Kyle Shiloh: AAU Basketball
April2011 Filed in: Kyle Shiloh, BUA Trainer Blog
If you haven't noticed, in the Bakersfield area alone it's almost as if a new "AAU" travel team is created almost every other month. Sadly, I feel that most of these coaches, teams, and players have the wrong intentions/idea behind this. AAU travel basketball was created as an opportunity to display your talent and further your basketball career after HS by hopefully receiving a scholarship to college. For the kids/parents who do take it serious, there's a lack of preparation in the off season for that level of basketball. I feel that too many people these days are confused as what the main purpose of AAU basketball is. Let me throw out some numbers to better clarify a kids opportunities of receiving a college basketball athletic scholarship.
On average, there are only 13 available max basketball scholarships available at a Division 1 college, 10 scholarships max for a Division 2, 18 for a NAIA, and 15 for a Junior College. Between D1, D2, and NAIA there is a total of slightly over 1,000 schools available for kids to receive a scholarship and play basketball. That means for roughly over 1 million kids in all 50 states there is only slightly over 1,000 opportunities for all of those kids to receive a scholarship. Every single one of those millions of kids have the same dream and are fighting for the same scholarships.
My point behind the numbers is that with the odds your given, why not increase your chances by preparing yourself as much as possible? Recently, I've been concerned by a lot of the kids and parents I talk to on a daily basis. For any parents or current players involved in AAU who might be reading this, I want you to ask yourself a question... When are the open dates throughout the year that colleges can attend events to scout players? Then I want you to ask yourself, Does my AAU team go to any tournaments and/or events during these dates? If so, have I been training and working out accordingly to prepare me for this? Most kids/teams don't travel during the recruiting period, some kids/teams do but they've been so busy playing games that they have no idea as to how the game SHOULD be played, and then they end up being overlooked by the same people they are trying to impress... the coaches. I think most of us forget this or do not realize it and think of AAU as something that people just do these days. Trust me, the travel and fee's that come along with AAU basketball are not cheap. If that means taking some time off from AAU and devoting it specifically to developing your game, so be it. So if you want to take part in all of this, make sure you're ready! That means working on your game and training in the off season, recognizing the weak points in your game, and having an understanding of WHAT COLLEGE COACHES WANT TO SEE!
On average, there are only 13 available max basketball scholarships available at a Division 1 college, 10 scholarships max for a Division 2, 18 for a NAIA, and 15 for a Junior College. Between D1, D2, and NAIA there is a total of slightly over 1,000 schools available for kids to receive a scholarship and play basketball. That means for roughly over 1 million kids in all 50 states there is only slightly over 1,000 opportunities for all of those kids to receive a scholarship. Every single one of those millions of kids have the same dream and are fighting for the same scholarships.
My point behind the numbers is that with the odds your given, why not increase your chances by preparing yourself as much as possible? Recently, I've been concerned by a lot of the kids and parents I talk to on a daily basis. For any parents or current players involved in AAU who might be reading this, I want you to ask yourself a question... When are the open dates throughout the year that colleges can attend events to scout players? Then I want you to ask yourself, Does my AAU team go to any tournaments and/or events during these dates? If so, have I been training and working out accordingly to prepare me for this? Most kids/teams don't travel during the recruiting period, some kids/teams do but they've been so busy playing games that they have no idea as to how the game SHOULD be played, and then they end up being overlooked by the same people they are trying to impress... the coaches. I think most of us forget this or do not realize it and think of AAU as something that people just do these days. Trust me, the travel and fee's that come along with AAU basketball are not cheap. If that means taking some time off from AAU and devoting it specifically to developing your game, so be it. So if you want to take part in all of this, make sure you're ready! That means working on your game and training in the off season, recognizing the weak points in your game, and having an understanding of WHAT COLLEGE COACHES WANT TO SEE!
Demarcus Hall: Finland... "To Each His Own..."
February2011 Filed in: Demarcus Hall | BUA Trainer Blog
To Each His Own..
Grateful to be blessed. To travel, to play basketball, its all fun and making for a great experience. An experience that I can draw from. It comes down to the classic argument over life versus lifestyle. Somehow I know that I am heading in the right direction. Just have to make sure to listen to the universe and adhere to the omens.
I remember hearing the question; What are u protecting? Wittingly I answered by stating "my stuff"(phone, bike, apartment or whatever material things I either paid for or was still working to make payments on). Material possessions are temporary and turn to dust with time. Searching for something more lasting with more substance. My answer should have been bonds, goals and ambitions. Bonds that I share with my family and the people I put on with. I have a goal and that is to position myself to help the position of my family. Now that I think about it I cannot wait to reunite with my family as I will have stories to tell and its been a while since I have been in their presence. It will be cool to be around them now that I’ve been around. I'm just trying to continue to advance and be more ambitious.
The goal I wanted to achieve this season was to lead a productive season. Now with the first half of the season recorded I can say that I did it. Before arriving I set a goal to lead a team in every category. Reason being is that I have never experienced that before. Just wanted to see what that experience would bring. Success, as a team, we have had it this season and I have learned how it take it in in spurts.
We have won 5 out of the last 8 games. Now in the second half of the season each team knows what to expect and are preparing accordingly. Teams are battling for playoff positioning and games are becoming more physical and competitive. There are 5 games remaining and each game seems to become bigger than the last. We are looking to continue our momentum and we have an opportunity to get a solid spot for the playoffs. Game time this Sunday!!
Please feel free to leave comments. If you have any question just post them and I will answer them. Give me something to talk about and it would make for more blogs
Grateful to be blessed. To travel, to play basketball, its all fun and making for a great experience. An experience that I can draw from. It comes down to the classic argument over life versus lifestyle. Somehow I know that I am heading in the right direction. Just have to make sure to listen to the universe and adhere to the omens.
I remember hearing the question; What are u protecting? Wittingly I answered by stating "my stuff"(phone, bike, apartment or whatever material things I either paid for or was still working to make payments on). Material possessions are temporary and turn to dust with time. Searching for something more lasting with more substance. My answer should have been bonds, goals and ambitions. Bonds that I share with my family and the people I put on with. I have a goal and that is to position myself to help the position of my family. Now that I think about it I cannot wait to reunite with my family as I will have stories to tell and its been a while since I have been in their presence. It will be cool to be around them now that I’ve been around. I'm just trying to continue to advance and be more ambitious.
The goal I wanted to achieve this season was to lead a productive season. Now with the first half of the season recorded I can say that I did it. Before arriving I set a goal to lead a team in every category. Reason being is that I have never experienced that before. Just wanted to see what that experience would bring. Success, as a team, we have had it this season and I have learned how it take it in in spurts.
We have won 5 out of the last 8 games. Now in the second half of the season each team knows what to expect and are preparing accordingly. Teams are battling for playoff positioning and games are becoming more physical and competitive. There are 5 games remaining and each game seems to become bigger than the last. We are looking to continue our momentum and we have an opportunity to get a solid spot for the playoffs. Game time this Sunday!!
Please feel free to leave comments. If you have any question just post them and I will answer them. Give me something to talk about and it would make for more blogs
Dwuan Rice: MILLRATS PRETTY IN PINK
February2011 Filed in: Dwuan Rice, BUA Trainer Blog
(February 11, 2011 Saint John, NB): The Saint John Mill Rats were 'Pretty in Pink' tonight as they escaped with an 83-78 win over the #2 ranked Halifax Rainmen before a boisterous home crowd of 3,601. The Mill Rats players, along with Head Coach Jaren Jackson, donned pink jerseys in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness, on Hoops for Hope night.
The Mill Rats grabbed an early 5 point lead before the Rainmen raced back and took a 28-26 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Mill Rats used a swarming help defense to hold the Rainmen to a mere 10 points in the second quarter, to take a 48-38 halftime lead.
Halifax rallied to grab a 68-67 lead with 7:30 remaining on a three pointer by former '09 Mill Rat Julian Allen . The Rainmen later tied the game 76-76 on a tip in by Mike Mercer. After two Marc Egerson free throws to give Saint John a 78-76 lead, the Mill Rats forced a huge stop. With under a minute, Dwuan Rice took the foul plagued Taliek Brown off the dribble for a fallaway jumper in the lane, giving Saint John some breathing room at 80-76. On the ensuing possession it was again the 'little big man', Dwuan Rice, coming up with a huge rebound to seal the win.
Former Vermont Frost Heave Dwuan Rice led the Mill Rats with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Marc Egerson added 15, Ross Demasi 14 and 10 rebounds, and Anthony Anderson 11. Josh Dollard led the Rainmen with 14 points
The Mill Rats grabbed an early 5 point lead before the Rainmen raced back and took a 28-26 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Mill Rats used a swarming help defense to hold the Rainmen to a mere 10 points in the second quarter, to take a 48-38 halftime lead.
Halifax rallied to grab a 68-67 lead with 7:30 remaining on a three pointer by former '09 Mill Rat Julian Allen . The Rainmen later tied the game 76-76 on a tip in by Mike Mercer. After two Marc Egerson free throws to give Saint John a 78-76 lead, the Mill Rats forced a huge stop. With under a minute, Dwuan Rice took the foul plagued Taliek Brown off the dribble for a fallaway jumper in the lane, giving Saint John some breathing room at 80-76. On the ensuing possession it was again the 'little big man', Dwuan Rice, coming up with a huge rebound to seal the win.
Former Vermont Frost Heave Dwuan Rice led the Mill Rats with 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Marc Egerson added 15, Ross Demasi 14 and 10 rebounds, and Anthony Anderson 11. Josh Dollard led the Rainmen with 14 points
Dwuan Rice: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
February2011 Filed in: Dwuan Rice | BUA Trainer Blog
Here today....gone tomorrow
Coming off two 16 plus hours road trips and 2 tough loses, we got back to Vermont. Unfortunately, The bad luck didn't stop there. Coach sent a mass text to the whole team informing us we had a mandatory team meeting. As we enter the meeting, the vibe I sensed from everyone wasn't good. All the Members of the board had dejected looks and glossy eyes. They informed us that the team couldn't not financially support us and they were ceasing all basketball operations.
The following day there was a draft, 5 of us got picked up by other teams. I was draft by a team in Dayton, but later I was released. With no team, I wasnt sure what my next move would be. One thing that was certain, I still had more things to be grateful, than to complain about.
I took a couple days to visit some loyal supporters, kids that I'd been mentoring, and reflect on what lesson god wanted me to learn from this situation. Sure enough, I got a call from our arch rivals, Saint John Millrats. They told me to sit tight and they'd bring me in the following week. And they did.
Me and Ross Demasi, former Frostheave and teammate arrived Saint John tuesday around midnight. We had one day of practice and a game two days later. We played against a team from Quebec, Canada the division leaders. In a winning effort, I mustered up 12 point and 6 assist. Ross had 14 and 6 rebounds.
Through this trial, I was reminded nothing is certain. It's here and the next minute it can all be gone. As I continue to pray and strengthen my faith in Christ, I know that he knows the desires of my heart and he will not allow me to be in a situation too big for me to handle.
God bless
-Wanni