What To Consider When Choosing An AAU Team

Choosing an AAU team, particularly as a high schooler, is an important decision when it comes to the recruiting process. Over the last decade, the AAU landscape has dramatically changed, and now it's easier than ever to play AAU. With hundreds of teams to choose from and tournaments all over the country, here is what you should consider when choosing between teams to maximize your likelihood of getting recruited.

Program Recognition/Coaching Connections

The fact of the matter is, some programs are just better known than others. That doesn't mean they're inherently better than newer programs or a better fit for you, it just means they're better connected. In reality, the basketball world is small. Really small. So playing for a team with name recognition and coaches who are well connected to college programs will increase your odds of being seen. Again, not saying that there aren't incredible coaches for non-circuit programs or that you won't be seen playing for a newer program or a coach who has a kid on the team, but you're playing the odds. If a college coach has an hour to kill between players they need to evaluate, they're also just going to pick a court with a program they're familiar with... regardless of the roster. Lastly, playing for an AAU coach who can call or text college coaches and advocate for you sets you up for an easier summer.

When you're considering the program and its recognition, take a look at how long it has been around and who they've placed at what level. Do players consistently go on to play college basketball out of that program? If not, it's probably not the place to go for exposure and connections.

Roster

This is something that may seem counterintuitive to your success, but prioritizing who is around you is paramount. While it might seem like a good idea to be the best person on your team, if no one has heard of you, you want to play beside players already being recruited. If you're choosing between 2 or 3 programs, try to figure out who is already committed to which team and go to the one with better players. You're more likely to get exposure if you can guarantee college coaches will be there to watch your teammate.

Tournament Schedule

Where a program plays says a lot about its caliber. In today's AAU landscape, there are tournaments year-round, all over the country, and even on different circuits. So how do you know where to play? Tournament schedule also ties in heavily to cost and time. The reality is, you don't need to travel all over the country to be seen. In addition, you really only need to play during certain times of the year, in certain places.

Think about:

• Circuit - Are they playing on a circuit with name recognition, social media promotion, and a set schedule?

• Bracket/Court Numbers - What bracket are you scheduled to play in? The highest bracket and the best teams always get the best courts. You absolutely should not be flying to a different state to play on Court 82.

• Most Bang for Your Buck - If you’re probably not earning a Division 1 scholarship, you should be playing as locally as possible. You do not need to be spending thousands of dollars in travel and hotels for a few Division 2 or Division 3 coaches to see you on Court 40. They can find you elsewhere, I promise.