The High School Game is Still Where it's At

I have a confession. Basketball really may be my favorite high school sport to watch and report on. I know football rules this state, and believe me, it's hard to top a crisp November Friday night of football fun. But over the past couple years, I have realized my love for high school hoops. Just the atmosphere inside all those great gyms across the state is enough to get me excited. One day last season I took a trip during a big high school tournament weekend and went to seven schools. I started at 9 a.m. in Norman and ended the day in Anadarko - which has an sweet gym, in case you didn't know. I watched a bunch of basketball that day, some was great. Some wasn't. I sat with a total of about 25 people at Norman High, and had to stand because there was no seats in Anadarko. I am ashamed to admit I ate three Frito Chili Pies that day, but you know what? It was awesome. Diving for loose balls, players slapping half court for defense, and even hearing the often over-used "air ball" chant is what makes the game great. I love our new NBA team, and always have a blast at the Ford Center, but those pros often lack the passion I watched at places like Little Axe and Anadarko on my field trip day. And let me say this, if you have a chance this season, make time to see two of the best hoops stars in the country playing in our own back yard with Daniel Orton of McGuinness and Xavier Henry of Putnam City. Speaking of the best players, I do have one issue that seems to be growing at an alarming pace. AAU basketball is such a big deal now that it's becoming even more important than playing for the school. In case you are not aware AAU (Amateur Athletes Union) has all kinds of sports for kids to play, but it's really big into basketball. It's a great program that allows athletes to stay active and get better even when school is not in session. But because a lot of the best players in each state get on one team and compete all over the country, it's an easy recruiting trip for college coaches. They can go to one spot and see all the best players. Needless to say, AAU is serious. All of that is fine with me, but I just don't want the high school game to lose its luster. Who's to say that some day a star player will skip the high school season to be ready for the AAU season? I know it is crazy, but think about it. And why must those summer league teams travel all over the world and play so many amounts of games? The high school schedule is like preseason compared to the amount of AAU games those kids play. In doing research for this story, I read countless amounts of newspaper stories from Ohio to North Carolina about AAU ball. Some high school coaches said they love it because shooting in the summer kept kids out of trouble and made them better players at the same time. Others complained that the AAU coaches didn't exactly coach, and just encouraged big dunks and plays that would make sure to get the attention of college recruiters. Parents also had split opinions, but many commented on how much the whole experience cost. Look, AAU is a good thing, especially now days since it is nearly impossible to get kids active. But like most everything in life, a good thing can become a bad thing when done in excess. Play your summer league basketball but don't forget to take in the high school experience. Daniel Holdge is a sports personality on KOCO-TV 5 in Oklahoma City