AAU.

What does it mean?

AAU stands for Amateur Athletic Union. One of the definitions is "a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to promoting athletics and fitness programs."

AAU basketball means big business and big time exposure.

Over the last few years South Florida has joined many large cities across the country on the AAU circuit. Teams such as Goldcoast, South Florida Elite, Miami Tropics, Team Breakdown and the Florida Rams are all located down here and have many local players. Derek Heard is the head coach of the Rams and has some of the top players on his squad from South Florida. They include Malik Price-Martin from Monsignor Miami Pace High School, where Heard also coaches, Staphon Blair from Fort Lauderdale Dillard High School, Cleon Roberts who plays at Miami Norland High School, and Joell James who is at West Palm Beach Dwyer High School. All are being recruited by some of the top college programs in the nation.

"That is one of the major advantages of AAU basketball is the exposure", said Heard. "During the summer months you get to go to these tournaments and there are 50 to 60 college coaches watching. A player might be recruited by five or six schools, with a good showing at a tournament that number could double." 

The Rams summer tour, like most teams, begins in July, and will take them to Indianapolis, Atlanta as well as Las Vegas and Orlando.

That is a lot of airline tickets, hotel rooms, meals, and gas money to get from game to game. Some of the top teams have shoe and apparel deals that help them financially. Others are privately financed. Heard says that is one of the tricky things about AAU teams these days.

"Kids don't want to compete. If a kid doesn't make a certain team his dad or friend can just start there own team."

That has made the AAU ranks highly competitive and can be considered seedy as teams compete for certain players. Heard says, "some stops on the summer tour are invitation only, but most you can buy your way in". 

But the bottom line is games. Some teams play two to three games a day against the best prep talent across the country. That can make for some different basketball philosophies as far as wins and losses.

"Kids play so many games that if you lose one it's no big deal because next week we get on an airplane and go to Atlanta for more games", cited Heard. "It is certainly different than coaching a high school team. We've had 7 practices and 30 games so far. It's hard to get the whole team concept going."

Players know why there giving up summer days on the beach to travel from city to city. There is a lot stake for them regarding their future. The whole AAU basketball tour gets bigger each and every year with more national tournaments, more games and more exposure for high schools kids. Each one of them are looking for a college scholarship and moving one step closer to there NBA dream.

Most rosters carry 10-12 players all of whom usually get a chance to showcase there talents.

In past years, high school coaches would take their entire teams to camps to prepare them for the upcoming season or players might attend individual camps. Those days seem like a thing of the past. From Chicago to New York and from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles and even right here in South Florida, any basketball player wants to be associated this summer’s with three letters.

AAU.