Player’s Choice Recap and Notes
by Ray Floriani
MAHWAH, N.J. – The group is Player’s Choice. On the opening page of the coach’s packet is the guarantee: “We want you to attend the Player’s Choice Individual Showcase Event.” That statement could be applied to both players and coaches. Read on, though, and you see the organization aims to service the coaches, as the first paragraph guarantees college coaches will “find at least one player you can recruit for your program or we will refund the cost…”
The aim is to make the events just what the name says, a player’s choice, to play in and be observed by college scouts. On the weekend of April 22 and 23, Ramapo College, specifically the Bill Bradley Center, was the place for college coaches in the tri state (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) area. Most of the prospects were at a Division II or III level. Still, there were a number of definite Division I prospects and several who could emerge as such in the near future. Yes, the big puzzle in the recruiting process is not taking a look at the player on the floor now. Rather what will that player do or be in a couple of years down the road at a higher level? Player’s Choice gives a great opportunity to find out.
One of the biggest assets of Player’s Choice is its efficiency. The event is well-run and centered around the emphasis of college scouting. The format makes it easy for coaches to zero in on a certain prospect or game they may be interested in. Teams are in eight groups of five each. Each groups has a different color code on the schedule, so in finding what time, say, the Connecticut Breeze plays coaches refer to the color-coded chart and are able to quickly find their schedule.
Games go off relatively on time. The format also calls for 16 minutes stop clock for both halves. In some AAU tournaments, if a team is up 20 or more the second half the clock runs. Not here. “The players are here to be scouted and evaluated,” says Wayne Brunck of Player’s Choice. “They deserve the full amount of time.” To expedite however, overtime games are decided by the first point, a sudden death format. Overall there were eight game slots with four contests staged simultaneously from 8 AM until the last at 6:30 PM. Time slots were set every seventy minutes. Three minutes for the half and three minutes between games. No standings or championships were awarded. As mentioned, the emphasis was on being seen by the coaches. Obviously no team played two consecutive games, but teams were expected to be at their assigned court thirty minutes prior to their tip off. Again, efficiency was the key word. And it held up remarkably well.
Noted during the two days…
- Wayne Brunck is non-stop. Directing teams, saying hello to AAU coaches, college coaches, players, officials, you name it. Wayne also makes the rounds checking out some games and ensuring everything is running like a top on the four courts. In between he has time to discuss almost any issue in the game, especially prospects. “There’s an eighth grader from Colts Neck (NJ) who is playing up,” Brunck says enthusiastically. “You have to see her… There’s a sophomore (6’4″ Heather Buck of Stonington, CT) with the Rhode Island Breakers who is already being recruited by Geno Auriemma…” Brunck is here from sunup to sundown at these events and never seems to tire or miss a beat.
- If Brunck is non-stop, Greg Galati is a close second. Greg is an official and a travel team coach from Rutherford, NJ. During the two-day event he is lending Wayne invaluable assistance. Greg was coordinating officiating assignments, directing teams to the proper court, hearing out any (few) complaints from coaches, fielding questions, juggling paper work and insuring the event went smoothly. “I also jumped in and officiated five and a half games on Saturday,” he added.
- For Rich DePena it was a situation of wearing many hats. Rich officiated several games and even coached one of his New Jersey Mavericks 14-15U group. Ironically one of his officiating assignments (with yours truly) early Saturday morning saw his daughter Jessica, a junior at Bergen (NJ) Academy, playing in the contest. With the numbers of teams, games and logistics situations like this invariably do come up. Suffice to say, Jessica, a point guard from Bergen (NJ) Academy, didn’t get any special calls. Nor did she expect them.
- Family affair part II. Jack Klie, a well-respected official, was working a game the first day which involved his niece Elissa Klie, a good junior guard/forward from Bergen County (NJ) Ramapo High School. With Elisse’s NJ Mavericks down two she drove to the basket and was hit on the arm. Jack called the foul. Elisse sank both shots and her team won in overtime. “I had to think a moment,” Jack said during a break the next day. “Was I being a good official or a good uncle? But she was hit on the arm and the shot was affected by the contact.” Elisse’s team went on to win in overtime.
- Best game among the six total officiated by this writer was Sunday’s matchup won by the NJ Crusaders 54-41 over the Fairfax (VA) Stars. Fairfax had several division one prospects and featured constant pressure defense. The Crusaders countered with 6’4″ Lauren Jiminez. A junior standout at North Bergen (NJ) High School, Jiminez is the real deal. She has excellent size added with aggressiveness and some nice footwork down low. She’s certainly a Big East-caliber prospect.
Crusdaders also received a nice game at the guard spot from Courtney Keegan. A junior at Queen of Peace (North Arlington, NJ) High, Keegan is better known for her three-point range. She showed that in this contest but also displayed the ability to make sound decisions and help out against the Fairfax pressure. - The spiral bound book the coaches purchase is well worth the $50 price tag. Included are the rosters of each team. The coach’s name, address and phone number(s). In addition each player has the following information: Uniform number, name, address, phone number, email address, height, school/GPA, SAT/ACT, future plans and anticipated year of high school graduation. It’s an invaluable resource for coaches during the live viewing period and down the road.
- Besides the coach’s book, there was a free publication courtesy of the team. The Union County (NJ) Cyclones put out a 14-page soft bound booklet profiling each member of the team. The basic information as well as other sports played and school extracurricular activities were also covered.
- Speaking of the Cyclones…there was a familiar face. Paul Munick, who served in an administrative capacity at Madison Square Garden for a number of years, was present. His daughter Lauren attends Governor Livingston (NJ) High School and plays for the Cyclones in the AAU season.
- Ramapo College assistant Mike Ricciardi has several of his players help with the event. They took turns working the concession stands and operating the game clock at the scorer’s table.
- All told the New Jersey Mavericks entered seven different teams. No matter the time of day it was difficult if not impossible to not see a Maverick team playing, warming up or taking a quick break between contests.
- Player’s Choice has future events set this Spring and Summer at Ramapo College, Kean University (NJ), Union College, Schenectady (NY) and Bishop Ford, Brooklyn (NY) High School.
