still dont know if I made the AAU team.

Ben: suck it up....push back...but be smart...if he pushes too hard, simply use his weight to your best advantage, step aside and regain great position while he is off balance...dont get sucked into a test of strenght....play your game young man not his..coach mac

Ben: if they are taking this much time my young friend it means they have not yet decided...so you may be a player on what we call the cusp. they are not sure between you and someone else..So..if you have done all the things that Coach Sars and the other coaches taught and advised you to do...then it will be you...Good Luck Coach Mac

Hey Ben -

Hang in there with the AAU team, they must be having a difficult time deciding on some players. I hope you get the spot and IF you did the best you could do, then that's all anyone can ask of you.
Keep a positive attitude and remember this...

"When one door closes another door opens."

IF you keep working at your game you ARE going to become a player, the one you want to be.

Congratulations on the nice comeback Ben. Its always nice getting the W when you are down late in the game... it shows your team has heart!

Can you explain what you mean by riding your hip? Is this when you are dribbling or he is just defending you?

IF he is doing that when you are dribbling... bump him a bit.. to stop him, maybe even knock him back a bit, and when he comes back to recover, use the crossover to beat him. (hard to advise because we cant see it) I saw that in a video that Jeff and Joe had posted for a coaches clinic... Coach Mac has also given you some good advice about this also.

IF he is doing this while trying to defend you without the ball... make a V cut or an L cut..... bump him / freeze him - put your forearm out and bump him a little bit as you make your move.
There were times our players had trouble getting open and we used this (along with putting your inside foot to the middle of his body as you do the above - he isn't going anywhere when you do that) Once you get him stopped - bump and make your move - YOU have the advantage.

By the way, looking at your stats it seems like you are playing a very steady game... points, assistants etc. Keep up the good work.

Keep in touch Ben and let us know whats going on.

I just wanted to tell you about a cool website that I actually found on youtube. The youtube channel is called iAthletes. The website is on the channel.

Also yesterday I made 30 free throws in a row after shooting around

Ben -

30 in a ROW!! :-) That's great shooting by anybody's standards!

I think you have this muscle memory thing down pat.... keep up the good work. You are going to be the kind of player that any coach is going to say - get the ball in Ben's hands and let them foul him.

I will check out that web site and see whats its all about... Talk to you later.

Hey Ben,

Haven't heard from you in awhile.... did you make the AAU Team? How are things going with the other teams you are playing on?

Stay in touch, let us know how things are going?

hey Ben. Keep up the good work and keep posting here. I like reading your updates and then picking up some of the advice that Coach Sar gives you. I myself am playing AAU 15u basketball, so I like reading your updates. It's nice to know that there is someone similar to me on this forum