DE high school basketball???

[coachquil]

Idk if anyone else has noticed but DE HS basketball is on the decline....We only have 3 signed D1 players compared to about 5 last yr...IDK who is to blame the DIAA for there stupid transfer rules that allow kids to get stuck w/ bad coaches/programs, coaches who don't care & are in it just to collect a check, parents for thinking there kids are better than what they really are & now allowing them to wait humbly for there turn, schools for hating on players success & trying to make it hard for them to succeed, players for being lazy not wanting to workout outside or unless they have a certified trainer but rather sit in the house & play Xbox or post pics on instagram but whatever the reason it is it needs to stop...If you take a top 25 list from 10 years compared to now half of these kids would be on JV...the more important question is what can we do as a state to fix???

 

[mr.basketball44]

Tough questions. STAY ENCOURAGED... Just remember if you help one kid. You have made a change.

 

[Dropping 3's]

Donte and who are the others?

 

[94FeetBasketball]

@Coachquil.

The answer is very simple and very clear. GRASSROOTS basketball in Delaware is down. Just think about it.

Stormins
Park & Rec
Boys Club League
Pal National Team(s)
Traveling Teams (non-aau)
Sonny Hill-Delaware


Playing UP in gyms vs Ol Heads, being taught the game at 7-8-9 more than having to be retaught at 14-15-16

Better coaching at grassroots level.
there is no more
Jack & Rich , Ghost and Smitty (browns)
Ant Sullivan (Jackson)
Troop Washington R.I.P (the center)
coach lee, Lex, coach art (sal)
Curtis Clack (hill top)
B Wright (rt.40)
Shawn Guy r.i.p
Bill Stanford
Ron Handy Sr.

All these guys have backed away from the youth sports.

Now there are a cluster of guys who give back and do a great job, but its not enough guys doing that for the amount of kids we have bouncing the ball.

 

[GateKeeperRefugee]

94 Feet is absolutely correct. I grew up in Wilmington in the 90s when Stormin's' Classic was a better training ground for any ballplayer than AAU ever could've been.

One thing I've noticed is that some high school coaches really are just there because of the extra check and the offseason coaches are angling for something - a high school or college job, notoriety, something.

It sucks because we wonder why Delaware kids rarely go on to play high level college ball, but with the combination of DIAA's ancient rules and less caring/competent coaches, it's no wonder why.

 

[delawaregymrats]

@94 & Coach Q. Hit the nail on the head. Very few out there giving back at the youngest of ages. Currently, Coach T. Taylor, J. Noonan, B. Wilson to name a few. I'm sure I missed a few. Parks seem empty with few exceptions.

 

[Next-Up]

Idk if anyone else has noticed but DE HS basketball is on the decline....We only have 3 signed D1 players compared to about 5 last yr...IDK who is to blame the DIAA for there stupid transfer rules that allow kids to get stuck w/ bad coaches/programs, coaches who don't care & are in it just to collect a check, parents for thinking there kids are better than what they really are & now allowing them to wait humbly for there turn, schools for hating on players success & trying to make it hard for them to succeed, players for being lazy not wanting to workout outside or unless they have a certified trainer but rather sit in the house & play Xbox or post pics on instagram but whatever the reason it is it needs to stop...If you take a top 25 list from 10 years compared to now half of these kids would be on JV...the more important question is what can we do as a state to fix???

Get some knowledgeable people to help teach the art of basketball!!

 

[delawaresportsjunkie]

The stackholders don't want to disturb the balance because it's doesn't benefit them, their institutions or their kids. Imagine an environment where DIAA rules favored kids over institutions. If u are a lazy terrible coach or unsupportive institution kids would go elsewhere immediately. Coaches & institutions would have to be invested more in the total development of kids from sports to academics. Kids would have to work harder & get better because it would become a survival of the fittest environment. At the high school varsity level only those that qualify by talent or the work would get to play. Delusional parents would be ignored. Coaching jobs would be under scruitiny yearly for poor performance.

With the exception of waterman, Myers, and a few others the private schools don't want the system to change because it works for them. They can corner the market on enough elite kids to win championships year after year in every sport because of the attractive filtered academic and social environment they offer. Example St. Marks baseball.

In terms of development we have to move away from institutional high school sports and focus more on AAU & out of season development. The situation in delaware is not gonna change. The circuit offers better opportunities for recruiting, development and less negative controls. U compete against a higher level of talent and with the addition of the shoot clocks kids are better prepared for the college game. kids like mikey dixon, j Allen and the others got their opportunities from playing on the circuit not delaware high school basketball. Coaches only come out to watch special talents they see in the summer during high school season because their season is going on. Basically u have to be a part of a good AAU program to improve your chances to get a scholarship. If I were a parent now I would just ride out the short 20 game season in a great academic school and allow the kids to represent their institutions and have a sense of community. The real season starts in April when the college coaches are out.

When u look at delaware's kids getting opportunities u gotta add kids who live in Delaware but attend schools out of state. I will advise kids to be wise about choosing AAU programs and coaches because many times the best teams may not be what's best for u & u gotta make sure the coach is about development. The program needs to be under good leadership, compete in serious tournaments out of state especially during live session: hoop group, Vegas fab 48, aau regional & nationals, UA, Nike, Addidas is a example of a few. The high school game for recruiting is a thing of the past. Fortunately for delaware kids there are good programs and trainers right here, all u gotta do is commit to the work

 

[Lomcfly]

Highschool bball doesn't get you recruited. AAU does and everything you do in the offseason at these regional and national tournaments is where you get noticed... And it's few kids in this state who I know have been pursued by division 1 programs but once these programs seen there GPA they stop pursuing. after you've been recruited highschool bball is where they keep their eye on you to make sure they made the right decision lol @delawaresportsjunkie hit it right on the nose!

 

[delawaresportsjunkie]

Lomcfly, them grades Will kill ya. I'm convinced a kid can get away with being a beast on the circuit, skip high school bball, just train and get good grades and end up with a scholarship in the current environment. High school bball is more about school & community pride.

 

[jvm3]

Lomcfly, them grades Will kill ya. I'm convinced a kid can get away with being a beast on the circuit, skip high school bball, just train and get good grades and end up with a scholarship in the current environment. High school bball is more about school & community pride.

Interesting take. You think a kid can skip HS ball, focus on academics and still get recruited?
Has that happened in Delaware? Seems to me that would be a ton of peer pressure to skip HS ball. Also, any kid who has prospect for college ball isn't skipping playing to focus on academics.

 

[delawaresportsjunkie]

It may not happen but a talented kid can skip high school ball and still get recruited as long as they play and produce on a good circuit, has the size, right attitude & meet the academic standards of the NCAA clearinghouse. In fact any kid who is a junior with hopes of earning an athletic scholarship should be registered with the NCAA clearinghouse. The coaches like the circuit because a lot of talented kids are under 1 roof which equals less travelling. They can just go from game to game scouting players. Its like this at UA, Nike, Addidas, Hoop group and many other tournaments during live session. Nobody has the time to be travelling all across America during the season unless u going to visit a powerhouse like westtown, la Lamiere, or some special rare talent.

 

[dnell]

I tell everybody what they had better pay close attention to the new rules that were passed by the NCAA about being eligible for college as a student athlete.......Its about to get real

 

[jvm3]

It may not happen but a talented kid can skip high school ball and still get recruited as long as they play and produce on a good circuit, has the size, right attitude & meet the academic standards of the NCAA clearinghouse. In fact any kid who is a junior with hopes of earning an athletic scholarship should be registered with the NCAA clearinghouse. The coaches like the circuit because a lot of talented kids are under 1 roof which equals less travelling. They can just go from game to game scouting players. Its like this at UA, Nike, Addidas, Hoop group and many other tournaments during live session. Nobody has the time to be travelling all across America during the season unless u going to visit a powerhouse like westtown, la Lamiere, or some special rare talent.

Ok. I get that its possible but who has done it? Do you have names?

 

[mr.basketball44]

THE facts are we have 16 D1 Scholarship athletes right now. FROM CLASS OF 2011 THRU 2015.

Big East = 2
ACC = 1
Big West =1
Big Sky = 1
CAA = 1
MAAC = 6
MEAC = 2
NEC = 1

THERE ARE 23 OTHER CONFERENCES WITHOUT A DE PLAYER ROSTERED.

IMO that's a lot for a four year period.

Delaware guards are on the rise in the minds of coaches across the country.

 

[jvm3]

THE facts are we have 16 D1 Scholarship athletes right now. FROM CLASS OF 2011 THRU 2015.

Big East = 2
ACC = 1
Big West =1
Big Sky = 1
CAA = 1
MAAC = 6
MEAC = 2
NEC = 1

THERE ARE 23 OTHER CONFERENCES WITHOUT A DE PLAYER ROSTERED.

IMO that's a lot for a four year period.

Delaware guards are on the rise in the minds of coaches across the country.

Nice post. Solid facts. I wonder if there was an ulterior motive with the OP?

 

[delawaresportsjunkie]

Ok. I get that its possible but who has done it? Do you have names?

No kid I can think off. Elite kids usually just join the powerhouse high school programs. I don't support any kid doing this, I think its important that kids are a part of a school community and take part in the activities offered by that institution, its a part of just being a kid. What I'm emphasizing is that Delaware is not going to change, and if getting an athletic scholarship is a kids goal, not only do u have to be successful in academics and sports at the high school level but understand in the current environment High School Sports is not where the recruitment takes place. A lot of talented Delaware kids if not for AAU would be deprived of opportunities presented to them by the exposure.

 

[jvm3]

No kid I can think off. Elite kids usually just join the powerhouse high school programs. I don't support any kid doing this, I think its important that kids are a part of a school community and take part in the activities offered by that institution, its a part of just being a kid. What I'm emphasizing is that Delaware is not going to change, and if getting an athletic scholarship is a kids goal, not only do u have to be successful in academics and sports at the high school level but understand in the current environment High School Sports is not where the recruitment takes place. A lot of talented Delaware kids if not for AAU would be deprived of opportunities presented to them by the exposure.

Great post. I get what you are saying.

 

[8yaz]

THE facts are we have 16 D1 Scholarship athletes right now. FROM CLASS OF 2011 THRU 2015.

Big East = 2
ACC = 1
Big West =1
Big Sky = 1
CAA = 1
MAAC = 6
MEAC = 2
NEC = 1

THERE ARE 23 OTHER CONFERENCES WITHOUT A DE PLAYER ROSTERED.

IMO that's a lot for a four year period.

Delaware guards are on the rise in the minds of coaches across the country.

I think 16 is a pretty good number. I suspect the percentage of players going to D1 programs from DE is about average compared to other states. We can't lose sight of the fact that Delaware is a VERY small state.

 

[delawaresportsjunkie]

The percentage will be even higher going forward as kids & parents have realised u have to take control of your own development & exposure, most Delaware high school coaches only concerned about what benefits them. Institutions like DIAA only concerned with maintaining the status quo. The real season for recruiting starts in April. All it takes is 1 or 2 programs D1 or D2 that like your game to get that education money. If u going into junior year please sit with your parents, check your grades & classes from freshman year, and register for NCAA clearinghouse. A kid who has the talent to get a scholarship may have to retake a class over summer if gpa not high enough in that required subject.

 

[Justabasketballfan]

Honestly.. there is a big problem in Delaware. and there are few combinations that are at work.. first are the lack of good training at the younger level. Some AAU coaches that are out here putting teams together to make money, and money alone. There are some coaches who are giving false hope that the kid they have in front of them are better than what they are. and they get to high school and are not prepared. We have trainers who are teaching a lot of things doesn't mean there teaching or training for the right things to prepare them for what is to come.( Ex: its great that you can teach a kid four and five different variations of a crossover but they know nothing of how to come off a pick three and four different ways.) The is happening at high school. OK you get an above average player but your not pushing them to get better. your just using them for there talent to get wins or a championship to secure your own personal legacy.. Now I'm not saying there all are doing this. and that most parents aren't that delusional. But if you have a single mom and who has a talented child and here comes this coach or trainer who told them I will get your kid to whatever, she doesn't know any better. all they see a person who is willing to invest in there child for good, bad or in deferent. Some of us so called coaches aren't really doing the job that should be done. it starts with us.. I see post on here from time to time of people who claim who are so invested but you know that they are cheating some of the parents and these kids, and will give themselves so much praise of what they can do, while down playing someone else who really in it for the betterment of the game and the children of Delaware. its a shame. but it is what it is. back in the day that it wasn't so pronounced as it is today. coaches on all levels looked out for the best players and would direct them in the situation that would best fit the child while educating that single parent who knew nothing of what was going on and how the process works. Again we have to do better!! now how to fix it: not so simple. but the first thing is parents have to learn about the process. educate themselves on it. and figure out the goals for there child honestly. before going to high school learn about the those coaches. talk to them and figure out what there agenda is for there players they have in the program. and then talk to other parents in there program and see if this is what that coach is doing. look at there teams schedule and there last years records. there is so much you can figure out on your own. for AAU is the same thing. what is the coach trying to accomplish for his program. and look at his programs history and what they have been doing and if he or she is getting some form college connections that will help your kid. and see if he is really getting them there.. the third for parents is unfortunately we are all not rich and training your kid all year round can cost. finding a person who is willing really train your kid the right way all year round for some sort compensation for cheap is tough. but there are good trainers, and coaches who are out here doing just those things.. Now our kids are who they are because we allow them to think, or get away with what they allowed to get away with. if your kid isn't training then they aren't going to get better, if there not being taught the right way then they are not going to get better, and if your not pushing them to a breaking point of understanding that others are going harder than you then there not going to get better. these kids are allowed to play video games when they could be working out. there allowed to sit out practice or not come because they don't feel like it. there allowed to not go to class because they don't feel like it. these actions lead our kids down a path of thinking there are above everyone else and its ok to do the things they do. but what is it teaching? we have to do better! and lastly to the coaches who are out here basically stealing money on the high school, training, and AAU levels. you part of the problem why Delaware is where it is as far as basketball, and I want to say thank you for all you've done!! (sarcasm)

 

[dnell]

In years past the talent level was here but there was no outlet for them to be seen properly and now the outlet is here but the talent level dropped...........Very Simple

 

[Justabasketballfan]

dnell. I think there is great potential of talent here. but to harness it and keep it on the right path even if the path is not finishing high school here has been hard for us in recent years.. but we have to do better as adults of correcting bad habits that lead to us losing our talented kids,,

 

[dnell]

@Justabasketballfan No disrespect BUT i dont wanna hear about potential in the high school ranks. The kids at that point should have a fair grasp of the game and its concepts. Sadly these coaches are either getting over hyped players or players who have been under developed. #1 If we dont fix the grassroots in this area we will continue to produce these type of players #2 Can we please stop it with crying over kids leaving? If they left its obvious them and their support system felt it was the right move to play against better comp and to be in an environment that is conducive for them to grow as a player. Sadly Delaware at this point and time is NOT trying to grow the game the way other states are and that is a cold hard fact......

 

[FoulShots]

I agree that the level of play in DE is a little stagnant right now. The potential talent pool is most likely the same. Athletic young talent may be shifting to other sports, football and LAX are but a few. I think he grassroots programs in those sports are just a bit better now. My observation is that the grassroots programs are generally run by experienced parents of grassroot aged players, once their kids advance they move on as well. They have done their tour of duty. So there are peaks and valleys! IMO, one way to help grassroots bball in DE is for the aforementioned 'older' grassroots grads to foster new programs or help sustain those program that they once worked. Help younger parents 'explayers' navigate there way, help find gym time, understand what needs to be taught and when, etc. The first step which the board is doing is to identify the need. Do young parents of grassroots players even know this board exists?

 

[delawaresportsjunkie]

What we have here in Delaware is to many individuals looking at nothing beyond the benefit of their agenda whether it be their kid or personal benefit. The old guard saw the development of their kid and all the kids as a moral duty. That has changed and the end result is poor grassroots development. Gyms are monopolized by individuals year round now and you have to put up with their b.s to get in. You got AAU coaches collecting fees and have kids tagging at red lights and outside of stores 10 times a season and the only place they playing is the pal and urban youth, a red light should go off. But the worse of all is the guy whose only purpose in creating a team is for the benefit of his kid only and could careless about making anyone else better. Saying this i also have to recognize and respect all those guys I see who truly put in the work and dedicate themselves to helping all kids. I have always believed that I can help my kid and help others at the same time.

 

[FoulShots]

Where does DE go from here? I think the complaints are played out..

 

[Justabasketballfan]

dnell, your right I can't agree with you more about how coaches, and trainers at all levels a have to be about seeing the future for a kid. not use them and the parents for the sake of the team at the moment.. and I'm ok with kids leaving as long as its for a better situation. there are kids i hear leave and that situation is not better than where they left..there and are a lot o valid issues that we are all seeing at the same time. Solutions are needed. first would be educating the parents( the right way) and not have some motive to get that kid on your team, the second is for those parents to involved with finding a good grassroots coach who could and should direct them to good high school coach that best fits that child and there abilities. And they have to be honest with the parents and the child's skill level. it makes not sense to send a kid to ursuline and there not ready for that level of work in the class room or on the floor, third is an AAU coach that will best push the child in the off season and will set them up to be seen by colleges. all that sounds good.. but it hard to find the right people who be honest and two not have ego that the next person can help the child more than the coach.. What seems to be the main problem. is when the kid has success all the coaches want to name drop the kid and say they did this for the kid in order to have more kids or parents send them the next great kid..so that they can keep the legacy out here.. sad.. the crab effect among or coaches have made this a bad situation...