Junior Hoops Arizona

3D Hoops Tournament of Champions Boys Basketball Tourney

On May 1-2, the 3D Hoops Institute will be hosting the 3D Hoops Tournament of Champions Boys Basketball tourney @ Skyline High School in Mesa, AZ.  Teams will play a minimum of 3 games in pool play friday night and Saturday morning/afternoon. The winner of each pool will advance to the Championship Bracket on Saturday afternoon/evening.

The championship bracket is composed of the previous 08-09 3D Hoops Tournament Champions.  This is your last chance to qulaify for the 08-09 Championship round and be crowned the 08-09 3D Hoops Institute overall champion.

Divisions open:  10/11U, 12U, 13U, and 14U

Cost is $290 per team.  Championship Trophies and all tourney awards will be given.  Fee includes USSSA membership.  The tournament is a USSSA Qualifier.

Commitment by email or phone due by April 11. Registrations and payment due by April 18.  Limited number of spots per division.

All Required forms can be found at www.3DHoops.net.

We look forward to yet another great 3D Hoops tournament!

Yours in Hoops,

Dustin Cooper
3D Hoops Tournament Director
712.899.6593 cell

dpcooper@mpsaz.org.

Southwest Showcase Spring Tournament Champions

14U Gold | Arizona Gym Rats

14U Silver | Arizona Premier Henderson

13U | Arizona Stars

12U | Power House

11U | Team Bibby

10U | Arizona Future

9U  | Team Magic

For more information on the Southwest Showcase Tournaments click here.

Jump Athletic / Just4Hoopin Pre-Easter Slam Tournament

On March 27 -29, the Pre-Easter Slam Tournament produced by Just4hooping and Jump Athletic will feature the top boys’ teams throughout Arizona. The three-day tournament, which is sanctioned by USSSA basketball, will have six grade divisions. Each team is guaranteed three games. Tournament format will be pool play followed by a single-elimination championship bracket.  All teams that participate will qualify for the USSSA Tournament of Champions May 23-25 in Phoenix, Arizona.

• Each team must check in before their first game.
• Every team must have birth certificates and report cards at each game in case of protests.
• Rosters are frozen after first game of the tournament.
• Regulation basketball will be used for the boys 7th grade division.
• Games are two 20 minute running halves. Clock stops the last "two" minutes of the second half only, uless a team is winning by more than 20 points.

Games will be played at Central High School - 4525 N. Central Ave. - school is located on Central Avenue between Indian School and Camelback Road. And at the Salvation Army Youth Center - 1351 E. Broadway Road.  Admission is $5 adults and $3 students / six (6) and under are FREE.  For more information to include tournament brackets click here.

YMCA Competitive League for Club Teams

The YMCA is introducing a competitive league for club teams.  The cost is $500 per team for Divisions 9U - 14U with a special discount for YMCA teams at $300 per team.  The league begins March 28, 2009 with a registration deadline of March 25, 2009.  Schedules will be posted on Quickscores evening of March 26, 2009.

• Games Played on Sunday and Weeknights.
• Locations: Glendale/Peoria YMCA, Maryvale YMCA and/or Atkinson Middle School.
• Great opportunity to get some games in before upcoming tournament/showcases.
• Games played on NBA length basketball court.
• Consideration in scheduling for major tournaments. (No games scheduled for Ceaser Chavez and Cinco de Mayo tournament weekends)
• Great opportunity for YMCA teams to play in a club atmosphere.
• AIA officials.
• Snack bars in all gyms.
• Admission: Adults $3.00 Kids $1.00 Under 5 Free.

For additional information contact Alberto Vasquez at 602-588-9622 ext 89129 or avasquez@vosymca.org.

Arizona Premier Basketball Academy Wins ABL 2009 Winter League 13U Championship

The Arizona Premier Basketball Academy Premier Hawkins 13U Club Team is the 2009 All-Star Basketball Winter League 13U Pacific Division Champions.  The team won the championship against the Arizona Blue Devils.  Both teams played with tenacity, determination and teamwork resulting in an exciting 47-46 win for the Arizona Premier Basketball Academy.  For information on the Arizona Premier Basketball Academy click here.  For information on the All-Star Basketball League (ABL) click here.

What Coaches Do and Don't Care About

What the High School coaches DON'T care about:

• They DON'T care what club team that freshman played on in 7th and 8th grade
• They DON'T care how many club games that freshman won in 7th and 8th grade
• They DON’T care who was the volunteer club coach of that freshman in 7th and 8th grade

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What the High School coaches DO care about:

• They DO care if the freshman has a positive attitude and is coachable
• They DO care if the freshman plays hard and is aggressive on defense
• They DO care if the freshman has a strong practice/work-ethic
• They DO care if the freshman has polished FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS
• They DO care if the freshman can SHOOT the Basketball

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What College coaches DON’T care about:

• DON’T care what summer club team the young man plays on
• DON'T care how many games that young man’s summer club team has won
• DON'T care what high school team the young man is playing on
• DON'T care how many games that young man’s varsity team has won
• DON'T care who coaches that young man’s varsity team

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What College coaches DO care about:

• DO care if the young man has a positive attitude and is coachable
• DO care if the young man works hard and is aggressive on Defense
• DO care if the young man has a strong practice/work-ethic
• DO care if the young man has strong academic marks (SAT's and grades)
• DO care if the young man has polished FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS
• DO care if the young man can SHOOT the Basketball

Adidas Junior Phenom Regional Camp Begins Tonight

The grades 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 Adidas Junior Phenom Camp  begins tonight on March 13, 14, and 15 at Williamsfield and Higley High Schools.

Every participant will receive a reversible Jr. Phenom jersey and shorts and a score card to help develop their game.

The top reasons to attend and Adidas Junior Phenom Camp are: 

• Exposure
• Camp will be ran by several college and high school coaches
• HoopScoop and other scouting services
• Measure your skills against the area's best
• Equal playing time for all camp attendees
• Top quality instruction with daily drills
• Academic and SAT prep training

The Arizona Adidas Jr. Phenom Regional Camp will include:

• Three point shootout
• 8 foot slam dunk contest
• All-star selection
• Age appropriate scrimmages
• Advance skills training
• Key note speaker
• Awards ceremony
• Free-throw contest

For more information call 480-238-4002 or go to the Arizona Gorillas website by clicking here.

Shooting - The Lost Art

The most important fundamental skill a basketball player can possess is to be able to accurately shoot.  Excellent shooting can often make the difference between a player becoming successful or wallowing in obscure mediocrity.  It can also take basketball teams with average athletic skills and turn them into championship contenders. Unfortunately most of today’s players don’t truly understand or have limited understanding in the importance of accurate shooting.

We have become a society  hooked on slam dunks.  Our game of basketball has been ESPNized.  College and NBA coaches don’t care about the dunk.  Seventeen foreign based players were drafted in the NBA’s first two rounds this season.  Why?  Because these players have solid fundamental skills. These foreign players aren’t the quickest and they don’t jump the highest, but they know how to play.  They know how to attack the basket, how to dribble and how to work with their teammates and most importantly, they all know how to shoot! 

Don’t look now America, but the rest of the world is catching up because we have become very lazy and unfocused in preparing our athletes in the game of basketball.  Team USA lost three consecutive games in the World Championships because USA players couldn’t hit a free throw or jump shot when it counted let alone an open man.  Soccer dominant countries (Argentina and Spain) are all of the sudden beating American NBA players.

Don't Let Zone Defenses Get You Down

Coaches typically go to a zone defense for one of three reasons:

1. The opponent doesn’t have good outside shooters.
2. The opponent’s man offense could not be stopped.
3. They live and die by the zone and play it quite well.

Many coaches are satisfied with letting their teams fire from 3-point land against a zone in the hopes that their shooters get hot to shoot their way out of the zone. However, that strategy is a bit too inconsistent. If you favor an inside-out approach against man-to-man defenses, it stands to reason you should do the same against zones.

With five players stationed in the key, a zone defense presents a real challenge to any team wanting to score inside. As soon as you recognize the defense has switched to zone, call out one of the following “zone special” plays......Read More!

Arizona Premier Basketball Academy 13U Tryouts

The Arizona Premier Boy's Basketball team is having tryouts for the 13U club team. We are in search of All-Star quality players to join an elite squad that will be molded to play in the top local and national tournaments.

Tryouts will be held continuously every Thursday at 7pm until the roster is complete.  Please contact us before attending the tryout session.

For additional information or questions like time, location and frequency, please contact Coach Morales at 480-232-8572 and/or visit the Premier Morales 13U team website at www.PremierMorales.com or by clicking here.