: A Complete Club History
The Legion as it currently exists is a synergy of three AAU clubs with the underlying mission being to do "Everything for the Player." It was felt that this mission could best be achieved by these seperate entities joining forces; people sharing ideas, effort and time; and keeping the young people FIRST as the focus -- not Parents, Coaches, or Others with outside agendas. These cancers often spelled the demise of competing teams with good intentions and we knew we would not succumb to those traps. Symbolically, it is our intention to become an ideal club situation for the largest majority of the area's girls and boys who participate in AAU and Club/Travel basketball.
One of the previous club entities was called Legion. It was formed as an offshoot by a gentleman who was frustrated with potential playing opportunities for his daughter. When talk of this team picked up, talented players were recommended to try out for this team with high hopes. After the founder's daughter had a season-ending injury; he backed out. A coach from Lady Knights club, knowing a number of the other girls on the Legion team, stepped in to complete their season.
Another of the clubs "grouped" in this history was the Macomb Cobras. This was an extremely successful team that featured a loyal list of players, most of whom had been together since they were 11u and 12u. Ongoing changes to the club philosophy, leadership and policy dictated a change was needed (as well as the "new" Legion's experienced and established infrastructure); so the Cobra's coach and players joined in with us, recommending dozens of players from the Eastside to take a look at this option as well.
The largest of these three "joined" clubs was called the Lady Knights. Knights was one of the original AAU Girls' Basketball clubs in the state. Most of their former players developed into all league or all county performers in high school. Many went on to basketball careers at the collegian level, and a few have even given back to the basketball as they've become coaches of this great sport. As little as a decade or so ago, Knights was THE club. EVERYONE wanted to play for Knights. Their tryouts were crowded with as many as 50-60 girls per age group trying for spots in three teams of 12 players each and they had a club presence at tournaments that no other group could equal. Knights was known across the state as a class organization, one of the best.
As the years progressed, other clubs got formed. Usually because a parent or group of parents with one club get an idea of the type of organization they'd like to have (developed by differences in philosophy with the club organizers or coaches.) Some times it is the high school coach of a contingent of players who gets a club going just to "take care of" his/her own. The thought being, if we have our own club, our kids will always have somewhere to play. These and other scenarios, however new clubs get started is by no means a bad thing; it did, unfortunately, cause Knights to lose a tremendous pool of loyal player base as it seemed every year there were new clubs "pulling" players who'd been Knights since they were 9 and 10 years old. A trend toward developing the "all-star" caliber team grew and clubs began catering to them exclusively. These clubs got together some sponsorship, aligned with area colleges and venues, and secured some big-name people to organize or coach with them. Knights was viewed as a dinosaur in this new age of the "all-star" club. There was no way the typical player would choose to play for Knights rather than try out for the big-name club with all the talent.
Knights' membership declined to the point of having only three teams (14:U, 16:U and 17:U) just 7 years ago. New leadership from some of the Oakland County's up-and-coming young basketball coaches helped ressurect Knights for a time. They remembered with a fondness what made Knights THE club those years ago and decided to put steps into place to recapture it. They realized that with the number of AAU clubs around there needed to be a uniform classification system in place. They determined that there were now three levels of AAU teams: Elite (all-star caliber only), Competitive (decidedly above-average players looking to get better), and Developmental (younger or players newer to the game with the desire and potential to improve.) Elite clubs put the winning first, and everyone wants to win; but to win and a player have learned little in the process is a tragedy. Just because you're affiliated with an athletic firm or have a connection doesn't mean you know the game, nor what it takes in teaching for these girls to master it. Knights leadership secured that investment with every player while other clubs can not. Season fees went up but were mandated to stay affordable; club heads knew Knights had a tough sell to get back what was lost, but by properly educating the parents and players with informal information meetings, detailed specifics about club policies, philosophy and vision, and a dedication to the player hope surfaced that the goal would be realized.
Soon after all these efforts, the "State of the Program" was evaluated. Plans were put into motion for our group to literally change the landscape of AAU Girls Basketball, first in the Oakland County area and then in the Tri-County area as we know it. The foundations for the modern inception of The Legion were being formed. Knights, Legion and Cobras were going to tap all resources, spare no expense, take no shortcuts, and give every effort. We believed then, that we were one of the very best things going in the state. The very next season, we were the fastest-growing program in the entire state, and the largest in Oakland County (13 teams.) We duplicated that distinction last year with 14 teams. We are the only club in the area that offers girls AND boys teams; our numbers in various other ways have no peers.
The challenge we give to every player and parent is to determine the true mission of the clubs they are interested in. We've provided the details of our club's history, and more up-front information that any other organization so that you know not only have we seen the very best times of AAU, we've seen some of the worst as well. We know where it's been, whe know what's going on, and we know where it's going. As new clubs have risen and fallen, we're still here. In 2003-04 our tryouts had approximately 250 prospective players attend and we ended up with 171 rostered participants in team ages 11-18. Over 80% of our players return to try out from year-to-year; last year, 56% of the membership had played for another club the previous season.
There is a definite sense of "competition for players" you will experience between AAU clubs of all types; that, too is part of this sport's "history" in Michigan. As that is the nature of the beast, The Legion is compelled participate in a similar fashion. What distinguishes us from many other groups is that we actively promote our selves and don't get into downgrading or critiquing any specific club, leadership, or coach by name. True, there are some shady, suspect dealings going on; we refer to them in an general sense so you are aware and on the lookout. Unfortunately, there are organizations out there that do not subscribe to a similar code. The pasts of AAU girls basketball is littered with teams like that; but we are still here.
And we are going to be. The resources on this website are substantial. There is no shortage of information about The Legion, tryouts, the season, gear orders, our coaches, AAU in general and a whole lot more that you can find "just a click" away. We invite and encourage you to look it all over. In truth, there is no way any club can be everyone's answer to the mysteries and misgivings about AAU; but we try. We are committed to many ideals, but to one in particular: Everything in the Best Interests of the Player. What else is there?
