This is crazy. But when I was in high school, you were only allowed two weeks of summer organized play in any given high school team sport. Doesn’t that sound ridiculous? I know I am getting old but that was the way it was back then and it was extremely frustrating to me. Let’s just say I am still a little irritated about the whole thing even to this day.
OK. I need to get it out of my system. After I attended a couple of basket camps one summer, I had an opportunity to play on a summer traveling AAU team from another state (Washington). I had already gone to a camp in Indiana and at the University of Washington. I had used up my two weeks. So we petitioned the Montana High School Association to let me play more basketball but to no avail. They would not budge! Do you know why? Well, they said it would not be fair to everyone else who did not have the same opportunity. In other words, I might get “too good” and “gain an advantage” over other athletes in the state.
Thankfully, this all changed about 25 years ago and now the summer season of camps and organized ball has really taken off. High school students can play from June 1 through July 31 with no restrictions. For 61 days in the summer, they can receive coaching from their high school coaches and play organized ball as much as they want. There are not only camps and open gyms with instruction from high school coaches but also team camps and traveling AAU teams.
Young athletes are playing more basketball than ever, especially in the summer. I think this is a good thing, no, wait a minute, I think it is a great thing! Former Carroll College coach Gary Turcott agrees when he says, “The new rules have really changed the game for the better in the state of Montana. Those kids who really want to excel and play at a high, high level can now do so without interference from some state athletic association.” He always believed Montana kids were at a distinct disadvantage since they lived in one of the only states to put such restrictions on athletes.
Now the month of June is basketball month. This is how most coaches have structured their summer play. All four weekends in June are dedicated to team tournaments where actual high school basketball teams, with their coaches coaching, can play between 15 and 25 games in the month – as many games as they might play during the entire school season.
In fact, I just returned from Helena where 12 of the 14 AA high schools were present along with Laurel and Butte Central from Class A and Bigfork from Class B. Each team played five games apiece over two days. The competition and quality of play was outstanding as teams began to assess their talent level and see how all the pieces will fit together for next school year.
In my opinion, this has helped many athletes in recent years who have wanted to take it to another level. For example: Missoula Big Sky’s Jocelyn and Ellie Tinkle (Stanford and Gonzaga), Missoula Hellgate’s Tres Tinkle (Oregon State), Great Falls CMR’s Huestis (Stanford and now the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder), Flathead’s Hogan (Tulane), Fairfield’s Barta (Gonzaga), Glacier’s Edwards (Gonzaga), and Billings Skyview’s Muller and Manuel (Oregon State).
All these athletes have greatly benefited from the 61 days of summer hoops. They have played with their high school teams and gone to camps and traveled with AAU teams. And they have taken it to another level by improving their own teams and giving them opportunities beyond the borders of our state.
There I have done it. I have vented. Now let’s get better this summer. Come on basketball players of the Flathead Valley, get in the gym and get busy!
Jeff Epperly is a Kalispell native who grew up playing sports. Now he enjoys watching his kids doing the same.