has only been at Holy Cross for one year. 2. His academics are not an issue at Taft.

Commits to Ohio University. Had 13 offers

Is division 2 nationals NCAA certified?

Like 11 or 12

They beat Boston Metro in the quarters and lost to king James in the semis. Connor had a really good summer.

Jacksonville and Winthrop have offered as well

Subtract a foot.

Yeah they offered months ago.

NKU was his first offer.

Over the weekend. Holy Cross went to Wright State's team camp.