Coach Al

695Hoops is the Beltway of Women's Basketball in Baltimore and its surrounding areas. It's always all about the girls.
Scout for Prep Girls Hoops

[Coach Al @695HOOPS]

Looking through some of my old AAU stuff. Gabby Johnson-Morgan State. Kelis Fisher-headed to UConn, Nyceara Pryor- Sacred Heart, Tatum Greene- headed to Boston College. Those days in the gym were crazy.

[William Payne @TweetsbyCoachP]

I spent this weekend at the EYBL and Made Hoops events in Las Vegas.

As I walked from court to court, one thing kept standing out to me.

Parents.

Youth sports has become very comfortable criticizing them. Sometimes it’s deserved. We’ve all seen parents who lose perspective.

But that wasn’t the story I saw.

I saw moms and dads riding the rail for hours, cheering every possession, carrying bags, buying meals, paying for hotels, flights, gas, tournament fees, and everything else that comes with chasing a dream.

I saw parents encouraging their child after tough games, celebrating small victories, and doing everything they could to help them navigate a recruiting process that is confusing even for people who work in college athletics.

Here’s the reality:

There is no handbook for raising a student-athlete.

Most parents are simply doing the best they can with the information they have. Often, while being purposefully mislead for them to spend more money. They’ll make mistakes. So do coaches. So do athletic directors. So do officials. So do recruiters.

This weekend reminded me that the overwhelming majority aren’t trying to make youth sports harder.

They’re sacrificing time, money, weekends, and comfort because they believe in someone they love more than themselves.

The loud minority gets the attention.

The quiet majority deserves the appreciation.

Sometimes we should spend a little less time criticizing parents and a little more time recognizing just how much they’re giving up so their kids have a chance.

[Payton @Payton_scurry]

@SGgirlshoops @NEPSGBCA
@lp32_league @USJN
@695HOOPS @PGHMaryland @PGHNewEngland

[Coach Al @695HOOPS]

Ballin put in Cincy!

[Abby Vampatella @Abbyvampatella]

Thoughts from Day 2 recruiting:

1. Please stop shooting one foot floaters

2. 2 feet > 1 foot. But also, just because I go off of 2 feet doesn’t mean I need to shoot it. Eyes up, read the help.

3. Make your free throws!!!!

4. Saw 2 game winners off oboards 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Coach Jess Mannetti @jmnetter33]

Key takeaways from Day 1:
1. Guards PLEASE pass your post players the ball when they are open.
2. Posts PLEASE call out ball screens.
3. YOUR shot isn’t always the BEST shot. Open shots are. Share the ball.
4. If you value the possession and make hustle plays, I can recruit you!

[Mike Moses Jr. @coachmosesjr]

I watched two teams try to play zone defense today… I left both games instantly. AAU coaches, come on, man. Running a 2-3 zone during a live period is nasty work. This is the biggest evaluation window of the year. Kids need to show us tbey can guard or not 😩

[Marsha Frese @CoachFrese]

I’m in awe of all the parents who work so hard to support their kids goals. Thousands of dollars spent in July alone to attend exposure events. 👏👏👏

[Terra Helm Aulbur @Terr31]

Dear AAU parents,

We are watching you too.

College Coaches Everywhere.

[Premier Recruiting Service girls basketball @IGBRcoverage]

There are 3 events literally within 45 min to 2 hours between them. New balance, Select and Run for the roses.

There are tons of colleges at all three of these events for kids of all different levels!

Everybody wants to play on the biggest stage with all the biggest stars! However, not everybody is a top ranked kid nationally, and some of those schools(more then some) we’re not gonna be traveling all the way out to the West Coast! That’s a fact, and people have been referencing that on Twitter! Rightfully so. Stay where the colleges that are going to recruit you are gonna be.

The real people know

[Coach Al @695HOOPS]

Lady P32 Individual Showcase Standout Players –
@lp32_league @USJN
@travisponton
https://t.co/P459IPUFj0 https://t.co/HP0nyVqRKt

[Yinpobil Zing @KinggZingg]

UAA session two this weekend🔥🔥come let’s work together 🤝🏾🔥@TeamThrill_Gbb

[Maggie McCarthy @maggie_mac2028]

New Balance Lady P32 Session 2 in Cincinnati this weekend!🏀Lets go @POWERMOVEGBB ‼️
@695HOOPS
@PGHMaryland
@lp32_league
@USJN

[Coach Al @695HOOPS]

@BeAuthentic15 @RealBarbKayla Loud and wrong.

[Coach Al @695HOOPS]

@SavagePrime @SpikeEskin Gp back to sleep so we can get LeBron

[Coach Al @695HOOPS]

@racingpro70 @espnW @chiney People complain non-stop about Lebron. Tap out of this one.

[Rachel Coleman @_coachrachel]

I’m already seeing 2027s decommit because of 5-for-5.

I’ll keep saying this over and over: you are not done being recruited until you’ve exhausted your eligibility.

Recruiting doesn’t stop when you commit. It doesn’t stop when you sign. It doesn’t stop after your freshman year. Stay ready, keep developing, and never assume your spot is guaranteed.

[Kameo Williams @gemsinthegym]

2027’s you better get off the board sooner than later! The new 5 In 5 will affect you greatly.
#gemsinthegym

[PatechiaHartman @patechiaH3]

Looking to fill spots for the upcoming season..!!
Need combo guards all the way to post players! Dont be afraid.. SEND THE FILM!!It is NEVER too late!! You may be a LADY SENATOR!!🤞🏾🏀‼️🔵⚪️🔴💪🏽🏀‼️

[Baltimore Sun Sports @BaltSunSports]

Kyle Andrews, a former Baltimore Sun writer and current Baltimore County teacher, is taking over as Maryvale Prep's girls basketball coach. https://t.co/lPYHcI9QBd

[Coach Al @695HOOPS]

@AzPetrich Some people would find a way to be really upset about that.