coachgat

My replies were based on the AAU versus school ball. I have no idea what's the story with MJ and WC. I hope everything settles out with this situation.

I agree with the coach leaving thing, that could be a nightmare. However, as long as she is at the school that offers what she wants to major in and it's free, good for you Kayla. Many blessings to you on your college career and free education.

I was hoping that I wasn't the only one in Tennessee that felt that way because at that moment when this was going on, I really felt like I was the only one that understood that the school should come first. You would have thought that I stole some money or something from them the way that it got so heated. Everything is better now. The real issue was that the kid didn't really want to play anymore but the parents wanted her to keep playing and so I agreed with the kid and defended her saying that we would be playing enough basketball to get her the experience she needed and that she didn't have to play and she was always coming back injured too. I was trying to protect the kid too. Needless to say, the kid wasn't telling her parents that she didn't want to play so it looked as if I was the only one going against it. I believe that I was the first person to experience the Nuke testing in North Korea... It got real ugly, real fast! Like I said, everything is better now. The truth surfaced and things are better. However, I don't like how AAU coaches in this area feel that this is the only way. If AAU was the only way, why don't we get rid of high school basketball all together and let the girls just play in the summer. What's the importance of playing from November to March... it would save time wouldn't it?

I didn't say that AAU is bad. It's only bad when you have control freak AAU coaches that brainwash the parents into thinking that they only can make it to college by playing AAU in the summer and not with their team. If you have a player that is suppose to be the leader/captain and they are never at the team functions how can they lead if they are not there? How is it fair to the other girls that put the team first? Forget I said fair, how is it RIGHT. So we are suppose to have double standards for the girls that are better? Because you are so good, you don't have to come to the TEAM CAMP. So aren't they a part of the team?

This was in place before I got there. That particular organization is not where I would send them. Ofcourse, this is all on the parents. I've talked to the parents about it but they have a loyalty thing with this particular coach and organization.

I think that AAU has a place and it is surely not 1st. I had an AAU coach tell me that he thinks that it's stupid for me to want some of my top players playing with my weaker players over the summer. The top players should be playing solely AAU and nothing with the team. "They are only going to be making the other girls better and not themselves". When he said that, I was like... who do they have to play with when the season comes? Those same weaker players are the ones' they are going to have to depend on, but they can't depend on them during the summer because you have AAU STATE's that seem to be every freakin weekend in the summer. Will someone explain that to me, pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! High school coaches only get 10 days of team on team competition and we have a 2 week dead period in July. Just give me my girls for June untouched and you can have them in July. In the spring we have like 15 days to get 8 practices in and 2 scrimmages. All of that time that was set aside was for a reason, we need that time. I've had some AAU coaches call and ask when we were going to have stuff in the summer so that they can schedule around what we are doing. I really appreciated it. On the other side, I had one coach tell a player of mine that she couldn't come to STATE'S if she didn't come to practice on a night we had a scrimmage. Guess what, she didn't come to our scrimmage. I expressed my views on how it would be handled and that it was not fair to the team for her AAU coach to dictate when she can practice with her school. This created a major problem and the kid was about to transfer because of what I said about the AAU stuff. Now, I understood that the player played AAU in the summer but in MS, I'm use to the kids being committed to their high school first and not AAU. I hate it that some AAU coaches place in these parents heads that AAU is the only way that their kid will get into college. I know I work the emails and send tapes and make calls and this is just my second year as a high school head coach. So I wish something useful would be done about the issue with AAU. Now, I plan on having yet another special parent meeting this Winter to talk to all of them about having a real program that last past one team. My middle school was a good program, not just a good team. We were successful because the parents believed in the program. I guess it comes with the territory when you are rebuilding from the ground up.

didn't you all get that guard from Wooddale, Deja Foster?

I understand that about getting players out of nowhere when you haven't done a thing to lure them there. I've got 2 transfers this year and I just happened to fall into a wierd but awesome situation. I'm in a military city and I just got these two girls. One came from a city school but their parents were already building a house in the county before I got there. We beat the team she played on last year. The other girl was from another state. That's two transfers that looks suspicious but if you looked into the situation you would know that I had nothing to do with it. Great timing and a lot of divine intervention is my only explaination. However, you do have some schools that are notorious for getting kids at their schools.

LOL, I know. Ran out of pages for all of those replies!

Yeah, I totally understand where you are coming from. I'm not from TN but I coach here now. This is my second year here and I remember last year how my principal emphasized fervently what I can't do and when I can't do it. I understand her position and I'm grateful for her guidance. I have no gripes about not doing certain things in the offseason but I am well aware that others are getting a head start. I feel that my experience in MS made me ready to handle what's going on here. When I coached middle school girls bball, we could only use 7th and 8th graders and we basically had only 3 weeks before the first game. We could not do anything in the summer. So that was pressure! In those three years as head coach in middle school, I only lost 6 times. So not having the time during school to prepare is not a major issue, I've been use to that. However, I would like to have better access to my players during the summer. With the explosion of AAU, it makes it very difficult to get some of the parents to see the importance of the team coming together and getting better as a unit. I think AAU is a very necessary thing for youth sports. On the flip side, I don't think it should be priority over the school. All the talent in the world won't make you play as a team unless you actually PLAY as a team. As it relates to the rules being overlooked, that's a sad thing to say that it happens because TN is not the only place where that was a problem. In MS people got away with using illegal players all the time and the sad thing was that their administration would back their wrong doing. At the school I coached, we tried to instill doing the right thing from administration on down. Me wanting to win fair and square, is real with me. It won't sit right if I don't get it fair. I remember bowling and was close to having a perfect score. I went over the foul line and the buzzer didn't go off. So I could have went and got the perfect score but I would not have felt good about it because I knew I didn't earn it. I know I'm being very long winded, but I had to explain my position. It would be nice to have more time to get the girls together. Especially last year. I got the job late and didn't have but 4 days to work with them in the summer. It was too much to accomplish on the AAA level. All of the other teams in my district had stability and they knew their girls. It was a very rough year inspite of coming in 3rd in the district and being one game away from substate. I too agree that you are on the MONEY, pun intended with T$$AA.

Are you trying to correct me or are you being sarcastic?

Still no picks?

No picks huh! Awww come on ladies and gents help me out.

The rule says that you can play on two different days but play as many games as you can play in those two days. I'm in a tourney where we will get 3 games in two days. I hope this helps.

Anyone want to make a preseason pick for district 14 AAA. The teams are Arlington Bartlett Bolton Cordova Craigmont Millington Raleigh Egypt To help out with your prediction as far as the district tourney, 1st was Cordova, 2nd was Bartlett, 3rd was Millington, 4th was Bolton, 5th was Craigmont, 6th was Raleigh Egypt and Arlington was not in the district last year. All teams had Seniors except for Millington and ofcourse Arlington. Cordova had about 6 Seniors, Bartlett had 2 Seniors, Bolton had 3 Seniors, Craigmont had 2 Seniors and Raliegh Egypt had 1 Senior.

Millington has 3 freshmen that will be impact players. Olivia Maddox a 5'10 C with guard handles, Jasmine Newsome a 5'6 PG and Tamarah Brandon a 5'8 SG. These 3 young ladies will be very exciting to watch. I can't wait to get them in the gym on October 30th.

I wouldn't be surprised at all. I've been keeping track of that team. I love the website for the team. I would love to get a preseason scrimmage against that team.

yes, I'm sure some have started to Practice but we won't go that route. I want to win fair and square! We condition. Like stuff on the track, the stadiums, stuff without the basketball. i do believe that's what the rule says. If i'm wrong, someone please inform me.

Lady Trojans on a Move!!! Can't wait to start!!!

Thanks! Yes, those two girls are major additions to the team. They should compliment the core group of girls very well. Each one has the ability to start. I'm going to have every coach's wish for a problem...depth. It's really going to be tough picking 5 girls from week to week as the starting lineup simply because they are all working really hard in conditioning. I can't wait till October 30th. The attitude is so much better this year. If they take that attitude into the gym when we actually start practicing, we are going to be very exciting to watch and tough to beat. Last year I only had 4 days to work with the girls in the summer due to getting the job late. This summer proved to be a major impact on attitudes and overall team unity. Millington has gone through a lot with 4 different coaches in 4 years with me being the 4th (going on my second year at Millington). I'm very blessed to have girls that are mature and able to handle change. Many blessings to you too on your season in AAU.

10th grade point guard, LaTesa Mclaughlin, from Millington was there and she played very well. She will show that her leadership as a freshman on varsity last year wasn't a fluke. I expect big things from her this year! Great kid and an A student. She is a big part of the rebuilding that's taking place at Millington. This being my second year there, she as well as some other key players are helping me bring back that fire about girls basketball that hasn't been there in a few years. Watch us make some noise in 14AAA. We have a very young team. No seniors last year and went to the second round of the regions. This was a big step in the right direction. This summer was very productive also. They are starting to show my personality out there on the court. These girls are fun to coach. I thank God for each and every one of them.

Millington versus Clarksville-Northeast. This should be a very good game on November 17 at Houston High. Clarksville-Northeast has a very good program with 25 plus wins the last three seasons. Millington is on it's way back to the glory days of the 90's. We have everyone back from last years team plus some new talent. We should make some real noise this year in the Memphis area. We had a great summer and the girls are excited about this year...

My heart dropped when I logged in to coacht today. I recently read the story about Kari and I am deeply saddened by the news. As a believer, we must remember the word as it says we should not grieve as if we have no hope, if we live right, we will see her again. Surely, I'm grieving over the passing of her, but friends, she isn't lost, she is in heaven. To live is Christ, to die is gain! God bless the family during this trying time. Millington Central High is praying for the family and friends.

Thanks pageman

Bolton is a district not a region opponent for me and the munford game 56-62 is on there twice for the same day as home and away. When you get the chance... thanks for everything coach!