The Cross Over Movement Blog

Andy Katz has an article on the Australian Institute of Sport. While it is not my vision for a new American system, it shares some of the same concepts, mainly the top players praticing and competing against the other top players under top coaches.

When I first started to research for Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development, I emailed Martin Clarke, as I know Randy Bennett at St. Mary’s whose program depends heavily on AIS players. Unfortunately, we never managed to get a productive dialogue to produce anything worthwhile for the book.

As Clarke mentions in the article, the AIS is possible because there is not a depth of talent like in the USA. How would such an Academy work in the USA, when you could argue 50 different players could be the most deserving 12 in any given year.

Unfortunately for players in other countries, Australia has managed to find a way to play within the college scholarship rules in the States, while European clubs rely on the professional club system to develop players and the United States relies on heavily sponsored AAU programs.

Having played within a European club program on a second division team with a DI recruit and also helped several European female players secure DI scholarships, it is unfortunate how the NCAA polices foreign kids who have no other choice and, in many cases, receive fewer benefits than an American kid who plays for a Nike or adidas AAU team. While these AAU teams fly cross country for tourneys in brand new gear, we took vans cross country, played in old uniforms and bought our own shoes. Yet, technically, the kid could have been ruled ineligible for playing with 2 players who received money and thus he chose to sign a pro contract rather than attend Georgia Tech (mid-nineties).

The AIS probably gives players more benefits than most youth teams affiliated with professional clubs, yet it follows the US procedures to keep players eligible, which is smart on their part. However, would something similar work here? I think there are too many players. I believe in a more European club system, which is what I outline in the book.