: Welcome

The S.E.L.E.C.T. identity describes the top-flight, high school-aged teams in our organization; on both the girls and boys side. The athletes that fit this profile will experience a System of Elite-Level Exposure, Coaching and Training (S.E.L.E.C.T.); the key trifecta of the unique team membership we are promoting.

Shortly before a youngster reaches 9th grade, if he or she is truly truly advanced, makes basketball a priority (or only sports/time commitment), and possesses a genuine and definite desire to move on to the college level (and will do the work it takes to get there); then this is a team structure that should be strongly considered. However, being on one of these teams is not the typical AAU environment. We're blazing this new pathway on the premise of being a competitive experience, instead of a recreational or developmental one. Our teams are not for kids looking to make their high school roster; it's for athletes who are planning to become a college players. S.E.L.E.C.T. membership is exclusively reserved for those who are committed; and want to be coached and challenged and trained. S.E.L.E.C.T. is not the "A-team" of Legion -- S.E.L.E.C.T. is "above" the A-team.

Michigan AAU Girls Basketball is a mirage of what it used to be just ten or fifteen years ago. What "passes" for being considered a so-called "good basketball player" nowadays would have had you on someone's B-Team back then. There were better athletes, they worked harder, they were more skilled, and there was no hype about it. Just truth. There were also more teams, and better coaches (not necessarily, better coaching -- but better people involved, statewide.) Over the years, a great deal of this has deteriorated into the current state of Michigan AAU Girls Basketball teams and players. Certainly the 2007 MHSAA Season Change (while not the single, lightning-strike of an event to start the cascade) didn't help. But it did reveal stronger evidence that the nature of the basketball, the philosophy of clubs, the team sturcture, and the athletes themselves had to be looked at. Our organization saw the Season Change as a moment to spark some changes in these areas, and S.E.L.E.C.T. was the idea we had.

2008 Spring/Summer was the experimental Legion-S.E.L.E.C.T. season. We picked a girls team mixed with juniors and seniors to seek and play in the top events, statewide. They had two regular practices each week, and were coached with an enhanced technical and tactical approach. They performed quite well, competing with every opponent, and had a lot of fun. When all was said and done, ALL SEVEN of the seniors (the 2008 graduates) on the team had been presented with opportunities to be college athletes. That's 100%. Needless to say, our coaches were very proud of them -- but some issues and concerns rose during the months we were all together, that we'd try to address for the next season.

Well, that season has recently concluded. The S.E.L.E.C.T. brand was "officially" promoted prior to the season; and attached to three Legion girls teams: 15u, 16u and 18u at tryouts. Our intention was to provide the trifecta of Exposure, Coaching and Training to each of these teams. What we discovered was that the quality of the experience we put together is equally as important to the final result(s) of the season as the expectations of people involved. The "people" we're talking about are the member athletes and their families; and any expectations or forecast of the season is shaped by the ideas and perspectives the members bring with themselves at the start of the journey. It is to these criteria that our efforts as coaches and as an organization will be measured. The outcomes are important to us; and because they are, we must acknowledge when our intentions and plans, in one or two ways, did not "find the mark." It's not about fault or blame; and it doesn't mean that genuine time and energy weren't spent seeking that very target. Sometimes, as we found, it's just circumstance -- and the established Programming that most everyone involved with Michigan AAU Girls Basketball seems to be accustomed to. It's the mindset that has to be changed; and an organization like ours plans to do just that.

The minor hiccups we encountered (as noted above) in bringing the S.E.L.E.C.T. marquee to life did not detract from us having some notable successes with the 2009 Season. Much like the class of 2008, the seniors on our 18u Team all had opportunities to continue their athletic careers in college (yes, 100% AGAIN.) The 18u's also finished the Michigan AAU Girls Basketball season as Runner Up (2nd in the State!) The 16u team played in every high-profile and NCAA-Certified Event in the State. Once the in-state portion of the season was concluded; we traveled out-state to exposure events in Toledo, OH; and NCAA-Certified events in Cincinnati, Ohio -- and Lexington, Kentucky. We also finished with a final, end-of-Summer NCAA-Certified event in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Because of their membership to the Legion-S.E.L.E.C.T. family, these athletes had the opportunity to play in front of over 350 College Coaches, and dozens of recruiters and scouting services this season. And that is only the beginning -- we're already planning for another "100% Year" in 2010, and beyond...

But that's going to require some "re-programming" of both player and parent; and some tough questions for our coaches and officers on policy and plans for the coming year. It can't just be words -- that we assume everyone will buy into, understand and accept. No. The membership all have pre-formed opinions about basketball. They have well-reviewed beliefs on what things a good player does, what constitutes a good team, what attributes make a good coach, etc. Most of these are based on some benchmark established from their own experiences as a player, from association with others whom they identify meet said criteria, or from a comfort-level arrived at through years in school, community or youth recreation programs. Add to this, the fact that many have been through AAU (AAU savvy) and are programmed a certain way based on prior teams and experiences (good and bad.) In short, they’re “wired”, in a particular fashion, for their understanding of basketball in a broad sense, for team dynamics in a specific sense, and for AAU and it’s impact on their child in a personal sense. Which is not to say that the notions or views the player or parent have are inaccurate. Just that what we’re trying to accomplish, without doubt, will be “different” than what they are accustomed to. Changing the Landscape of Michigan AAU Girls Basketball means getting better at our mission to promote basketball and these athletes, both statewide and nationally. This can only be accomplished when the youngsters and their families are provided with the best possible opportunity to make it happen. But they must know completely what is in store for them, and what they absolutely must prepare for, to see it though to the end.

The method of player development and our specialized training ideas will be challenging in ways the althete cannot imagine. The relationship between talent (talent is a gun) and tactics (tactics is knowing where and when to pull the trigger) is a big big part of this. The college recruiting process is not as mysterious as it seems; but it does need some specific types of attention, communication, and relationship-building. We will help with all of it. High-level competitive basketball is the weekly test and measuring stick for those who wish to develop to the best of their ability. Remember, it's about competition. As there are special schools, elite academies and tutors for students, we are moving to position Legion-S.E.L.E.C.T. as Michigan's best program to ensure preparation for the next level, college recruiting assistance, and a true cooperatively competitive environment. Our systematic approach, our longevity and experience lend to information, contacts and and access other teams just don't have.