jr3SSB, Adidas: Licking Our Wounds, But Keeping Perspective

Today, I’m definitely licking my wounds a bit—but I want to make sure we all keep things in perspective. This past weekend was never about winning it all. Not yet. This phase is about growth and exposure. Exposure leads to expansion—and right now, we’re in the exposure phase. Expansion will come, but only if we build the right foundation.

So what does exposure look like at this stage?

• Playing in tournaments with media coverage, like BallerTV and other platforms that document and broadcast games.

• Competing against ranked programs and players—these kids already have attention, and by playing them, we get on that radar too.

• Stepping outside our local area—most opportunities that really matter aren’t going to happen in our own backyard.

• Staying plugged into the systems that influence rankings and recruiting—like Prep Hoops, Mitten Recruit, and others.

• Maximizing every opportunity when those eyes are on us. Play hard, play smart, and make it count.

Like I told the boys—I love them. But it’s time for me to raise the standard. I owe it to them. When they leave me, they will be ready for the next level. I won’t accept anything less. And as long as you, the parents, continue to trust me and my team, we’ll stay on them and keep pushing.

Let’s also be real: national teams are built by pulling the best players from multiple squads across their region. They’re “super teams.” That’s who we were playing. And honestly? We did play single team that was flat-out better than us. We beat ourselves more than we got beat.

Parents, please help reinforce this at home: playing time is based on many factors. It’s not always a reflection of effort or skill. Sometimes it’s matchup-based. Sometimes we’re preserving a kid’s energy for later. These tournaments are draining, and every player has different energy levels, health concerns, or even sicknesses that you might not know about. Talent doesn’t make them inhuman. We’re constantly balancing strategy, stamina, and competition.

We’ve got to level up our maturity as a program and as a family—now. High school coaches won’t take the time to explain any of this. But I promise you: every kid will get their shot to shine. I wouldn’t ask you to spend your time and money or take up a roster spot otherwise. Please help communicate that at home.

Now that we’ve faced the top 7th-grade competition in the country, we can analyze the data and identify the gaps. That’s how we grow. The first half of these games told me exactly where we are. The second halves? Fatigue. That data’s out the window. We were drained from the effort it took to keep pace early on.

Our next tournament, May 30–June 1, will be a similar test. And I want our boys in these environments—as much as we can afford to. It was physical, but fair. Some of those programs are clearly ahead of us, but again, they’re cherry-picking talent from across entire states. I’m okay with that. I want our players to see it, feel it, and adjust to it.

I’ll be sending out an action plan soon after our coaching staff reviews the tape and meets. For now, if you haven’t submitted your $50 payment for the May 30 Prep Hoops tournament, please take care of that ASAP.