AAU coach? Drug Dealer or all around scumbag?

[gts]

[I]On May 28, Curtis Malone

[JtotheIzzo]

AAU seems to attract sketchy dudes as coaches.

[9512]

He is not entirely evil per set but selling drugs is not some virtuous business. Not because it is against the law but it because it ruins people's lives (especially drugs like cocaine and heroin).

This whole business with AAU and college...so damn scary if you are a talented but naive baller.

[Rake2204]

Just finished this article. Interesting and recommendable piece. I know not every powerhouse coach is like Malone, but AAU & college recruiting as a whole seems like a pretty scuzzy business from my experiences.

[JimmyMcAdocious]

I find it hard to believe those college coaches didn't know. Gary Williams knew and that's why he wouldn't deal with him. So the others just... What? Ignored Gary's sweaty, annoying, mouth?

College recruiting is dirty. Just read Play Their Hearts Out to get an idea of what goes on during that AAU age. Football is even worse and the NCAA just ignores it. It's all ****ed up.

[Rake2204]

I find it hard to believe those college coaches didn't know. Gary Williams knew and that's why he wouldn't deal with him. So the others just... What? Ignored Gary's sweaty, annoying, mouth?

College recruiting is dirty. Just read Play Their Hearts Out to get an idea of what goes on during that AAU age. Football is even worse and the NCAA just ignores it. It's all ****ed up.Is Play Their Hearts Out a basketball book or football book? I have not heard of it.

Regarding what college coaches did and did not know, I wonder how tough it is to tell the difference between a skeezy coach who's just skeezy and a skeezy coach who's running a drug operation. I'm doubting Gary Williams was the only one to know what was going on though. I admire his stance on the matter.

I didn't realize how often AAU coaches were hired as assistants at colleges as a means of coaxing certain players into programs. I didn't think that was legal but I guess it'd be tough to outlaw. Guys get hired, then players have an open choice of where to go. Still...

[gts]

I believe it was SI a few years ago that did a piece on AAU ball... So much money involved.. a lot of questionable folks involved, all trying to hitch a free ride to retirement on the backs of teens

I'll see if I can find it

[JimmyMcAdocious]

Happens for major recruits, too. I'm a North Carolina fan and a lot of us have negative feelings towards Larry Brown (who played at UNC) because he hired Danny Manning's father to the Kansas staff to ensure Danny Manning would attend there. Manning, of course, was arguably the top recruit back in his day and would go on to be the top draft pick in 88.

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/my-dad-and-danny-manning/13552017/

There was a better article within the last year with Manning saying up front that he would have gone to UNC if KU didn't hire his father. Can't find it.

Basically there's a trust when you are in the "Carolina family" that you don't cross. There's a spiteful joke that Roy Williams, back when he was at KU, didn't recruit East of the Mississippi in respect to Coach Smith and UNC.

That and continuing to declare allegiance to Kansas, Calipari (a Larry Brown discipline), and what not over North Carolina is why Larry Brown isn't exactly a favorite in Chapel Hill.

Anyway,
http://www.amazon.com/Play-Their-Hearts-Out-Basketball/dp/0345508610

Written by George Dohrmann, who is considered one of the great sports writers. Drops a lot of NBA names, namely Tyson Chandler.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/20558/play-their-hearts-out
Short article on it.

[Rake2204]

Happens for major recruits, too. I'm a North Carolina fan and a lot of us have negative feelings towards Larry Brown (who played at UNC) because he hired Danny Manning's father to the Kansas staff to ensure Danny Manning would attend there. Manning, of course, was arguably the top recruit back in his day and would go on to be the top draft pick in 88.

http://www.wralsportsfan.com/my-dad-and-danny-manning/13552017/

There was a better article within the last year with Manning saying up front that he would have gone to UNC if KU didn't hire his father. Can't find it.

Basically there's a trust when you are in the "Carolina family" that you don't cross. There's a spiteful joke that Roy Williams, back when he was at KU, didn't recruit East of the Mississippi in respect to Coach Smith and UNC.

That and continuing to declare allegiance to Kansas, Calipari (a Larry Brown discipline), and what not over North Carolina is why Larry Brown isn't exactly a favorite in Chapel Hill.

Anyway,
http://www.amazon.com/Play-Their-Hearts-Out-Basketball/dp/0345508610

Written by George Dohrmann, who is considered one of the great sports writers. Drops a lot of NBA names, namely Tyson Chandler.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/20558/play-their-hearts-out
Short article on it.Good stuff. I appreciate the knowledge. I'll have to see if I can get around to that book. A part of me feels like it'll just make me depressed.

My AAU experience wasn't too shabby, but the system itself is gross. I didn't even really go to my little brother's AAU tourneys out of principle. It all feels like a money operation revolving around the kids playing. Even amongst lower levels, things are still weird. NAIA college coaches can be just as creepy.

[JimmyMcAdocious]

Oh and not completely on topic. If you do buy a hard copy from Amazon, I recommend those 1 cent offers. Although it ends up a few bucks with shipping. Like half my library is from that and every book has come in great shape.

Right now I'm reading Friday Night Lights (which is every bit as good as the TV show thus far) and there's only a slight tear in the jacket. No marks, no folding, nor stains.

Of course I may have just been lucky and, admittedly, I don't have quite the library I wish I had. Reading takes time! PTHO was a quick read tho. Helps when you keep recognizing these college and NBA names. That must be what normal people feel when they watch TMZ.

Roberto Nelson was featured heavily in it and he was on a Summer League team this past summer. Just finished his career at Oregon St.
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/top_plays/2014/07/16/20140716-play-of-the-day.nba/

One of the very few focal points that actually comes out ok.

[gts]

Great stuff JimmyMcAdocious, both the links and the book buying advice!

will rep tomorrow