elitebball

Knowing the rules Pride would have gone to a super regional and qualified. i doubt if they were unable to finish in the top 4 at states or finish high enough in a super regional to qualify for nationals, that they would have been good enough to finish 2nd. There are plenty of ways to qualify for nationals, and i think you will see more than 4 teams qualifying in most age groups

Again, I'm only stating the reasons I heard, not my own. The reasons given were that teams were going to Div 1 and getting beat badly. That is why AAU created Div 2, to have a step down level. I'm sure every college program would like to go to the NCAA but only the ones who qualify get to go. Same with the high school state tournament. I see your points Trottercoach and respect you and your program. I don't see this as having anything to do with big or small programs, only teams and their ability to compete.

I should have known. Robpride is back. For the record this is not the Nike right-wing conspiracy you are so prone to preach about. Why does everything have to get back to your obsession with the Flight? The rule was not proposed by any member of the "Empire" and quite frankly it doesn't affect them one way or another. Trottercoach asked for the rationale of changing the rule so I gave what i considered a review of the reasons stated for it. There were NO objections voiced at the meeting. It seemed reasonable to me for the reasons i have stated. If someone had made a valid case for not doing it i would have considered it, even though in your mind my club is bought and paid for. If you disagree with it or other decisions made at these meetings, I would suggest you come to an AAU meeting and voice your opinion, instead of doing so on a coacht message board after the fact.

I don't think that was the intention at all. i didn't know anything about the proposal until the meeting but i understand the intent of it. If some of the better teams end up qualifying for nationals through super regionals, having those bids pass down at states can result in having teams who really aren't at a Div 1 level going to Div 1 nationals. I have to think if a team is good enough to compete at the Div 1 national level, they will find a way to finish in the top 4 at states or qualify though a super regional. And if they're not then Div 2 is a great option.

As I understand it the idea is not to prevent any girls from having opportunities, but rather to put teams in the events that their talent level is best competitive. Any drop off of teams at the D1 level would hopefully go to D2 championships where they would be more likely to succeed. You're still talking about 4 teams going from an age group at least, and additional teams could still qualify through Super Regionals if they don't qualify at the state tournament. That was the thinking as I understand it......

For the 2nd straight year, the Memphis Elite program was named the winner of the Buddy Overcast Award as the top AAU program in Tennessee. The award, given by the TN AAU and named after the late founder of the Shelbyville Sports Shop, is based on the results of the Tennessee AAU state tournaments. Congratulations to all of the Elite coaches and players on this accomplishment. To be named the top program in Tennessee is an honor, considering how well all of the Tennessee programs performed on the national level. Best of luck to everyone on your high school seasons, and we look forward to competitive ball in the spring of 2008...

I can only tell you from my perspective, but i think there are a lot of misconceptions about what it really means to be sponsored by a shoe company. Our club was sponsored last year by Adidas and this year we worked with the Flight on their Nike program. Outside of attending their events, which we wanted to attend anyway, there weren't any limitations or expectations put on us. It didn't compromise us in any way, only helped. It may be different on the boys side with all of the money being offered, but on the girls side you get product and some breaks on the entry fees. Even if we weren't 'sponsored" by anyone we would be attending some of the events these companies sponsor. All of our teams still play AAU, but when it comes to getting out in front of the coaches the shoe company events have more coaches there. There is a great thread that's been started that picks up on your statement that if someone is good enough the colleges will find them. I'm interested to hear the different opinions, but I believe based on what I've seen, that it makes sense to get in front of them, instead of hoping they will find you.

I obviously agree that the accomplishments are by the girls on the court. However coaches do play a part, otherwise we'd just send the girls out there on their own with no guidance. We can have an honest disagreement about what is in the best interests of the girls as to events to play in without the namecalling. All of the people who work with these clubs do so to help these girls, even the ones you say are in it for their egos. And I don't recall seeing a lot of statements from any of them on coacht using the terms I or me, but rather we as in the girls, coaches, etc. Don't know where all of the emotion is coming from, and I don't know how a discussion about comparing the performances of teams or discussing options on how to get girls opportunities to play in college should get so ugly. Aren't message board forums designed to share opinions, even those you might not agree with? I'd just like to see people come to their conclusions based on facts, not who they like and don't like.

I'm not bitter, just trying to point out the hypocrisy. I think it is great to measure the results of different clubs, and to recognize those who excel. There is an actual award that does this for the State of Tennessee that will be presented at the next AAU meeting in September. I think it would be great if AAU adopted the concept and formally did something like the Clinton Cup. However, for Commander or others to decide that Div 2 or Junior Olympics shouldn't count for anything in measuring programs is self-serving. I would bet you those totals would have been included if Pride fielded teams in those categories. They knew they would lose if they included those totals so they didn't, and now term it a Div 1 award. If the criteria now is going to be Div 1 only then so be it. As to strategizing to bump up points, that is the tail wagging the dog. The idea is to measure the accomplishments of the teams, not to put together teams to try to win an award that doesn't even exist. Maybe AAU will come up with an award which will take all of these things into consideration. If they do I'm sure they will include D2 and JO. In the meantime if Commander wants to declare his program the best, then I will do as you say and take the high road and let him have his self imposed glory........

Yes Pride did invent the idea of a Clinton Cup whci does not exist, and borrowed the point system from swimming. My calculation is based on their criteria. They just chose this year to only include Div 1 results when it served their purposes. When they announced the award last year, they declared themselves the #1 overall AAU program. So my point is if we are looking to acknowlege the best overall program, count all of the AAU National events. I don't consider that bickering, just pointing out the facts. It was a great year for TN teams, including those not in these 2 organizations, and we should all be very proud of that. However, don't find fault with me. I didn't make up an award and declare myself the winner......

Why not? There are so many haters on here who try to turn their personal feelings about individuals into broad statements about the shoe companies, it would be nice and refreshing to here why clubs do indeed go to these events? I think it is safe to say that if the college coaches are going to use these events to see the talent that is out there, that it makes sense to attend the events. There are several teams across the state going to Adidas or Nike events, but the only thing some people want to do is take shots at the Flight organization or act like Nike and Adidas are ruining girls basketball. Even Robpride's team attended the Adidas Deep South event this year but I haven't heard any yelling about that. Makes no sense to me, so I'd like someone to explain it to me. And if the explanation comes down to a personal dislike of someone involved with an organization, leave it at that and stop trying to drag other clubs into it. You may have thought Jimbo's later statement was funny, but i didn't find anything humurous about his reference to past Memphis teams who in his words had more class. I can assure you if the Showboats or a team like that was in existence today they would be going to Adidas and Nike events to get their girls exposure......

Let's not forget to mention the West TN Wings who attended Adidas and Nike events this year. Not so heavyD, would you say that those events helped your players get exposure, and contributed in some way to Chantel Poston receiving college attention, including her scholarship to Purdue? She is a fabulous player and should have a great college career, but there had to be some reason your organization chose to play in these events

So let me make sure i have this straight. Team Pride goes to Adidas events and it is ok. We go to Nike events and we have no class? Why is there something wrong with going to exposure events to help girls get scholarships? How did the conversation switch to shoe companies when we were talking about accomplishments in AAU?

Now let's be fair here. If you're going to invent an award, and invent the point system used to calculate it, at least count all of the AAU Championships in your calculation, not just the ones you participate in. What's next, only counting certain age groups...lol? I thought the idea was to identify the best overall AAU Program? Actually, since the Arkansas Mavericks won the Junior Olympics, another official AAU National Championship, the additional 20 points gives them 76 points, moving TN Team Pride into 3rd place for the Clinton Cup. The final overall results are Team Memphis Elite with 81 points, Arkansas Mavericks with 76 points, and Team Pride with 71 points.

makes sense, thanks

Coach Gat or anyone for that matter, Does the maximum amount of games translate to 24 total games including tournaments, or 24 games plus 2 tournaments that count 2 games each?

Well you must have an interesting vantage point because I head up the Elite and my daughter is on that 14u team you reference. I can assure you it is our club. We worked with the Flight in putting it together just as we have worked with them on other teams. Is it so hard to imagine that various clubs can get along and actually work together? Our Flight teams are primarily the ones attending the exposure events under the Flights Nike program, so why would you want 2 names, different sets of uniforms, etc.

Those are great points, and I want to clarify that is not my intention to discredit any other organization, large or small. All of the people involved in girls basketball who volunteer their time and efforts are to be commended. In all facets of life there are small organizations and large ones, and people should choose the one that is right for their needs. And they should do so without any of us telling them they are wrong or right because of the choice. There's nothing wrong with a little bit of marketing, and even a little bit of good natured ribbing over who did better. But as you say, it's the girls who deserve the credit for what they accomplished....

Let me try to clear up the confusion. The Memphis Elite and the Memphis Glory merged to form Team Memphis Elite and fielded 16 teams this past year. Some of those teams played under the name Memphis Flight, primarily older teams that were playing in exposure events. I shortened the name to Elite/Flight for my post. We are a separate organization with a separate club number from Tn Flight, but we work together with them on certain teams. The same is true of the Lady Trotters team you reference. TN Flight is one of only 20 organizations in the country to be sponsored by Nike which gives them preferred access to some of the higher tier Nike exposure events in the country, as well as exclusive events like the Nike Skills Camp and Nike Nationals. We along with others work with them to form the older age group teams which will represent the Flight organization at Nike events. The results of these moves has been tremendous, with several high finishes in AAU Nationals and the Nike exposure events, and we expect next year to be even better. It is truly a win-win situation for all of us. Robpride, my criteria for better is better teams that represent Tennessee in the various events across the country, giving our girls the maximum college exposure to enhance their scholarship opportunities. Like it or not, the Flight has built a reputation for high quality teams, and the college scouts follow their teams at these events because they know they are going to see talented kids. At the younger age groups it is making sure the girls get the instruction and support to develop their talents. We're doing this at all levels, from the Nike teams to Div 2 AAU teams so no one is left behind. In this case I believe bigger is better in that we are all working together to put the best product we can out there and help as many girls as possible. If it's not for you or your girls so be it, but I see no reason to consistently criticize something that benefits so many. The better shouldn't be taken personally, as I'm not saying it's better than what you or others are doing. Inevitably those results will be measured on the court. but even then I'm not saying we are better than anyone else, only trying to be the best we can be. But, I can tell you the amount of girls who are receiving scholarship offers out of this program is increasing rapidly, as you will see as they announce their intentions over the coming months. And the girls in our area are becoming more complete basketball players, and not just relying on their athleticism. I think you would agree these are positive things for girls basketball in Tennessee......

Not confusing, just even better

When I go to the AAU Girls Basketball website to look at the 2007 results, i see both Div 1 and Div 2 results. I don't see the Div 2 results in smaller print, or anything to indicate they are any less important than Div 1. When you proclaimed the Pride the winner last year, you said they were the top rated PROGRAM in the country, not just D1 program. So by your rules, and your point system, I am pleased to proclaim the Memphis Elite/Flight program the winner of the mythical Clinton Cup. And in a bit of irony, the 15u Pride OT victory at nationals over the Memphis Flight-James team provided the difference in the Div 1 totals, with the 9 points going to Pride instead of Flight. Congratulations to everyone in the Memphis Elite/Flight program on a great year.....

No they are a separate entity affiliated with both the Lady Trotters and Tennessee Flight.

Memphis Flight and Elite are the same AAU club number so the answer is yes. The club name is Team Memphis Elite. I amended the point calculation to reflect the 5th place finish by Pride in the 10u, but check my math

I stand corrected on the 9u results. For some reason on the AAU site they don't have the final results listed as an option, and when I looked at the winner's bracket I saw Pride had lost early. Since it is double elimination they were able to continue in the loser's bracket and ended up 4th. As to the Clinton Cup, it is not an official award at this time but Eddie is considering a format to determine a national club of the year. I've pasted last year's post below as to the criteria used. Based on this year's results, Tn Team Pride has 71 points. Memphis Elite/Flight has 81 points if you count Div 1 and 2 or 57 points if you only count Div 1. Great job by both programs. Hooptown's Team Pride Basketball Club is crowned the top AAU program in the nation. Tennessee Team Pride accrued 69 points at the girls Division 1 AAU nationals in 2006 ages 9u-19u. 2006 Team Pride top 16 finishes include 9u 9th(9pts), 10u national champs (20 pts), 14u 3rd (16 pts), 15u 4th ( 15 pts) and 16u 9th (9 pts). Roundng out the top 10 nationally were 2. Indiana's Finest - 61 pts, 3. Fairfax Stars - 51 pts, 4. Dayton Hoopstars - 43 pts, 5. Fencor(Philly) - 41pts, 6. Mo Vally Eclipse - 36 pts, 7. Pacific GBL Rebels -31 pts, 7. Philla Belles - 31 pts, 9. Oklahoma Stars - 29 pts, 9. Orlando Comets - 29 pts 9. Oklahoma Select - 29 pts. This season's finish marks Team Pride's 3rd consecutive year to be in the top 10 nationally(2004 - 9th and 2005 10th). The point system is derived from the Olympic swimming point system. 1st - 20pts, 2nd -17 pts, 3rd -16 pts, 4th - 15 pts, 5th or 6th -14 pts, 7th or 8th -12 points, 9th thru 12th - 9pts and 13th thru 16th - 4 pts.