Reaching Higher, but how far-reaching ...

Continuing with our MHSAA representative council blogs, today we're looking at BCAM-sponsored basketball camps starting next summer that appear to be an option versus those related to the club/AAU/youth circuits.

The MHSAA's words on the camps:

"The "Reaching Higher" program is best described as an advanced placement course for high school basketball players. The first one-day camps will take place during the latter part of July in 2009, with up to 120 boys and 120 girls selected by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan - mostly those about to enter their senior year of high school - taking part in a mix of classroom and on-court sessions involving drills, testing and game conditions. The high school coaches conducting the camp, which takes place during an NCAA men's evaluation period, will also be selected by BCAM. Camp participants will be subject to a minimum grade point requirement; only three players from any one team may be selected; and membership of the school's coach in BCAM is not required to be nominated or selected. Coaches working the camps must be BCAM members, with a core group of 10 individuals being annual staff members, and the remainder being selected from BCAM's regional and statewide honorees for that season."

This should be a great program. But I wonder what it's hoping to accomplish, based on this quote from MHSAA executive director Jack Roberts: "Some of the measures taken previously to avoid early and year-round pressures of high school sports participation have seen the gaps filled by the less healthy influences of youth sports, which have promoted philosophies contrary to the values promoted in educational athletics."

It's no secret many high school coaches aren't enthralled by the summer club hoops circuit. Are these one-day camps an attempt to get high schools at least a little more involved in the "exposure" season? The note above makes mention that these will take place during the NCAA evaluation period.

I don't see these as being as much an opportunity for college exposure as for learning, for a few reasons. First, I don't know that it will attract many of the top players. It states above that players' coaches don't have to be members of BCAM to be selected, but are BCAM coaches really going to nominate players from other teams? I'm thinking not, with BCAM's recent all-state teams as an example. The Class A boys teams from a recent season didn't include a number of players who made the Associated Press all-state team, which seemed odd.

Without the top players, will college coaches come to watch? Probably some close by and at the smaller levels, but not in a way to take away from the big-time camps usually attended by the state's best. What this seems like instead is a great way for Division II/III prospects to get some additional training and get a little exposure from local schools, with more of an educational slant -- which is tough to argue against. If it pulls in the state's top Division I prospects at some point too? That'll be icing on the cake. 

Comments

[marvelousmackie]

It's a good idea but it's not an answer to AAU. The latter part of July after Vegas normally doesn't affect aau. A tournament here and there but they can't compete with the aau squads. I would recommend a camp for the 2nd tier players who aren't being highly recruited. Small DI and DII's will be in attendance so those players will benefit more from a camp then players that ar already being recruited.