There will be few D1 coaches this year watching the Spring warmup. The games will be streamed and family members and friends will be watching. Yet very few D1 college coaches will be watching. But make no mistake D2/D3 coaches will be on hand. This is a golden opportunity for those coaches with scholarships to offer.
This is also a big weekend for D1 college coaches from a recruiting standpoint. Most if not all will be entertaining transfers on their campus. This is one of the biggest weekends in the transfer world. College Coaches will be trying to close kids and rework their roster. Meanwhile AAU coaches will be preparing for the first big weekend of the AAU season in less than two weeks. That preparation starts at The Hoop Group Spring warmup up.
This weekend at Sportika teams from across the tri-state area will roll in. Just about every top AAU organization will make the trip. The Philly Rise, the New Jersey Gemz, The Shoreshots, The Nj Panthers, The CJ HAWKS and Triple threat and many more. The top 9th and 10th grade teams will be on hand. Many of the top rising 9th graders will step into the real world of AAU for the first time. Unlike in past years, when the recruiting Dead Period events have been nothing more than a warm up till the Live Period kicks off. Things have taken on new meaning for those who understand, the impact of the transfer portal. Kids, coaches and families know the players must be more ready than ever. There is little margin for error. They’ll be few 2nd chance. There is no longer talk about potential. Players in two weeks must be at their best. Coaches must be at their best. Teams must be at their best. There is simply too much at stake. That’s because in two weeks, many dreams will go, where more dreams reside, than anyplace else in the world…. the graveyard. Yet some dreams are going to live on and start the process of coming true. This is not an under statement. But TRUTH
This weekend will be about kids learning their teams offenses , defenses, out of bounds plays. This weekend it will be okay to make mistakes. This weekend is about building chemistry with teammates, helping each other shine. Coaches will see what works and what does not. This weekend is when a kid gets a feel for their fitness level. The weekend kids will know where they fit; In terms of their team’s offense. This weekend they will know if ball touches and shots are in there future. Will they be featured or are will coaches start glazing up a few players and using others as props? These are real questions that will answered now, before the live period. Kids will know where they stand!
This weekend some kids are going to realize they made a mistake in their AAU choice. Those rising Juniors and Seniors without offers know the margin of error is now razor thing. They have to be ready. There AAU coaches will tell them they have time to help them relax and not give up. Their inner circle whisper sweet words into their ears. They will give them false hope rather than truth. The under classmen will start getting excited about the live period. Not understanding coaches will not be at their games. Some will figure out, their develop is more important. That building name recognition and playing against top is more important right now, before there is a price to be paid on the AAU Circuit. Everyone can start PREPARING this weekend.
This weekend AAU coaches will find out what parents are in and what parents are not. Some teams are going to play well and some will not. Some teams are going to find chemistry and some are going to be a disaster. Some teams are going to find out they are not as good as they think and some will discover they are better than they think. The good news is this weekend will expose all this and more. It will allow everyone to return home and clean it all before the LIVE PERIOD!
There will be players who are injured and not 100% but it won’t matter this weekend. This is when they work through injuries without coaches watching, without paying a price. There are players who have not been in the gym enough. Yet, this weekend gives them a chance to make up for lost time. They can start working their way back to the light. This weekend a kid can create some buzz for themselves. They can gain some confidence. They can feel good going into the live period. This is a big, big weekend for so many kids and organizations. It’s a time to test the waters before everything gets serious and REAL DECISIONS START TO BE MADE!