Gaining Experience through AAU

AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) is a program that allows athletes to play their favorite sports throughout the year. You can do anything like soccer, baseball, football and basketball. In the town of Proctor, there are many kids that play AAU basketball, both boys and girls. 

Eighth grader Ward Outslay has been happily playing AAU for 4 years. He says it's fun playing more competitive basketball than school ball, but he says that AAU is harder because there are players who are better than average and every week you're competing for a championship. “ I can run the offense but it could be stressful because people can get a little out of hand,” Ward says. He likes the challenge but says some people can just be too much. 

Freshman Janelle Garrow has been playing AAU for 2 years and has been happy with the progression she's made. She's a shooting guard and loves that position because she can shoot really well. She says AAU helps you improve your skills and that's one of the reasons she's playing. Another is the competition, “I really like the challenge because it helps me get better.” Janelle says she thinks she's doing “phenomenal” so far in AAU. She says she's made so much progress from last year because AAU has helped her improve her skills. 

Eighth grader Emmie Oving says she loves AAU, because she likes how there's better competition and she gets to play against older girls. Emmie says she's a power forward and she's getting better at it every day. “ Fast break layups and defense are some strengths I have,” she says.” I play AAU because school ball isn't that long and you have to wait  a whole nother year to play; that's too long without basketball. I have been playing for 3 years in AAU and I'm going to continue because of how fun it is and the competition.” 

Desmond Oechsile, a freshman, says he's been playing for 2 years and it's been good to improve. He says he’ll stick to playing because it's fun and his friends play, “The team has good chemistry so it's fun playing with them since we all get along,” Desmond says. “My biggest highlight has been winning a tournament with my team. Since I know we can do that, I'm going to stick with AAU.”

Sophomore Michael Guerrero, has been playing for 5 years and says AAU is a good program to develop your skills, “I like the competition because it challenges me to get better.” Michael says AAU is fun because you get to travel and get to discover new places. However, he notes his team isn't that good this year, “Our chemistry is really bad because not a lot of teammates pass so it's super annoying, but when everything is going well then it's good and fun.”

Despite the extra time and challenges, players like the opportunity to play AAU and keep building their skills for the next basketball season