Titans Academic & Athletic Program

Much of the information presented here is reprinted from the Recruiting Realities seminar and/or website. Hyperion Sports Staff members have regularly attended this gathering, hosted by nationwide college recruiting expert Mr. Jack Renkens and have found the info to be so worthwhile that it is important to share it. Other AAU clubs also have acces to this info (once again, not claiming that we own a "monopoly" on it or anything) and hopefully they share it with any and all prosective players as well.

For those of you who have real interest in going on to play basketball at the collegian level, Hyperion Sports has compiled this article which briefly discusses the key things you need to know and learn. Here are the questions, which we can help you with, that you'll want to get definitive answers for:

• WHO is responsible to initiate the recruiting process, research schools and market the student-athlete?
• WHAT avenues are available for student-athletes who want to participate at the college level and are not being recruited?
• WHERE do college programs obtain student-athlete names and addresses for their initial recruiting pool?
• WHEN do student-athletes need to become a member of a recruiting pool?
• HOW to obtain a copy of The NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA Guide for the College Bound Student-Athlete free of charge.
• WHY are so many opportunities to participate in a collegiate athletics unknown to student-athletes?

As this is ultimately about school and not basketball, it is important to research schools that meet your academic and athletic interest and get in their recruiting pools. Of these schools you have interest in, which colleges offer athletic scholarships, and how can you be funded by those who do not offer athletic related aid? Get those answers.

America needs more 'Teaching' from its Coaches
By:  Jay Bilas (Excerpt from ESPN.com)

I have been watching more high school and junior basketball than ever, and I am worried about what I see.  The canary in the United States' basketball coal mine has not yet died, but it is starting to teeter on its perch.  

No reasonable basketball person can refute the fact that the fundamental skills of American players are slipping, and so is the American game.  I believe a primary reason is an increased emphasis on coaching the game, and a decreased emphasis on teaching our kids how to play the game.

Pete Newell, the legendary coach and teacher, has often said that basketball is "over-coached and under-taught".  He is absolutely right, and that is finally catching up with us, as is the rest of the basketball world.

Generally, "coaching" consists of team preparation, the devising of game plans and schemes to defeat opponents.  When you are coaching, you are dealing with strategies, different offenses and defenses, and putting in plays to take advantage of the skills, strengths and weaknesses of your players.  The measure of a coach is the quality of the development of his system, and has been distilled into winning.

"Teaching" consists of instruction and training of individuals in the fundamental skills of the game, and in teaching players how to play, instead of how to run plays.  The measure of a teacher is not in winning, but in the fundamental soundness and skill level of the players taught.  A player with excellent fundamentals and skills can play successfully in any system.

Generally, American players are less skilled than their European counterparts.  The United States produces the best "athletes" in the game, but not necessarily the best "basketball players".