Anonymous
Post 09/05/2023 12:55     Subject: Basketball AAU Forum
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What are the odds of making it on a team like the Stars/Takeover or Hurricanes? Our DD is competitive but has avoided them because it seems impossible to make their teams. We would like to gear up for Spring. 7th grade. Anything else we should consider that might not be as difficult to make?


Part of making a good team is who your kid knows and who knows your kid. My kid, as a not super skilled or confident 7th grader did a camp with a great coach and I think impressed that coach with his work ethic. Later that coach offered to train him, and through that he met the coach of an EYBL team. Spring of 9th grade, that coach invited my kid to work out with their team, and knowing the coach going in made him much more confident (especially since the coach gave him good feedback during the workout). He never would have made that team going into a tryout cold.

So, get your kid to as many quality camps and clinics as possible, hang around basketball gyms where good kids train and talk to people you meet there. My kid met tons of people that way, including former college and pro players and current college players. As your kid develops, it get easier to met those folks b/c they will see your kid working seriously and will strike up a conversation.


That isn't how the girl's side works. I've seen trainers cut girls that they personally train
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2023 12:54     Subject: Basketball AAU Forum
Anonymous wrote:What are the odds of making it on a team like the Stars/Takeover or Hurricanes? Our DD is competitive but has avoided them because it seems impossible to make their teams. We would like to gear up for Spring. 7th grade. Anything else we should consider that might not be as difficult to make?


The Hurricanes are very insular, so not good unless your kid is really a stand out or you already know the team. Stars have tons of open gyms that are a great training session, but most kids who go don't bother trying out. The coach is very nice and welcoming, but that team is very good. I don't have any experience with Takeover
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2023 12:00     Subject: Basketball AAU Forum
Anonymous wrote:What are the odds of making it on a team like the Stars/Takeover or Hurricanes? Our DD is competitive but has avoided them because it seems impossible to make their teams. We would like to gear up for Spring. 7th grade. Anything else we should consider that might not be as difficult to make?


Part of making a good team is who your kid knows and who knows your kid. My kid, as a not super skilled or confident 7th grader did a camp with a great coach and I think impressed that coach with his work ethic. Later that coach offered to train him, and through that he met the coach of an EYBL team. Spring of 9th grade, that coach invited my kid to work out with their team, and knowing the coach going in made him much more confident (especially since the coach gave him good feedback during the workout). He never would have made that team going into a tryout cold.

So, get your kid to as many quality camps and clinics as possible, hang around basketball gyms where good kids train and talk to people you meet there. My kid met tons of people that way, including former college and pro players and current college players. As your kid develops, it get easier to met those folks b/c they will see your kid working seriously and will strike up a conversation.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2023 11:11     Subject: Basketball AAU Forum

As other suggested, download TourneyMachine app and search local tournaments in VA and MD. You can also search on home page of TM for "Virginia" or "Maryland" to see some upcoming tournaments and leagues listed in the dropdown.
https://tourneymachine.com/Home.aspx

ShotsUp fall league is starting this weekend with MANY local teams, different levels, participating. Anyone looking for a team should consider taking your child and spending hours observing teams in age group play to find a potential good fit (it's well worth the admission fee). And if you find a potential fit after the games, seek out the coaches to get more info (but do your research first on Instagram to make sure you are not seeking out a team that practices in Baltimore, for example).
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2023 10:41     Subject: Basketball AAU Forum
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What are the odds of making it on a team like the Stars/Takeover or Hurricanes? Our DD is competitive but has avoided them because it seems impossible to make their teams. We would like to gear up for Spring. 7th grade. Anything else we should consider that might not be as difficult to make?


That stars team is one of the top in the nation and there is no B team. Hurricanes have two teams at that age group and Elevate has three. There are other clubs that will take all comers- where do you live?


Chantilly. But have no interest in Chantilly Youth basketball. Willing to travel for a good team.


+1 on avoiding that club, especially for a 7th grade girl. D1SA, Loudon Flex and GTS are relatively close. Elevate is closer and they have less competitive B and C teams.
Anonymous
Post 09/05/2023 10:06     Subject: Basketball AAU Forum
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What are the odds of making it on a team like the Stars/Takeover or Hurricanes? Our DD is competitive but has avoided them because it seems impossible to make their teams. We would like to gear up for Spring. 7th grade. Anything else we should consider that might not be as difficult to make?


That stars team is one of the top in the nation and there is no B team. Hurricanes have two teams at that age group and Elevate has three. There are other clubs that will take all comers- where do you live?


Chantilly. But have no interest in Chantilly Youth basketball. Willing to travel for a good team.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2023 20:31     Subject: Basketball AAU Forum
Anonymous wrote:What are the odds of making it on a team like the Stars/Takeover or Hurricanes? Our DD is competitive but has avoided them because it seems impossible to make their teams. We would like to gear up for Spring. 7th grade. Anything else we should consider that might not be as difficult to make?


That stars team is one of the top in the nation and there is no B team. Hurricanes have two teams at that age group and Elevate has three. There are other clubs that will take all comers- where do you live?
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2023 19:12     Subject: Basketball AAU Forum
What are the odds of making it on a team like the Stars/Takeover or Hurricanes? Our DD is competitive but has avoided them because it seems impossible to make their teams. We would like to gear up for Spring. 7th grade. Anything else we should consider that might not be as difficult to make?
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2023 17:46     Subject: Basketball AAU Forum
Anonymous wrote:Which programs are not pay to play at this point?


The shoe circuit teams are heavily subsidized. For the big clubs, ten+ kids for every sport on the top team at tryouts is normal
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2023 17:39     Subject: Basketball AAU Forum
Which programs are not pay to play at this point?
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2023 17:32     Subject: Re:Basketball AAU Forum
Anonymous wrote:I was the boys poster before.

I have a young girl and a boy that is currently on an AAU HS team.

For girls it’s a bit different.

Not as many teams but

Elite teams would be Takeover and Fairfax Stars as they are EYBL.

Next level down is the Nova 94 program which is an Addidas team. They are called Elevate Elite.

Then you get teams like Vogues, Matrix, VA elite. Not sure if DC premier has a girls team.


Lots of other teams that are not that great, but still may be competive. I can’t think of the names.

But….

If you download the “Tourney” app. Thai will show you local tournaments in the DC area. I sometimes scroll through the age group my kids are in and look for teams that I never heard of before. Then I look them up on instsgeam and see where they are based.


This is a bit outdated. Matrix folded during covid and Vogues might as well fold. I've never seen VA elite- they may exist, but I've never seen them.

The top are Stars, Takeover, Durant and Elevate. Durant is also EYBL. Everything varies by year, but all four have nationally ranked teams.

Below them would be Hurricanes. The younger you get, the stronger they are, but as you get to high school, they start to fade. Below that, you have GTS, PVT, D1SA, CTAB, Attack, MD Flames, Classics... and a whole bunch of other teams that are stronger or weaker depending on the year
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2023 14:00     Subject: Basketball AAU Forum
Also BRYC has a girls team, they are near Springfield.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2023 13:56     Subject: Basketball AAU Forum
I just went on for 6th grade for fun and saw girls teams for Shots Up, Tru2Form (Bethesda team) m, Team Attack ( I think chantilly),pumas, Alo, Vogues.

So I look them up and see where they are located and contact info.

Anthytbing below Elevate Elite, Stars, Takeover will be easier to make the squad.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2023 13:53     Subject: Re:Basketball AAU Forum
I was the boys poster before.

I have a young girl and a boy that is currently on an AAU HS team.

For girls it’s a bit different.

Not as many teams but

Elite teams would be Takeover and Fairfax Stars as they are EYBL.

Next level down is the Nova 94 program which is an Addidas team. They are called Elevate Elite.

Then you get teams like Vogues, Matrix, VA elite. Not sure if DC premier has a girls team.


Lots of other teams that are not that great, but still may be competive. I can’t think of the names.

But….

If you download the “Tourney” app. Thai will show you local tournaments in the DC area. I sometimes scroll through the age group my kids are in and look for teams that I never heard of before. Then I look them up on instsgeam and see where they are based.
Anonymous
Post 09/04/2023 12:07     Subject: Re:Basketball AAU Forum
Anonymous wrote:This was super helpful. Can someone provide a similar rundown for Girls?


+1

Interested in hearing about Girls AAU - especially for the MS years