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Found this article.......food for thought
http://thecrossovermovement.wordpress.com/2009/04/27/hs-national-championships/
Here’s my problem with the rise of Findlay and other “prep” schools: there is nothing developmental about them. I understand that it’s a step towards an Elite Development League, but this seems like another way the basketball industry is milking players, not developing them. ESPN loves it as it promotes their network and new RISE brand. Nike/Adidas love it because it promotes their branding through “successful” programs.
While I do like the idea of grouping kids together in an elite league, it needs to be done outside of high school athletics. Findlay and Montrose and the like are not high school programs. Kids move there from across the nation, and puts them at an extremely unfair competitive advantage. Especially – as Findlay illustrates – the potential Pandora’s box it opens regarding eligibility and transfer rules (not to mention NCAA rules – it’s very transparent that Findlay is almost a feeder program to UNLV, with what, 3 players already headed there?). If you want to make an elite league with non-HS players, then fine. But don’t bastardize HS athletics. I know HS athletics has some problems as it is, but the “prep school” model that some of these school perpetuate is bogus. They’re not schools.
I don’t think these prep programs serve the same altruistic methods that your EDL does, Brian. These programs don’t want to develop kids. In fact, everything about them is the “peak by Friday” mentality. Their very survival is based on finding NBA talent, tweaking/improving them, and marketing them. They don’t develop raw talent. They skim some of the best players from the school system and package them for the pros. Yes, they need to develop players, to an extent, to better market themselves, but they’re not taking bad players to begin with. They’re already taking the best of the best. Who couldn’t win with that?
http://thecrossovermovement.wordpress.com/2009/04/27/hs-national-championships/
Here’s my problem with the rise of Findlay and other “prep” schools: there is nothing developmental about them. I understand that it’s a step towards an Elite Development League, but this seems like another way the basketball industry is milking players, not developing them. ESPN loves it as it promotes their network and new RISE brand. Nike/Adidas love it because it promotes their branding through “successful” programs.
While I do like the idea of grouping kids together in an elite league, it needs to be done outside of high school athletics. Findlay and Montrose and the like are not high school programs. Kids move there from across the nation, and puts them at an extremely unfair competitive advantage. Especially – as Findlay illustrates – the potential Pandora’s box it opens regarding eligibility and transfer rules (not to mention NCAA rules – it’s very transparent that Findlay is almost a feeder program to UNLV, with what, 3 players already headed there?). If you want to make an elite league with non-HS players, then fine. But don’t bastardize HS athletics. I know HS athletics has some problems as it is, but the “prep school” model that some of these school perpetuate is bogus. They’re not schools.
I don’t think these prep programs serve the same altruistic methods that your EDL does, Brian. These programs don’t want to develop kids. In fact, everything about them is the “peak by Friday” mentality. Their very survival is based on finding NBA talent, tweaking/improving them, and marketing them. They don’t develop raw talent. They skim some of the best players from the school system and package them for the pros. Yes, they need to develop players, to an extent, to better market themselves, but they’re not taking bad players to begin with. They’re already taking the best of the best. Who couldn’t win with that?
