Players Choice Works for More Than the Players
by Ray Floriani
RAMAPO, N.J. – The opening line of the coaches’ packet is an introduction that can qualify as a statement of purpose: “The Players Choice has a mission to improve the forum in which college coaches evaluate potential recruits.” On the weekend of April 16-17, the Players Choice, a Brooklyn-based group, hosted an outstanding event at Ramapo College. Eighty girls AAU teams from the fourteen to seventeen year old age group ventured to the quaint Northern New Jersey campus for two days of competition and evaluation. Teams were assembled in pools of five. The schedule began at 8:00 a.m. and ran through 8:30 p.m., with action held on four courts during both days. Each club played two games per day, leaving plenty of opportunity for evaluation while not facing a schedule that put players on the brink of exhaustion.
The key here was evaluation. College coaches were on hand to closely scrutinize the action. Even fourteen year-old teams, with rosters primarily of eighth graders, were given a look. What better opportunity to catch some rising young prospect? Wayne Brunck of Players Choice figures over 50 colleges were represented. “And eleven of those were Division I,” he said.
Overall, the games went smoothly. There were few blowouts and a number of the matchups were settled in the final minutes. On both days, this doubled as an officiating duty for yours truly. Three games Saturday and four on Sunday made for plenty of time to get a good handle on the action.
Most of the teams were from the New York – New Jersey area. There were some who came from New England, Washington (D.C.) and Toronto as well.
Games were generally well-coached. A number of the AAU coaches have high school or college experience, which made for a better game.
It was good to see a young coach like Shenee Clark on the sidelines. Clark was a star at Ridgefield Park (NJ) High School. She had some interest from Division I schools but decided on Caldwell College. Today she is an assistant on the girls staff at Creskill (NJ) High School. In her ‘spare’ time she coaches an AAU team, the Gym Ratz, and does a great job of teaching the kids the proper fundamentals of the game.
The girls got out and ran. Many of the teams ran the floor well. But if the break failed they would hold up and revert to a set or motion offense. Even down by five with a minute left, teams wouldn’t hastily shoot a three. Always a few passes and/or screens before settling on a shot. “That’s a big difference with the girls,” Ramapo Assistant AD Paul Lizzo (who coached LIU a number of years) said. “The guys want to take it to the rim and run. The women always have more structure.”
Members of the Ramapo Women’s basketball team worked the scorer’s tables. It certainly makes the game (and official’s life) smoother having knowledgeable people on the table.
A number of team gear and sporting goods’ merchants were on hand and exhibited in the lobby both days. It simply lent to the atmosphere of the event.
Promotion is a positive. The Nassau Nets, a Long Island-based team, had a sixteen-page ‘media guide’ available at the front desk. Each player was given a full page for a color picture and individual bio.
Sometimes officials are also coaches. Bill Neira coaches one of the Gym Ratz teams and also officiates a busy schedule. Both days Neira put in his time running up and down the court. He had a 3:30 Sunday assignment on court two, but there was one problem – his team was scheduled to play on court two at that very time. At the last second, Neira asked someone (guess who) who was finishing up to stay for one more game. Neira had only six players on his team, but with outstanding guard play, they won easily.
Overall the even was well-received. Teams, coaches (college and AAU) and all others went away extremely satisfied. Lizzo and Ramapo Women’s Assistant Mike Ricciardi, who helped coordinate the event, were also pleased, as were the people at Player’s Choice. Working the two days garbed in maroon knit shirts, staff members did everything from collect admission to make sure players and officials had ample water at their disposal.
“We try to make things easier and work with the college coaches,” Brunck said late Sunday afternoon. He and his wife spent two weeks typing and preparing a nearly 100-page booklet that listed the entire roster and personal information of every player on the respective teams, as well as the full schedule with times and a few pages for notes. “We do not charge the college coaches anything for the packets,” Brunck said. “Some events might charge $100 for a packet with half the information. We are not trying to make a buck off the coaches. We want to work with them.” Brunck feels well-run events will simply have teams and coaches asking for more.
In July there will be another showcase near Albany and at Bishop Ford in Brooklyn as well. Both those sessions will have morning fundamental stations for the participating players which will be are open to the college evaluators.
The name is Player’s Choice. The aim is to make it the coaches’ choice as a recruiting aid as well.
