When was the last time central Arkansas had an NCAA-sanctioned summer basketball league or tournament which included eligible college players?
This region could benefit from an NCAA-sanctioned summer tournament that involves the best high school players, current college players and former college players from around the area.
This could draw some serious crowds, and give some great exposure to any UALR players participating in it.
Sure, most of the fans would come to see the next big Razorback recruit. But they may leave talking about the next
Solomon Bozeman or Shane Edwards.
You could think outside the box with an event like this, especially if it's a fundraiser. Mix in the best women players on some of the teams, especially at the guard positions. Maybe Asriel Rolfe guards Jerica James, or Tyler Scaife (one of the nation's top ranked prep juniors). These are the kind of intriguing matchups that get communities psyched about the game, and helps develop a culture of basketball enthusiasts who support programs of all sizes.
Quote:An NCAA-sanctioned summer tournament would do more than raise the profile of the young stars playing in it. It would also create new fans for collegians playing in their own backyard. Players from UAPB, UCA, UALR, Harding and Arkansas Tech usually don’t have the name recognition to draw crowds on their own. But if they play alongside guys whose names do draw crowds, then some will inevitably end up shining.
From this week's Sync magazine
We need to get "outside the box." Little guys have to use some imagination.
(08-23-2011 07:20 PM)basketballman Wrote: [ -> ]When was the last time central Arkansas had an NCAA-sanctioned summer basketball league or tournament which included eligible college players?
This region could benefit from an NCAA-sanctioned summer tournament that involves the best high school players, current college players and former college players from around the area.
This could draw some serious crowds, and give some great exposure to any UALR players participating in it.
Sure, most of the fans would come to see the next big Razorback recruit. But they may leave talking about the next Solomon Bozeman or Shane Edwards.
You could think outside the box with an event like this, especially if it's a fundraiser. Mix in the best women players on some of the teams, especially at the guard positions. Maybe Asriel Rolfe guards Jerica James, or Tyler Scaife (one of the nation's top ranked prep juniors). These are the kind of intriguing matchups that get communities psyched about the game, and helps develop a culture of basketball enthusiasts who support programs of all sizes.
Quote:An NCAA-sanctioned summer tournament would do more than raise the profile of the young stars playing in it. It would also create new fans for collegians playing in their own backyard. Players from UAPB, UCA, UALR, Harding and Arkansas Tech usually don’t have the name recognition to draw crowds on their own. But if they play alongside guys whose names do draw crowds, then some will inevitably end up shining.
From this week's Sync magazine
To tell you the truth, I have no idea what you are even talking about. Little Rock already has one of the biggest tournaments in the country for NCAA prospects- it's called the Real Deal In The Rock. And it looks highly likely that the April recruiting period will be restored for NCAA Division I coaches to attend this event.
So what are you talking about that could benefit UALR? Nothing that I see. No coach is going to allow his players to play in games that don't benefit the team- ie- practice with teammates. And, there has been a league at Dunbar Community Center for local college players to compete in for a long time for those who are interested to watch.
The Dunbar league isn't NCAA-sanctioned so can't include current NCAA players. You'll see Arkansas Baptist College and Philander Smith players there, but nobody who currently plays for an NCAA program.
I grant you that events like Real Deal in the Rock, as well as the
Arkansas Hoops Challenge and
Hoop Jams are welcome, beneficial developments for the local basketball scene.
I think they point to increased popularity for the sport that will only spike with Mike Anderson at the helm in Fayetteville and high-profile high school recruits like Archie Goodwin, I.J. Ready and Trey Thompson around.
This will be enough public interest to support more events, and colleges like UALR, UCA and UAPB would be wise to take advantage of that.
By letting their players participate in a high-profile fundraising event with such high school players, these colleges would only benefit from the exposure. Coaches would be much more likely to let their players participate in such an event if they knew it was raising money for a good cause, too.
(08-23-2011 10:11 PM)PTJR Wrote: [ -> ] (08-23-2011 07:20 PM)basketballman Wrote: [ -> ]When was the last time central Arkansas had an NCAA-sanctioned summer basketball league or tournament which included eligible college players?
This region could benefit from an NCAA-sanctioned summer tournament that involves the best high school players, current college players and former college players from around the area.
This could draw some serious crowds, and give some great exposure to any UALR players participating in it.
Sure, most of the fans would come to see the next big Razorback recruit. But they may leave talking about the next Solomon Bozeman or Shane Edwards.
You could think outside the box with an event like this, especially if it's a fundraiser. Mix in the best women players on some of the teams, especially at the guard positions. Maybe Asriel Rolfe guards Jerica James, or Tyler Scaife (one of the nation's top ranked prep juniors). These are the kind of intriguing matchups that get communities psyched about the game, and helps develop a culture of basketball enthusiasts who support programs of all sizes.
Quote:An NCAA-sanctioned summer tournament would do more than raise the profile of the young stars playing in it. It would also create new fans for collegians playing in their own backyard. Players from UAPB, UCA, UALR, Harding and Arkansas Tech usually don’t have the name recognition to draw crowds on their own. But if they play alongside guys whose names do draw crowds, then some will inevitably end up shining.
From this week's Sync magazine
To tell you the truth, I have no idea what you are even talking about. Little Rock already has one of the biggest tournaments in the country for NCAA prospects- it's called the Real Deal In The Rock. And it looks highly likely that the April recruiting period will be restored for NCAA Division I coaches to attend this event.
So what are you talking about that could benefit UALR? Nothing that I see. No coach is going to allow his players to play in games that don't benefit the team- ie- practice with teammates. And, there has been a league at Dunbar Community Center for local college players to compete in for a long time for those who are interested to watch.