Is a basketball academy right for your player?

Hey -,

"Basketball academy" gets thrown around a lot in youth basketball. Some of them are full-time programs that replace a player's traditional school. Others are after-school programs running twice a week. The word covers a lot of ground.

If you have heard your player mention an academy, or you are starting to weigh whether one makes sense for your family, the first thing to figure out is what you are actually looking at.

Here is a clearer breakdown.

What a basketball academy actually is

There are three real categories. Full-time prep academies, where the player lives and trains in a structured program with school built in. After-school skill academies, where players come in two to four times a week for focused work outside their team. And summer-only intensive academies, which are basically extended camps with a curriculum.

Each one fits a different player at a different point in their journey. Most families looking at "an academy" are actually looking at the second or third category, which is great because the bar to enter is lower and the disruption to family life is smaller.

Our new guide breaks down each category, who it serves, and the questions to ask before you commit.

July Summer Camps still open

A few July and early-August Summer Camp sessions still have spots. Charlotte, Denver, Memphis, Portland, Raleigh, and Richmond are accepting last-minute registrations.

If your player wants concentrated reps with PSB coaches before fall tryouts, lock in a session this week.

Quick Tip: How to know if your player is ready for an academy

Watch how your player handles a regular team practice. Do they push through when the drill gets hard, or do they coast? Do they ask coaches how to fix things, or wait for the day to end? An academy turns those tendencies up by 10x. Players who already lean in get amplified. Players who tap out at team practice will tap out faster at an academy.

What's coming up across PSB

Summer Camps have late-summer sessions in Charlotte, Denver, Memphis, Portland, Raleigh, and Richmond.

Fall club team interest is open year-round at PSB. If you are starting to think about fall, drop your info and a Director will reach out.

Find your city's programs at proskillsbasketball.com/register/

From the PSB Blog: Read the new guide on What Is a Basketball Academy. And if your high schooler is being recruited this month, the refreshed July NCAA Basketball Recruiting Live Period has a primer on what to expect.

See you on the court,

Pro Skills Basketball