SSSGODWIN

Justin is naturally gifted for sure. I didn't know GHITP had two teams. I played one a couple weeks ago. Not sure which one that was.

Mike Powell has a seventh grade son. I think they just play some of the big tournaments and that is about it.

It looks like the 13U D1 state is set. FOCUS ICE GHITP Key Player Ky Elite The Ville Ky Grind louisville Hustle I have two kids with August 2001 Birthdays or we would be in this event. These kids will not play a single game in the 2015 AAU Season as a 14 year old. But can't play in this event. It really stinks for them. We could have gone 13U but didn't want to separate the kids. We will chose between the Bearcat and 14U D2. I'm also looking forward to the Eddie Ford Event in April.

Are you guys playing in the 7th grade Division of the Ohio Players tournament?

I just made the same decision today. We will decide on Bearcat vs. 14U D2 later. We decided to play this weekend in the Ohio Players event in Cincy. There are 14 7th grade teams in as of today. Hopefully it will be pretty good.

As of now the field for 13U D1 FOCUS GHITP Key Player Ky Elite Ky Grind Louisville Hustle 14UD1 Walton Verona Bearcats Lexington Future KYWA Magic Taylor Made I am trying to consider what tournament we are playing in this weekend. I have a 7th grade team that has two kids with August birthdays. Therefore we would have to play 14U. Can anyone tell me anything about Futre, Magic, and Taylor Made? How big are they? Did they have kids that had to bump up to 15U? Ky Playmaker are you guy's still planning to play?

I think in my comment that you quoted I said that Highlands and Gametime was basically the same. I was speaking in general terms.

This is a tough one. I wish my kids would play soccer until in middle school. I have multiple examples of soccer kids performing really well on the basketball court. They step on the court and can guard pretty much anyone because they have such good footwork. Having said that, the wear on the joints is real. Personally, I would not let him do basketball all the time. Keep him wanting more. The more he wants it the more he will get out of it. If I had the luxury to have my kids play 3 or 4 sports I would do it until past puberty. One thing I do recommend its finding an individual sport that has less use of joints. My boys race bicycles. It is totally up to them to perform and to be honest it creates an entire different mind set. Some kids are socially akward in team sports and they don't perform well. Then put them in a sport that is all about them and they excel. Then they have that background and confidence to apply to team sports. I think swimming and golf would be great supporting sports. Swimming for overall strenth, Golf for mental toughness etc.

I actually went out of my way to try to find a better fit for a kid this year. The parent did not like me doing it. But, I would do it again and again. As far as taking money for a parent. There are some organizations that I know of that charge $1200 dollars at the lowest levels. They are actually making money as profit. But, the club I am with is not doing that. We barely have enough money to function. With that being said. My players and my team are getting a value out of each other. The players do pay. But that money is returned in some sort of value to the player. They get a return on that investment with coaching and playing games. It's a temporary partnership that should benifit both groups.

With all due respect to every player in Northern Ky. Especially Huddleston. I have more adimiration for that young man than any player I know. I was college roomate's with his father and consider the entire family best friends. However, Michael Mayer is 3 to 4 inches taller. He has better skills than any kid over 5'10" in the region. He's strong and athletic. He may not have the motor Huddleston has but he has size that very few can handle. In a man to man situation he will foul out any individual player. He can be guarded in zone situations but at this age there is very few that can single handidly out play him. All the other 6'2" ish kids are too light. Who ever pointed out that the two Highlands boys have each other made a great observation. It makes a huge difference having help. Mason Rusch is not well known. He plays for a small private school that plays in the Heritage league. I found him last winter at a CC game. I was a substitue coach against him in that game and could'nt find two players that could control him with a double team. From that point on, during the AAU season I never saw a single player in Greater Cincy ever guard him one on one (Man to Man). All the teams handled him with a zone. He is very small and when he has players around him it makes him a very difficult match up. He is the quickest kid I've ever coached, He's equally as competive and fearless as Huddleston. His ball handling skills are 2nd to none. If he's not the best Guard in the region then I have been missing something. Having said that. There is a kid that plays middle school ball in Frankfort. He plays for the Stallions. He is the only kid that I've seen be able to take Mason off the dribble. That kid is actually smaller and possibly the fastest kid around. Mason suffered a fractured knee cap or something similar last fall. He spent the entire winter in a full leg cast. The cast has been removed and he is rehabing it. He is about 75% now. I'm hopful that he is able to return to his previous form.

I know for certain that the very best two players in NKY at at the 7th grade level is Michael Mayer and Mason Rusch. Michael is the big (Saint Pius & NKY Rockets) and Mason is a point guard from Calvary Christian (Shining Stars). There is not a player in Northen Ky that can guard either one at their position. Watching Mason play his first year of AAU last year in Greater Cincy. There wasn't a kid around that could guard him. He's a soccer player that flipped for basketball. He is by far the quickest player around and can get his shot anytime he wants it. Both are true 13U players.

Shining Star Sports are currently considering all the options. The problem with the date is that The Bearcat Classis is the same weekend as D2 14U State. We have 7 13U players and 3 14U players so we want to play in both but we also want to play in one of the bigger non-National events that is right here in our back yard. Shining Stars D1 13U & D2 14U I can't speak about the others. But, i'm guessing Legends 13U D1 and 14U D3 Defenders D3 14U TeamZ D3 14U Royals D3 13U Ampipe D3 13U (If they play) NKY Rockets I don't think are playing because of baseball. NKY Tarheels I have no clue These two teams were also pretty good. Ky FastBreak Ky Extreme

It is definately worth a try. Otherwise the 7U age group wont be able to play. I never considered it until they asked me to put a team in. As a coach, I would not have a problem with playing against these kids. As good as the new age requirement is, it still hurts the smaller late maturing kids. It nearly takes them out of the game completley.

I'm also going to disagree. Like stated above it depends on your goals. My goals are to develop a team that attracts the best posssible people and players so that the team can maximize exposure. I want to be a team that is a destination. That means eliminating all the "weeds" while maximizing performance. It is not my job to develop the kid. It is my job to put kids in position for the kid to develop themselves. I will give them the drills but they have to apply what I give them to get better. I dont want credit for the work they do. However, for those kids that are applying them selves on and off the court. It is my job to put the best players around them so that the hard working kids get exposure at the highest possible level. (It is a snow ball effect) Often times this means letting kids go because they are holding back the growth of the team. Sometimes, a parent of a kid causes problems and likewise holds back a team from growing. This sucks for the kid but as coach we have to make hard decisions. Us coaches get used by parents all the time. I'm fine with that. We have short contracts with each other and hopefully both parties benefit equally. Once that benefit for ends for either party then the relationship ends. Good Players, Good Team Mates and Good people always have supporting cast and a place to play.

There is also a Bearcat Showcase tournament the last weekend of March. This is a similar event as the classic but it is for the little guys. I'm planning to have my 2nd grade group play in it.