Basketball and rising FCPS freshman

[Anonymous]

My DS plans to try out for the freshman team at his fcps HS. Is there anything that happens prior to that in terms of practices/ clinics for interested basketball kids?I know the Fall sports kids start practicing in August. When my older kid was a rising freshman we didn’t realize all the activities that unofficially started in the summer for Fall sports.
Trying to stay in the loop for basketball.
Thanks for any help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS plans to try out for the freshman team at his fcps HS. Is there anything that happens prior to that in terms of practices/ clinics for interested basketball kids?I know the Fall sports kids start practicing in August. When my older kid was a rising freshman we didn’t realize all the activities that unofficially started in the summer for Fall sports.
Trying to stay in the loop for basketball.
Thanks for any help!

Have him e-mail the coach. DD's school funs spring clinics for middle schoolers and most of the girls use the same trainer over the summer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS plans to try out for the freshman team at his fcps HS. Is there anything that happens prior to that in terms of practices/ clinics for interested basketball kids?I know the Fall sports kids start practicing in August. When my older kid was a rising freshman we didn’t realize all the activities that unofficially started in the summer for Fall sports.
Trying to stay in the loop for basketball.
Thanks for any help!

Have him e-mail the coach. DD's school funs spring clinics for middle schoolers and most of the girls use the same trainer over the summer

+1

DS met the coach of the very competitive HS team that he wanted to play for on a shadow day. He was deciding between that school and a magnet where he would have made the (not competitive) team for sure. Coach invited him to a workout in April of his 8th grade year, and then he played summer and fall league with the team. At tryouts, the decision was what team he’d make, not whether he’d make any team. If we’d waited until tryouts, he might not have made even the freshman team.

[Anonymous]

OP here - ok thanks - good suggestions!

[Anonymous]

As freshman, it might be hard to make Varsity - they might have very few spots (1 or 2). But many HS coaches also coach AAU teams on the side and they have already decided who they are going to pick, unless they see some kid who is really good. If your son is average player, then be prepared for the coach to play favorites with one of his AAU kid. That's fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As freshman, it might be hard to make Varsity - they might have very few spots (1 or 2). But many HS coaches also coach AAU teams on the side and they have already decided who they are going to pick, unless they see some kid who is really good. If your son is average player, then be prepared for the coach to play favorites with one of his AAU kid. That's fact.

That's a really sketchy AAU coach. The couple who DD has played for will flat out not coach kids who play for their high school teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As freshman, it might be hard to make Varsity - they might have very few spots (1 or 2). But many HS coaches also coach AAU teams on the side and they have already decided who they are going to pick, unless they see some kid who is really good. If your son is average player, then be prepared for the coach to play favorites with one of his AAU kid. That's fact.

That's a really sketchy AAU coach. The couple who DD has played for will flat out not coach kids who play for their high school teams.

Well of course the coach will favor an AAU player who likely plays basketball year-round on very competitive AAU teams and/or travel! The competition has been training and playing prior to MS. Many coaches also run summer camps, watch local travel and AAU teams play and therefore have already identified talent.

Unfortunately, an "average player" will not likely make a local, large HS team nowadays unless he or she is super athletic or a Big.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As freshman, it might be hard to make Varsity - they might have very few spots (1 or 2). But many HS coaches also coach AAU teams on the side and they have already decided who they are going to pick, unless they see some kid who is really good. If your son is average player, then be prepared for the coach to play favorites with one of his AAU kid. That's fact.

That's a really sketchy AAU coach. The couple who DD has played for will flat out not coach kids who play for their high school teams.

Well of course the coach will favor an AAU player who likely plays basketball year-round on very competitive AAU teams and/or travel! The competition has been training and playing prior to MS. Many coaches also run summer camps, watch local travel and AAU teams play and therefore have already identified talent.

Unfortunately, an "average player" will not likely make a local, large HS team nowadays unless he or she is super athletic or a Big.

There is a huge difference between favoring kids who play year round and know what they are doing and actually running an AAU program with kids who also play for you high school.

[Anonymous]

Thanks again - my kid is not AAU. Just rec. But he’s athletic and tall and wants to try for the freshman team, realizing it’s super competitive and he may not make the team. But I don’t want his to miss out on a chance to do any clinics or scrimmages that may happen this spring or summer.
I appreciate the info

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As freshman, it might be hard to make Varsity - they might have very few spots (1 or 2). But many HS coaches also coach AAU teams on the side and they have already decided who they are going to pick, unless they see some kid who is really good. If your son is average player, then be prepared for the coach to play favorites with one of his AAU kid. That's fact.

That's a really sketchy AAU coach. The couple who DD has played for will flat out not coach kids who play for their high school teams.

It is not just basketball where this happens. It happens in volleyball, lacrosse, baseball, etc.

[Anonymous]

Follow the team and the athletic department on social media. They announce interest sessions and green day practices there. Certain teams are more active, but it’s the easiest way to find stuff. Also you can see what they did last year at your school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks again - my kid is not AAU. Just rec. But he’s athletic and tall and wants to try for the freshman team, realizing it’s super competitive and he may not make the team. But I don’t want his to miss out on a chance to do any clinics or scrimmages that may happen this spring or summer.
I appreciate the info

how tall is he?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks again - my kid is not AAU. Just rec. But he’s athletic and tall and wants to try for the freshman team, realizing it’s super competitive and he may not make the team. But I don’t want his to miss out on a chance to do any clinics or scrimmages that may happen this spring or summer.
I appreciate the info

how tall is he?

Take him to the Takeover, New World, Durant, Washington Warrior’s, Team Melo, DC Premier tryouts to see what the best kids look like and how your kid measures up against them. If he isn’t on par with these guys, he has some catching up to do if he wants to be a high level player.

There are plenty of AAU teams your kid can play on where he won’t see the best competition. Sometimes he may get on a team where none of his teammates will ever make a high school team. If your kid wants to play at a high level this doesn’t do him much good because playing level expectation is low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks again - my kid is not AAU. Just rec. But he’s athletic and tall and wants to try for the freshman team, realizing it’s super competitive and he may not make the team. But I don’t want his to miss out on a chance to do any clinics or scrimmages that may happen this spring or summer.
I appreciate the info

how tall is he?

Take him to the Takeover, New World, Durant, Washington Warrior’s, Team Melo, DC Premier tryouts to see what the best kids look like and how your kid measures up against them. If he isn’t on par with these guys, he has some catching up to do if he wants to be a high level player.

There are plenty of AAU teams your kid can play on where he won’t see the best competition. Sometimes he may get on a team where none of his teammates will ever make a high school team. If your kid wants to play at a high level this doesn’t do him much good because playing level expectation is low.

That is ridiculous advice for a kid who wants to play high school in FCPS. There are plenty teams that are a step down where every kid could play for FCPS if they chose. Do you really think Nova94 players aren't making their HS teams?

[Anonymous]

Its incredibly hard to make most FCPS basketball teams! Yes, I think its easier to make a Nova94 team.