AAU Partners with Joe Abunassar, Impact Basketball to Add Skill Development Camps to Growing Portfolio of National Youth Basketball Events

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Jan. 14, 2016) – The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) will partner with premier professional basketball trainer Joe Abunassar and Impact Basketball in March 2016 to produce a superior skill development camp in Las Vegas, the two organizations announced today.

Combined with the Union’s recent announcement of a new The Basketball League concept, the AAU Skill Development Series (The Lab) initiative adds a new dynamic to a growing portfolio of national youth basketball events. The Lab gives dedicated athletes an opportunity of a lifetime to work with some of the best skill development trainers and basketball minds in the game today.

“AAU is synonymous with competition and national exposure opportunities for kids to compete on a national level,” said Boo Williams, AAU Basketball Executive Chair and 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame Human Spirit Award. “We also want people to know the AAU values fundamentals and we are making a conscious effort to get more of our athletes into the lab by introducing more skill development opportunities on a national scale.”

Started by Abunassar in 1997, Impact Basketball applies a unique approach and combination of basketball skills training, strength and conditioning training, nutritional programming and mental condition training to benefit players of all ages who have the desire to improve their game. Impact Basketball has continued to stay ahead of the industry and remains one of the top player development organizations in the industry.

Each year, Impact Basketball is the destination for as many as one-third of the NBA Draft hopefuls, including seven lottery picks and 12 first round selections in 2015, to prepare them for their careers. Since the organization’s inception, Abunassar has trained athletes such as NBA veterans Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Chauncey Billups (retired, ESPN Analyst) as well as young superstars John Wall (Washington Wizards), Serge Ibaka (Oklahoma City Thunder), Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors),Demarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings) and Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves).

“For the past 20 years we have been committed to making players of all ages, better in every way,” Abunassar said. “We are very excited to be able to deliver this unique program to young AAU players around the country to instill in them the knowledge and skills to train and develop on and off the court.  We will deliver the same program we have used to build some of the best players in the history of the game to young AAU players, giving them an advantage over their peers.  AAU is strongly committed to improving the quality of teaching and development of young players, and we are thrilled to be leading the charge.”

2004 NBA Champion and five-time NBA All-Star Billups continued: “Joe and Impact have developed the best system to develop players and AAU will benefit tremendously from the exposure to this program. I think it’s a big step in the right direction for the quality of youth basketball in the US. Every year of my career, training with Joe and Impact, I got better, and everyone who commits to the program will experience the same improvement. And that’s really what youth basketball is all about.”

Led by former Auburn Tigers standout Greg Turner, Senior Sports Manager at the AAU National Office, The Lab initiative aims to provide AAU members with premier skill development camps and clinics across the country with some of the most respected trainers in the industry. While the AAU has always conducted skill development and fundamental training sessions, The Lab is the organization’s first national skill development initiative that will allow AAU members to train with some of the foremost experts in the business.

The inaugural 2.5-day camp will put participants through an introductory workout on Friday and a full day of instruction on Saturday before completing in the mini-camp on Sunday afternoon.

Registration is now open at www.coachoregistration.com/track/entry/nv_thelab. VisitAAUBoysBasketball.org for more information about future AAU Skills Development Series announcements.

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ABOUT THE AAU:

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit and volunteer sports organizations in the country. As a multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. Founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in sports, the AAU philosophy of “Sports For All, Forever” is now shared by more than 600,000 members and 60,000 volunteers nationwide. AAU Basketball alumni LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat) and Shaquille O’Neal. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the development of amateur sports. For more information, visit AAUSports.org.

ABOUT IMPACT BASKETBALL:

IMPACT BASKETBALL is the world’s premiere destination for NBA players, international professionals, collegiate stars and high school players, as well as professional, college and high school teams world-wide. IMPACT is home to players at every level who seek to improve, develop, and transform themselves into better athletes, more highly skilled players, and more versatile competitors as they prepare for the highest levels of the game. For more information, visit www.impactbball.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Cody Norman, AAU Public Relations & Social Media Coordinator

 p: 407-828-8323

c: 321-246-8061

e: cnorman@aausports.org