Congrats, predictions, and AAU
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Hey everyone! Sorry, but it’s been a minute since I’ve dropped something here. Work has been bananas (anyone else remember how to spell that because of Gwen Stefani and/or cheerleading?)
First of all, huge congrats to Morgan on going back to back in 3a! They started at the top of my power rankings and never dropped to #2 all year even after suffering their only loss to a 3a team during the year (runner up American Heritage who also deserves a big congrats for their run this year). Bracken Saunders continued to be the player we all thought and ended his career with another ring and a massive poster dunk in the finals. He’s headed to Milan, Italy to serve his church as a missionary for the next 2 years, but I don’t think it’s the last we will hear from Bracken in the basketball world. Shout out to all the players at Morgan though as they are the epitome of a team representing a community and one of the great stories in HS basketball in Utah.
Likewise, the Provo Bulldogs ran the gauntlet that was the 4a state playoffs and played their best game of the season defeating Hurricane in the championship. Led by the best 2 man game in the state in Makai Allen and Callen Tollestrup, Provo brought home their first title since 2008 (likely when Makai and Callen we just 1 years old). I think Lucas Castagentto deserves his flowers as well. Luke was on an absolute heater during the playoff run connecting on 13 3’s including 6 against Judge and 5 in the finals against Hurricane.
But the year isn’t over yet, so let’s look into some 1,2,5,6a hoops and I’ll offer some predictions which are bound to be wrong!
1a - Before the year started, I picked the Rich Rebels to win it all and they haven’t done anything to change my course. Ridge Lundgren returned from injury and they haven’t lost yet. The quarterfinals start tomorrow over at SLCC.
2a - While I picked Kanab to take home the ring this year, I did have ALA at the top of the rankings for awhile and thought they’d give them a run in a potential finals matchup but South Summit, led by Seniors Maddox Welch and Blake Osguthorpe, and South Sevier completely proved me wrong and they’ll face off in the championship game tonight!
5a - The team to beat got knocked in the most surprising upset since I’ve been covering Utah HS hoops when Alta upset Timpview at Timpview. Much has been said about the game, but give Alta their props. Losing Dash Reiser and Zak Paepke this year could have knocked them down, but they got up again Chumbawumba style. The semi final games are both incredible though between PG and Bountiful and then a rematch of last years finals between Olympus and Highland. PG will be without their starting Center, but they still have the horses to pull off the upset over Bountiful. Olympus holds a 3-2 advantage over Highland in the last 2 years, but I’m picking the Rams to go 2-0 and get the ring in 5a. Betting against Gavin Lowe is a very bad idea, I know. But I’ve been on the Highland train for awhile so I’ll let it ride!
6a - This classification has been almost as hard to predict as 4a was all year long and the quarterfinal games today will be no different. I have no idea who’s going to win and can make an argument for each team to win their respective games. If I had to pick a team to hoist the trophy at the end, I’d lean slightly towards American Fork but I don’t feel great about it knowing that all 8 teams can beat each other on any given night. You get a group of teenage boys playing in a single elimination tournament in a D1 arena and all guesses are solid in 6a.
Finally, maybe this deserves it’s on post soon, but let’s chat AAU. As players are trying to figure out what to do and where to go, I’ll give my perspective as a parent who went through it and a media member who talks with college coaches every week.
Go where you can get better - 14,15,16u is all about development. Play games for sure, but the off season is where the weight room and skill development really create the differences. If you have a team that isn’t focused on your individual development, but really just wants your money…run away.
Go where adults can connect you with coaches - college coaches don’t guess, they don’t recruit off rankings or IG mixtapes…they talk with people they trust and if you don’t have an adult in your corner advocating for you who knows coaches and they are trusted by them, then you’re fighting an uphill battle. Here’s a test, ask your AAU coach to text a college coach your information and promote you with you right there. If they can’t do it, that’s a sign they don’t know the right people or they don’t think you’re good enough yet.
“Shoe” teams - the real real is this…the Utah Prospects and Mountain Stars are the only true Sneaker teams in the state. They play on the highest circuits and move a high % of their players on to D1/D2 level schools. Puma NXT, Adidas Gold, Nike EYCL, RecruitLook, New Balance, Power32, PrepHoops, Uncle Drews, they’re all basically the same in terms of levels of competition and availability of coaches at the events. They’re each pay to play. Sure they vary a bit, but not enough to say 1 is hands down better than another. Heck, Salt Lake Metro and the SL Bandits don’t play on any of those circuits and still gets guys to college still! Don’t fall in love with the jersey or circuit, fall in love with the work.
Finally, have fun and make memories! Don’t let anyone talk you out of playing with your friends and having a blast. The facts are only about 7% of the HS seniors who play HS basketball will play in college and a lot more end up playing AAU. Which is fine. Enjoy it! The flights, hotels, meals, nights out, all of it will make your core memories and friendships you can carry with you long after the ball stops bouncing.