NCAA Recruiting: The AAU Free Agency Frenzy
Two sessions into things and there’s been an interesting occurrence: AAU Free Agency. Here we take a look at AAU free agency and how it affects recruiting
Now, I know what you’re thinking, what is AAU free agency? Remember those days when you played with one team in your city and if you didn’t make that team, you just had to work on your game until you either made the team or got the hint you weren’t good enough? Well, those days are over.
The new mentality is now “Go somewhere else” or as I like to call it “Taking your ball and leaving.” AAU Free Agency is new to me but it’s also intriguing.
Now, what is AAU Free Agency exactly? It’s the movement of top players from one top AAU squad to another in hopes of altering their outcome. Now, don’t get me wrong, AAU is a free market but think about how changing teams affects the recruiting in the eyes of NCAA coaches?
In the competitive world of basketball, it’s hard keeping everybody happy. DC Premier lost both Mitchell twins (Makhi and Makhel) despite being undefeated at 8-0 on the UAA Circuit. Now, they’re members of Team Melo on the EYBL circuit.
In one instance, while spending time with one AAU program, a child’s parent wouldn’t answer the phone or complete paperwork while working with another AAU program in the “background” to play for them.
Granted, the Mitchell twins have already committed to the University of Maryland so their defection isn’t as magnified but for the others, it is. A college season has a lot of ups and downs in and of itself. One minute you’ve won the last five games and your playing time is up. The next, you’re battling for playing time during a rough stretch of conference play. Will it encourage you to work harder or transfer?
Team Melo is currently 1-7 in the EYBL standings. An injury to 2019 Huntington Prep (WV) guard Jonathan McGriff has left them with a depleted backcourt at least until July and it’s shown. Now, Team Melo has added the Mitchell twins as well as Bishop O’Connell (VA) 2019 guard Ayan Teel. Teel was a member of New World’s AAU program on the Adidas Gauntlet circuit.
Those aren’t the only defections, either. Team Melo lost one of its star players in 2019 forward R.J. Blakney. Blakney is now a member of Team BBC’s 17U squad on the Adidas Gauntlet circuit.
Winning and losing matter in this day and age but with so many switches, what message does it send to prospective college coaches?
AAU free agency has Boo Williams (VA) carrying four new players this weekend on the EYBL circuit. They are currently 3-5 in the EYBL standings. Their new additions are Huntington Prep (WV) 2019 forward Quin Slazinski, DeMatha (MD) 2019 guard Joshua Wallace, Oscar Smith (VA) 2019 forward Nyzaiah Chambers and Blue Ridge (VA) 2018 guard Sardaar Calhoun.
Next: 2018 Influential Recruiting Classes
It’s been interesting to see the shuffling of players to different teams roughly a month into the AAU season. Just goes to show you in a world where results are at times demanded, no team is ever safe from AAU free agency. Whether scorned by a broken promise or worse, it certainly doesn’t look good if you switch teams and don’t get better results.