On a warm afternoon towards the end of summer, Dylan Admire finds himself once again in a hotel lobby. Just a few weeks ago, he showcased his impressive basketball skills at a Nike-sponsored camp in Las Vegas. Prior to that, he packed his bags for Houston. Now, he is hitting the road again, this time in San Diego, attending an exclusive "Jr. Phenom" camp hosted by Adidas. Despite being only 12 years old, Dylan is already making a name for himself in the basketball world.
Even though he cannot legally drive a car yet, this 6-foot-2 seventh-grader spends a significant amount of time traveling across the country with his club basketball team called Kansas City Blue. To illustrate his talent, a national scouting service has already ranked Dylan as the 23rd best player for his high school graduating class in 2011.
Dylan explains, with a smile peeking through his braces and a shaggy head of dirty-blond hair, that he seeks exposure to scouts and basketball enthusiasts. "If people see you early on, it helps you gain recognition," he says. Dylan’s goal is to make a name for himself in the sport, and attending camps and tournaments hosted by sports apparel giants like Adidas, Nike, and Reebok is essential for achieving that goal.
While Adidas, Nike, and Reebok have long organized high-profile events for top high school players, elite-level youth basketball is now starting even before high school. Critics argue that this trend offers false hope to young players who are not yet emotionally or physically mature, but supporters argue that it is simply a part of the competitive nature of modern sports.
Joe Keller, a coach of a renowned basketball club in California, initiated the "Jr. Phenom Camp" last year after convincing Adidas executives that there was a market for even younger players. "No one anticipated it would be like this," says Keller, who played baseball at Arizona State University and now runs camps across the country for Adidas. "The exposure for young players just keeps starting earlier and earlier."
The Hoop Scoop, a national publication regarded as the ultimate authority for youth basketball insiders, now ranks players as young as fourth grade. One of Keller’s players, 14-year-old Demetrius Walker, even graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in January. He received a note from the head basketball coach at Duke University when he was in the sixth grade.
Adidas is also receiving significant attention this week. Dylan Admire, like the other 300 invited sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, is wearing brand-new Adidas shoes and an Adidas basketball uniform provided during registration. The hotel where the camp takes place is adorned with large black Adidas banners, creating an immersive experience for the players and their families. Additionally, there is an Adidas merchandise store set up in the hotel, selling a variety of branded items such as T-shirts, mugs, backpacks, pins, basketballs, shoes, and shorts.
Keller has built a network of coaches who keep a keen eye on promising talent throughout the country. Many of these coaches are present at the camp with players they specifically selected to attend. The camp’s website promises the presence of college coaches, major media outlets, and scouting services, which enticed 13-year-old Daiki Kobayashi to travel all the way from Yokohama, Japan. Daiki, an avid follower of professional basketball in the United States, especially admires former Los Angeles Lakers guard Earvin "Magic" Johnson. His ultimate dream is to play in the NBA, and he believes that by testing himself against the best players his age in the US, he can make that dream a reality.
The concept of having a chance at a large reward has resulted in parents becoming more demanding, coaches becoming overzealous, and unethical agents taking advantage of youth athletics for their personal gain. Don McPherson, a former quarterback at Syracuse University and in the National Football League, believes that when youth sports are treated as a business, the focus shifts from educating and nurturing kids to making money. Mr. McPherson is the executive director of the Sports Leadership Institute at Adelphi University, which promotes education and sportsmanship through programs in schools and communities. He warns that parents who approach their children’s athletic pursuits with a "lottery mentality," hoping for a college scholarship, are setting them up for a negative experience.
On the other hand, there are parents like Paul Gripper who see corporate sponsorships, national rankings, and selective camps as part of a competitive atmosphere that talented players seek. Mr. Gripper, a coach and parent who brought players from different states to a camp in San Diego, acknowledges that colleges now demand information about players years before high school, which creates a sense of urgency for young athletes. NBA player Steve Kerr, who visited the camp, encouraged players to stay grounded and continue working hard. Despite his success, he humorously mentioned that he never received any special treatment or perks as a high school player.
Mr. Kerr also expressed concern about the culture of youth basketball, stating that ranking junior high school players is absurd and counterproductive. He worries that the diminishing focus on fundamentals in the United States may cause its players to lag behind their foreign counterparts. However, many parents at the camp embraced the competitive nature of youth basketball. They believe that having their children compete at the highest levels and be noticed by influential individuals will aid in their advancement, similar to how parents of prodigies or budding mathematicians desire recognition.
One parent, Rick Lewis, who founded a nonprofit company overseeing club teams in North Carolina, sees the camp as an opportunity to gauge his son’s progress in his basketball career. His son, Tyler, attended the camp last year and has returned for a second time. According to a scouting service, Tyler is ranked as the fifth-best player in his class. Mr. Lewis acknowledges the importance of exposure and believes that being seen by the right people is crucial for ranking and recognition.
In conclusion, the notion of a big payoff in youth sports has given rise to a combination of demanding parents, zealous coaches, and opportunistic agents. While some emphasize the need for education and sportsmanship, others embrace the competitive nature of youth athletics and strive for recognition and advancement. NBA player Steve Kerr highlights the pitfalls of ranking young players and emphasizes the importance of fundamentals. Despite the concerns, many parents see camps as opportunities to gauge their children’s progress and secure exposure for ranking and recognition.
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