College recruiters complain that high school basketball teams in Colorado play fewer games than many of their counterparts in other states. But summer AAU basketball has become increasingly popular for Colorado kids, and integral to the recruiting process.
Traveling AAU teams began to surface in Colorado in the mid-1990s. Now, “elite” teams such as the Colorado Chaos, Colorado Hawks and Colorado Select travel to tournaments in Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and elsewhere. AAU teams play up to 50 or more games.
“The summer is very important because colleges want to see if you have improved since your high school season,” said D’Evelyn’s Andrew Hooper, a 6-foot-9 senior-to-be who plays for Colorado Select and is regarded as the state’s top incoming senior.
“And obviously when you’re playing against kids from all over the country, the competition is better.”
AAU tournaments allow recruiters a last look at prospects before the November signing period. A good summer can cause a prospect’s stock to skyrocket.
“How a Colorado kid does in the summer can mean the difference between getting an offer from a Mountain West Conference school in the fall or having to settle for a mid-major in the spring,” said David Matthews, who runs Colorado Chaos.
Aurora Central coach Bob Caton believes the elite in-state players would be better served if they played on one AAU team. Caton said a Colorado “all-star” team would attract more exposure, enable the best players a chance to play with the best and help accelerate their development.
“As it stands now, we’ve got kids spread out among several AAU teams,” Caton said.
Playing on an AAU team does not guarantee a slew of scholarship offers. But it offers the best chance for Colorado kids to develop their game.
“It’s really important for the kid to play in the summer, and they know that,” Kent Denver coach Todd Schayes said. “I’ve got seven kids playing AAU basketball this summer. Hey, we’re talking about Kent Denver. We’re a football and lacrosse school. That tells you something.”
