Where do I start this conversation or RANT? Well I guess it’s not a conversation because this is one person doing all the talking. Next week the high school season starts and many kids will be prepared and ready to go. The same things goes for grammar school. But there situation is very different because they are in the developing stage of their career. Which gets me to where I’m going today and college coaches you be wise to read this blog in full. Because this affects your future as well.
I am lucky enough to see kids from the start of their career to the day they play there last college game. Now this may sound like bragging but the truth of the matter is I know the end game for 99% of the kids before the end arrives. I know the work ethic, the parents and the all important improvement curve. Which gets me to this. Why is it every year kids with real talent go from could’ve been to would’ve have been. So I will explain.
The list of talented grammar school kids that everyone said was going to be great that failed to reach their potential is too long to list and who’s who of names. That because of three major reasons above all. Bad advice, parents and a love of hype. See I have seen the kids that are physical bigger and stronger than kids in there class. I have seen the kids with more skills. But many do not develop and it will be no different over the next few years. Why? Because history always repeats itself. Let me explain why.
- Bad advice is always a factor in a kids development. I have a policy of telling parents once regarding there kids future. That’s because I have learned over the years. Parents are going to do what they want. They will always listen to those who tell them what they want to hear. They will always take advice from those with a zero track record in the area of recruiting and a child’s development. This is not changing any time soon and I’m watching it once again play out like every year.
2. Parents, the moment they have a child they believe is special it goes to there head. See when a kid is young and talented. Pay attention to the parents always. If that kid has been on 3-4. AAU teams run for the hills because it’s not changing. Remember every parent will say, their situation different. That child parents will always be looking for something bigger and better. They have not dominated there age group. But people have told the parents there kid is special and they believe it. But here is the problem. I see them all. I know when a kid is special. These kids have a ferocious appetite for the game. They are constantly improving and most importantly getting truthful coaching. This scares parents who are fans of there children and not parents. These kids will play on numerous high school teams, go to college and underachieve and the parents will blame everyone under the sun. It’s not changing. The only thing changing will be the coach who recruits them and gets their ass fired… CHECK THE HISTORY IT DON’T LIE
3. THE HYPE, every year I run Core Skills Saturday. Check the history and the facts. I challenge anyone to give me an example where I am wrong. The talented kids who attend the 10 week program always go on to have mega careers. The talented players who don’t, well they do the expected and never reach there potential. That’s because they do not understand it’s the most important weeks of their development outside camp. There inner circle will always tell them “GO PLAY”Now you may ask, if the program was good enough for Madison St Rose, Justine Pissott, Addy nymchek, Kylie Capstraw, Martina Ellerbee and Kelly Campbell to name a few. How can it not be good enough for kids who certainly are not at that talent level when they were their age. It simple, kids like games, hype videos and rankings. Parents love saying we play competitive basketball and our kids are different than your kids. My kids need real competition. See what they don’t tell you is the very kids that play AAU in the winter much like last year and every year have three things in common. There improvement curve stalls, they don’t impact in high school as freshman or they play for bad high school teams. See I have been around and I know the drill and I know the end game. They lie and I give you hard truth. For example many of the games are flat out blow outs and anything but competitive. What it does do is give them that hype they and their parents crave, on they there way to under achieving.
Now kids at a certain age don’t change. Just like a coach asked me about a superstar 8th grader just yesterday. She went to a D1 school and transferred to a juco. He asked do you think they have changed? Meaning the kid and the dad. Then he stopped and said “they never change right?”… then there was the explosive and mega talented 8th grader who everyone said can’t miss. She went to three college and played at none of them. She had a final year and then quit. The amazing part is 3 school gave her a chance. It more proof that coaches need to do their homework by knowing the background of a kid while they are in grammar school. Last year I told Coach Jenny Liggio to save a quote by me. I said “she will not play a minute as a freshman” Coach Liggio said are you serious? I said save the date and the quote. The player was last seen getting water for teammates during timeouts. Now how did I know this stuff? Again I see them from the start and know the habits and the inner circle they put their trust into. I’m never wrong and won’t be getting it wrong any time soon. My advice to kids and parents. You may not like the message but you be wise to listen to someone with the best TRACK OF ALL… and that is not debatable. Just call you local D1 coach
