AAU turns to livestreaming tourneys
Coaches and fans can still watch games for a fee amid COVID-19 pandemic
Ronald Holmes might be more widely known as Northside’s quarterback, but he’s accomplished on the basketball court as well.
When it comes to playing in college in 2021, he would rather have the option of choosing football or basketball.
Garnering more basketball acclaim through the grassroots circuit this summer is one of Holmes’ goals. Jumping through the hoops the coronavirus pandemic throws at him and his teammates doesn’t outweigh the reward of competing again.
Holmes’ AAU team, Beast Elite, during Father’s Day weekend competed in the Lee Sloan Invitational,
Holmes’ first taste of organized basketball since the Class 5A area round playoffs in late February.
“I was excited to play again because we had a long break off,” Holmes said. “Everybody working the same way as you. You have to keep working and constantly get better because it’s people up there trying to take your spot. That’s what you have to go in there thinking. I went in there thinking I have to compete and show people why I’m one of the top people in my class.”
Holmes isn’t unlike any other rising upperclassman who desperately needs to play in front of college coaches — or just play, period. April’s live periods are gone. July’s will be. College
coaches usually see recruits on the AAU circuit in person during those windows, but the NCAA extended its recruiting dead period through Aug. 31 in response to the pandemic.
Livestreaming is the solution for event operators, especially on the AAU basketball scene.
The rising number of COVID-19 cases is enough for school districts across the state to temporarily shut down in-person strength and conditioning training as a precaution. Those numbers aren’t being taken lightly on the local AAU scene, either, and they have event operators in the middle of a balancing act between providing a platform and running a business while maintaining safety.
Club volleyball, under one governing body, isn’t hosting any indoor tournaments. Club and summer leagues for baseball and softball roar on because many believe it’s safer to play a non-contact sport (generally speaking), particularly outdoors.
Marcus Sloan, founder of Texas-based scouting service OTR Exposure, is one of many on the AAU basketball scene finding ways to play an indoor sport during the pandemic. The Lee Sloan Invitational was held in honor of his father and welcomed 126 teams — some from out of state — to play on 11 courts in eight Houston-area locations.
Safety precautions included temperature checks, masks, sanitation, limited crowds and separate entries for spectators and teams. Teams were immediately ushered off courts after games for areas to be sanitized.
“It’s something you have to do now,” Sloan said. “That’s been a challenge for us, ushering a kid out of the gym when they’re not playing. But the parents have
been appreciative of it, and the coaches have, too, because we’re trying to keep the kids safe.”
Sloan respects parents who are leery about taking part in his or any events. He also understands the other side of it — the need for games in front of college coaches, who are still watching even if they are not present.
On Wednesday, Sloan is hosting the Separation Camp, another showcase for rising seniors.
No spectators will be allowed, but it will be streamed via Global Elevation Sports, allowing parents and coaches to watch for a fee.
Streaming in other AAU sports has been prevalent and is seen as revolutionary on the basketball recruiting trail. Streaming companies — BallerTV is one of the most recognized — could pay for streaming rights while charging spectators in one deal. A different deal might allow event operators and
streaming companies to split revenue. Some streaming services charge operators to showcase their events, with the operators finding value in promoting whoever is streaming their games.
It’s a way for sneaker teams — AAU teams sponsored by Nike, Under Armour or Adidas — to stay attractive through the pandemic. College coaches watch under the same provisions as regular spectators and even get player profiles sometimes.
Jim Hicks, founder of RCS Sports and host of basketball-centric radio show the Chop Shop, noted a livestreamed event in Atlanta had at least 150 college coaches checked in, which isn’t a drop-off from prepandemic life.
Nothing can replace coaches seeing games in person, Sloan said. The little things — how a player reacts to being benched or after a bad play — are missed.
These games are being
watched en masse, though.
“Every single coach that I have talked to of the Division I status has said, ‘Yes, absolutely. That’s the new now,’ ” Hicks said. “Watching these games that are streamed live is the new now.”
Hicks has visited a few events this summer and been pleased to see few unsafe showcases, with the majority strictly enforcing safety precautions. He has seen crowds of 10-20 parents, compared to the usual hundreds.
Erven “Big E” Davis, founder of AAU basketball organization Dallas Showtyme, hosted his own Dallas Showtyme Classic XIV in mid-June, and it was broadcast by LionStream Media. His organization took part in the Great American Shootout’s Dallas event recently.
Davis called the safety procedures he enforced for his own event difficult but necessary, saying “You can’t run away from this virus.” He sees the blessing in games being streamed, though, noting a few of his players turned little to no recruiting activity around them into offers because they were able to play and be seen. Davis says it’s better than players doing it themselves at an open run with no one watching.
The virus halted some events. Brian Jolivette, owner and operator of Above All Sports, has canceled four of his basketball events this summer, wanting to avoid placing spectators in uncomfortable situations amid rising coronavirus cases.
He still has an event planned for July 17, though, and livestreaming helps keep the window open.
“That’s the benefit of having our games streamed,” Jolivette said. “We can move forward with our events, have the games streamed. We can control the crowds, and parents can still see their kid play remotely.”