21-05-2009

Summer Club teams....How to know which is right for you.

When is comes to summer Club ball there are a variety of choices, from local high school summer teams to elite travel teams and everything in between.
It is a well known fact that players improve their game the most during the off-season. This is the time for concentrated work on shooting, ball handling, speed, explosiveness etc.... Summer also provides opportunities for exposure to college coaches during the NCAA evaluation periods in July. Players with the desire and ability to play college ball(at any level) should get out and be seen by college coaches. Playing college ball should not be about "going DI" but finding a program and school that fits each individual athlete. for this reason our spotlight club team is The Centennial Basketball Club - CBC Fury.
      The CBC Director and Head Coach is Sherryl Klosterman, a 23 year veteran coach in Colorado. Coach K, as she is known by her players, founded the CBC in 2002 to provide her high school players the chance to improve their skills and for opportunities for college exposure. The Club has grown as players from other areas like what they see in the CBC.  The Fury players are not the typical "club players", the high level elite players, but rather players of all levels who want a chance to improve and an opportunity to be seen even if they are not DI caliber players. "My goal for my summer program has not been to win trophies, but to improve each player's skills and give them a chance for a college scholarship" says Coach Klosterman. Klosterman has sent players into colleges at every level, DI, DII, DIII, NAIA, and Jr College. Over 40 of Coach K's players have gone on to play at the collegiate level. "I'd say we are accomplishing our goal of placing players in college programs."  Her thoughts on college ball..."I feel too much emphasis is placed on kids going DI. Some are not cut out for that level of ball for several reasons and end up transfering to smaller schools which fit them better. We try to focus on getting our players to schools which fit each individual academically as well as on the basketball court. I would rather see a kid pick a program where she can play for four years rather than sit the bench." 
    Choosing a college can be a monumental task. Students thrive when they are comfortable and at ease with the total college environment, from academics to athletics, to a social life. These all should be considered when choosing a college to attend. The CBC has done a remarkable job when placing it's players into schools and basketball programs. Final  thoughts from Coach K..." Playing basketball will end for each of us, preparing our players for a successful future outside of basketball is our main focus. The biggest thrill for me is not only watching my players play in college, but getting invited to weddings and baby showers of former players; watching them grow into successful women."