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Curtis Horton, Assistant Coach for Servants' Basketball, an AAU team based in Oklahoma City.


Benefits of Playing in AAU Basketball

Since 1888, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) has been giving young men and women the opportunity to progress in their sports. In more recent years, AAU has grown tremendously and has become one of the top forums in helping young amateur athletes not only become more skilled at their sport, but ultimately lead them to college.

AAU is more so important for high school basketball athletes around the country. In most states, it is against the rules for a high school coach and/or assistants to have contact with players during “dead seasons.” AAU affords these athletes an avenue to continue on improving their skills, while also being able to travel the country.

“Without AAU, I wouldn’t have become the basketball player I did,” former AAU player Lamaur Banks said. “I would have sat at home all summer; rather I was improving my game, and having fun at the same time.”

Each AAU team has its own style of play, and team structure.

“We look for players who are going to shoot unconsciously,” Servants Basketball, an AAU team based in Oklahoma City, assistant coach Curtis Horton said.

AAU teams are also separated by grade levels, ranging from 4th grade through 12th.

Throughout the country, there are teams that recruit athletes and some who have open admission. Those that recruit on a regular basis are usually the top tier teams, and often times are sponsored by different sporting goods companies (i.e. Nike, Adidas, Reebok, etc.)

Playing AAU basketball, will not only open doors to improve one’s skill, or travel the country, but it gives the opportunity for athletes from smaller cities, or smaller high school basketball programs, or just athletes who have no other way to be seen by college coaches earn the chance to one day play college basketball.