Love and Hate of AAU Basketball
Youth basketball is getting more attention than ever. What does this mean for the game of basketball and the players on the floor?

There is a serious love-hate relationship with AAU basketball among basketball fans. Most people have chosen a side. Either you love or hate this level of the game. Personally, I’m stuck in the middle. There are certain aspects that I love about AAU but there are also some big issues that can’t be ignored.
Love
You have to admit that AAU basketball is very entertaining. The crossovers and dunks are made for the highlight reels. Most of these games are slightly organized pickup basketball. Even if their weren’t referees, the AAU games could still operate.
Another great aspect is seeing the young talent. The NBA players of tomorrow are probably playing AAU today. These young kids can play against other players that match their talent. On the high school level, most teams have maybe one or two players that can play even division two college basketball. AAU creates a space where it’s possible to witness the talent before it gets to the next level.
AAU basketball is a year-round event but tournaments explode in the summer. After the NBA season has finished, the sporting world is dry. The NFL season hasn’t started yet. You could watch a six-hour baseball game or maybe even some tennis. But there’s an AAU tournament up the street where the youngest players from the city are doing their best to embarrass each other on the court.
You have to appreciate the entertainment of AAU basketball. However, there are still some negative aspects of this level of play.
Hate
The lack of development might be the most negatively talked about aspect of AAU. The talking heads of ESPN and FOX constantly attack this level of play. College coaches have voiced there frustration and with good reason. There are too many games, which takes away from development time.
If you want to improve in any aspect of life, it must be done with good practice. If these young players have games twice a week and all weekend, they never have time to work on their skills. Most of the talent is there but it’s raw. Working with personal trainers or educated coaches is the best way for this talent to be polished.
The money in the AAU circuit is another wild side of the “industry.” Big brands sponsor the best teams in AAU. Some teams receive thousands of dollars worth of items from shoes to uniforms. Sponsorship is a big reason why coaches fight to get the best players. If you win more, the bigger sponsors start to chase you. The coaches fill their pockets and pass the kids some shoelaces.
The affects of AAU can last forever. The highlight views on YouTube, the constant hype built by family and friends; it all creates a false sense of entitlement. Then the player reaches the collegiate level and stops being praised by everyone. At that level, every guy in their conference was a star on their AAU team. That same player that averaged 30 points and 1 million views per video in AAU is now riding the bench in college wondering if he’s really good or not. It’s nearly impossible for this attitude to be reversed.
Compromise
Is the goal to develop players or get attention and money? It’s easy to be seen and get talked about. We saw LaVar Ball pop up out of nowhere and the media hasn’t stopped following him around. AAU videos get millions of views on YouTube. The attention and notoriety will only continue to grow.
The main goal should be for these players to reach the next level and remain there. The goal isn’t to reach the NBA, play for one season, and then fall into the G League for a few years and disappear. If players want to be All-Stars or NBA veterans, it’s important that development becomes more of a priority. Talent can only get you so far in the world of basketball.
