Basketball and Sports AAU
Portland, Oregon has long been considered Nike country and the home of the Portland Trailblazers. But did you know that Portland has a host of AAU basketball leagues? The city is blessed with hundreds of parks, recreation centers and gyms open for use on the weekends.
Growing up in Portland, Oregon and listening to the Blazer games made quite an impression on me. I started playing basketball in fourth grade for the Albina Sports AAU program. Probably the best AAU basketball program in the state of Oregon during the 70’s and 80’s. My coach’s name was Greg Williams. The program resulted in several A-1 division basketball prospects and taught how to play the game properly. We must have won 99% of our games and only lost twice in three years. Most of that can be contributed to teaching basic basketball skills.
First, playing defense is a learned skill. To play basic defensive basketball, you must have a lot of heart and ability to move your feet. Knowing the correct one-on-one defense, defensive footwork, defensive stance and just being hungry to win is a must. You have to commit to the hustle and play hard. My coach Greg often says “Stop the drive and don’t let them cross the middle of the court.” He always knows who he’s guarding and takes pride in keeping them from scoring or advancing the ball.
Second, playing offense consists of several plays that form a unit. The offense can be played in various ways. For example, offense 1-3-1, offense 1-4, offense 3 on 3, offense table and many other ways. Our offense was generally designed to create open looks and at some point isolate the defender. Through the correct use of ball handling, shooting, rebounding, passing and mental toughness… A team can be very successful in winning.
Third, play with passion and heart. I feel like a coach can’t teach toughness, but he can definitely motivate. Mental toughness is 90% of basketball and 10% is talent. If you want to be a competitor and a key player, you have to step up and be a leader. That’s what separates the great players from the average ones. Players with a big heart usually end up playing at a higher level.
Last but not least, Coach Williams was a great person and willing to challenge his players. He always wanted us to improve academically as good citizens and good students. Since most of the players were from different schools and districts, Coach Williams used to call our directors and find out if we were passing. So basketball teaches life skills and the ability to compete. I guess there are some benefits to playing in Portland Oregon parks, local gyms and tournaments. Basketball is a game of skill and it teaches well beyond the lines of the court.
