Article critical of the Vegas tournament (AAU tournaments in general)

[ChicosBailBonds]

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-sondheimer30-2008jul30,0,2723763.column

[dsfire]

I'm not familiar with the ins-and-outs of basketball recruiting, but I don't agree with the premise that the AAU tournaments aren't useful recruiting tools just because coaches aren't using them to find new talent.  It does seem crazy that everyone - spectators, teams, and recruiters - are all paying into the pockets of the sponsors that run the tournaments.

[RubyWiscy]

Seems like if that was the only purpose put out there for the tournament, to get discovered, the writer has a point.  However, there are likely many other reasons to play in the tournament and to attend as a coach.

Is it the best or only option for getting discovered, probably not.  But it is one step in the process.  If a player is consistantly making noise at these tournaments, hard to believe coaches would not eventually figure out who he is.