AAU Basketball: A Necessary Evil?

Abstract

Too many young basketball players are forced to go through the current Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball system to get the attention needed to continue through the ranks in hopes of accomplishing their dream of playing professionally. How can young basketball players avoid AAU altogether or go through the AAU system without being taken advantage of by adults involved? For this study, I am going to interview my teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers about their AAU experiences. How do current National Basketball Association (NBA) players view the AAU system they went through? What would they change about the current AAU system?