Wow!  WHAT A SUMMER!

The Virginia Basketball Academy has just completed EIGHT (8) WEEKS of summer programming...and it was a huge success!  Five weeks of "Skills Academies" were very well attended and over the course of this time skills were developed and lives were changed. Each day had a different "word of the day" emphasizing our core values as we carried out our character development curriculum. We worked on the simple, most important individual skills and then moved into the team skills as we attempted to build understanding....and we had fun doing it!

We also completed two (2) YOUTH CAMPS (Grades 3-6), "Basketball Day Camp" and "Advanced Skills Youth Camp," and we incorporated our competitive 5-on-5 games and our Station Games as well.

Our whirlwind summer ended with our TOTAL SKILLS CAMPS for our upper middle school and high school basketballers.  These were also overnight camps and many young basketball players traveled from great distances to take part in the VABA experience.  Athletes from Canada, up-state New York, New York City, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia Beach came to Charlottesville to learn and work to prepare for the up-coming season. 

Finally, our VABA ALL-STARS continued to practice and play throughout the summer, attending numerous tournaments and representing VABA well.  Coaches Lee Cress, James Barkley, Matt Blundin, Luvelle Brown and Ed Leary worked hard to develop these teams as they came together and competed against the best in the state and beyond!

And...a super THANK YOU to our amazing SUMMER COACHES!  Coach Rock, Coach Crocker, Coach Frazier, Coach Dale, Coach Stewart-Silver, Coach Chambers, Coach Barry, Coach Skinner, Coach Brennan, Coach Tarver, Coach Massad, Coach Green - and all of our volunteers, especially Ms. Kathleen Brumbaugh! 

THANKS FOR A GREAT SUMMER, EVERYONE!

Congratulations to the VABA All Stars 14U team for winning the Fluvanna Invitational this weekend. They won some tough games that were all down to the wire.  In round one, they won by 4 points. In game 2, they won by 1 point and in the Championship game, they pulled it out by 1 point again!   In the championship game over Prince William Jaguars a free throw by Mathyuis Pettis with 2 seconds left was the difference. He had an ear to ear smile that just wouldn’t quit after that game. Prince William has a very good team but the VABA All-Stars played them really well. In fact, the Prince William team had already qualified for the 2010 AAU National Championship Tournament Division II being held in Lake Buena Vista, Florida in July.

Congratulations to Kurt Diduch, Patrick Maupin, Mathyuis Pettis, Cazzie Olko, Ryan Londree, Justin Parks, Jake Maynard, Ryan Leary, Cory Lesher and coaches Leary and Parks and all the parents and fans of the U14 VABA All-stars!

View VABA Coach Wooden webpage…

The Virginia Basketball Academy has as its mission “building character and shaping lives through the game of basketball.”  Every facet of its program attempts to follow this creed.  And, this philosophy, this mission, originally derived from Coach D’Alessandro’s coaching idol, John Wooden – the greatest coach of all time.  It was Coach Wooden who inspired the founding of VABA.  It is his legacy that VABA has hoped to carry on, and it is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of this enduring coaching icon and our inspiration. 

Coach Wooden never mentioned winning to his teams – the result was not his focus – his emphases were the  process, preparation, character and moral condition.  Industriousness and enthusiasm were the cornerstones for his Pyramid of Success, the blocks of which have been taught for over a decade through VABA teaching programs to hundreds of youth. 

It was divine intervention that eventually brought together a meeting of Coach D’Alessandro and Coach Wooden back in 2004 – and since then this friendship has grown and the VABA philosophy continually reinforced.  Thank you, Coach, for all you have done to inspire us, shaping this organization and vicariously impacting so many lives over the years.  Thank you for all the lives you have touched and will continue to touch through our organization.  We know you are with the Lord now, and with your precious wife, Nellie.  We pledge to carry on your legacy FOREVER!


Ben (Coach D'Alessandro), his son, Maurice, & Coach Wooden in 2005


Coach Wooden embraces Rece D'Alessandro.  Ben visits UCLA campus to learn more about Coach Wooden's philosophy.


Coach Wooden & Ben in Coach Wooden's condominium in California in 2007.



Coach Wooden loved poetry and loved reciting it aloud - especially some of his own.  WE LOVE YOU, COACH!


Coach D'Alessandro and some of his players in front of their Coach Wooden Pyramid of Success
(from right to left: Bryan Pollard, Coach Travis Johnson, Isaac Stewart-Silver, Maleek Frazier, Nathan Hyde, Treven Meyers & Coach Ben D'Alessandro)


Coach Wooden's chalkboard where he taught his student-athletes; and, the "B.O Barn" - the gym where Coach Wooden had his first practices at UCLA beginning in 1948.


Coach D'Alessandro standing in front of Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success displayed at the student athletic center on UCLA's campus.

Coach Luvelle Brown took his VABA All-Stars (U13) team to Roanoke on Saturday to compete in the Mothers Day Jam.  Despite being undermanned, this team represented VABA well by playing with character & skill.  Hustle, determination and team play prevailed as this Cinderella Team took home first place!  Congrats to Coach Brown, Matthew Cogswell, Logan Rowe, George Brumbaugh, Cameron Crispens, Marcel Berry and Jake Gelnovatch for showing what the Virginia Basketball Academy stands for and playing with such heart and togetherness!  Visit this link to VIEW TOURNAMENT PHOTOS from this weekend.

The VABA Summer Camp Schedule has been released!

 

 

 

 

We offer programs for both Boys (Registration Info) and Girls (Registration Info) of all ages and skill levels.

If you're interested in our VABA Summer League for boys (Grades 5-9),
visit VABA Summer League Info

 

Our summer programs include a variety of exciting basketball experiences including Skills Academies (afternoon skills sessions), youth Day Camps (all-day basketball teaching & games), Junior Camps (for our youngest age-group) and Total Skills Camps (for the most serious high school athlete).  We also have reduced our rates to accommodate your household budget during these tough economic times.  In addition, VABA provides very popular “Team/Group Rates” so that you improve right alongside with your teammates getting the best basketball teaching in the area. 

For more information, feel free to contact us directly via telephone (434-242-7729) or email (info@PlayVABA.org).

 

We look forward to seeing you on the court this summer!

Character and Academic Achievement Recognition Ceremony
A special night to honor our high school athletes and their coaches
from 18 area high schools.

Keynote Speaker: Matt Blundin
Former UVA Basketball & Football Standout, Elite Eight Participant, ACC Player-of-the-Year

Dressy-casual attire; All-you-can-eat, Catered Buffet

Sunday, May 2, 2010 - The Omni Hotel
Reserved Seating at 5:00 pm (High School Groups & Reserved Tables)
General Admission at 5:30 pm (remaining availability)

The VABA Foundation is proud to sponsor and put on the Central Virginia Basketball Honors Banquet. 

Every spring, over 250 community members attend the CVA Basketball Honors Banquet, a special evening when we honor achievement in academics and exemplary character for our local high school basketball student-athletes.  On Sunday, May 2^nd at the Omni Hotel, over 60 local athletes & their dedicated coaches will be honored for their contributions.  You are invited! 

Would you like to attend this event?  Please print off a Banquet RSVP form and email us directly at info@PlayVABA.org.

ALSO, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT THIS EVENT, WE NEED GENEROUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP IN FUNDING THE DINNERS FOR THE ATHLETES, THEIR COACHES AND PARENTS.  If interested in sponsorship opportunities, please print off a CVA Honors Banquet Request Form.

for any further questions or for more information, please email us at info@playvaba.org.  We hope to see you there!

View VABA - AAU Basketball Info Flier for all details and info

For the second year, the Virginia Basketball Academy will be holding AAU team tryouts, in conjunction with its Developmental League.  All those participating in the Virginia Developmental Basketball League this season are welcome to attend, as well as those individuals whose future high school did not have any direct affiliation with the VDBL (Louisa, Madison, Buckingham, Nelson and any other outlying counties).  Print off important info sheet above for all information. 

VDBL "AAU Basketball" Spring Travel Team

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

*DOUBLE-CHECK WEBSITE FOR FINAL DETAILS BEFORE COMING TO YOUR TRYOUT*

 

TRY-OUTS:  (Participants must attend AT LEAST ONE of the two tryouts)
*Saturday, March 20 (8:00 am – 1:00 pm) @ The Covenant Upper School (off 64 and 5^th street extended)
*5^th grade: 8:00 – 9:00 am, 6^th grade: 9:00 – 10:00 am, 7^th grade: 10:00 – 11:00, 8^th grade: 11:00 – 12:00 pm
*If your assigned time does not fit your schedule, you may come at another time-slot or AT the 12:00  - 1:00 pm time slot.

*Wednesday, March 24 (6:30 – 8:30 pm) @ The Covenant Upper School (off 64 and 5^th street extended)
*5^th & 6^th grade: 6:30 – 7:30 pm, 7^th & 8^th grade: 7:30 – 8:30 pm

*IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT TO EITHER OF THESE TRYOUTS PLEASE CALL US AT 434-242-7729 or EMAIL ben@PlayVABA.org*

 

PARTICIPANTS:

This is an “open” tryout to all VDBL student-athletes and anyone whose future high school did not have direct affiliation with the VDBL (if your high school did not include any private or public C’ville school you may attend tryout)

 

TEAMS:

The number of teams and the size of the teams (U11, U12, U13, U14) will determined after tryouts are completed. 

 

GAMES/TOURNAMENTS:

Teams participate in four (4) to six (6) tournaments over a four-month span (March, April, May & June).  Tournaments take place on weekends only and span either one, two or two-and-a-half days (Fri, Sat, Sun).  All team members are required to attend a minimum of half of the tournaments over four months.

*ALL TOURNAMENTS WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA in order to minimize travel costs, time, etc. (there will be one “overnight” tournament scheduled to build camaraderie, etc.)

 

PRACTICES:

There is one practice scheduled per week based on the most convenient day for all team members.

 

COST:

There are no exorbitant costs.  The program cost is based solely on a uniform, shooting shirt, facility rental and tournament entry fees and travel costs.

If you'd like to be a sponsor for this event, please email info@PlayVABA.org and complete this form: VDBL Banquet Sponsorship Form.

As is our tradition in the Virginia Developmental Basketball League, we will be reminiscing on a wonderful basketball season and bringing all the parents and student-athletes together for an evening full of food, family and fun.  This is a special night where we make a effort to outwardly recognize those student-athletes, from each team, who stood out in the areas of academics and character, the two qualities our organization represents. 

For more info, view our VDBL Banquet Invitation 09-10

Our Awards Banquet will be taking place at Monticello HS on Sunday, March 14 beginning at 6:00 pm.  All 5th and 6th grade participants and their families and friends will begin eating at 6:15 pm.  7th & 8th graders will arrive at 6:45 pm.  After dinner in the cafeteria, everyone will move to the auditorium where will will recognize our student-athletes and the fantastic season they had. 

We will be enjoying an all-you-can-eat buffet catered by Baja Bean Co. and celebrating the time and hard work our coaches and student-athletes have dedicated this season.  We will be recognizing individual teams, league champions, academic all-stars, character award honorees and service award honorees.  This is going to be a fun time with coaches, teammates and family as we enjoy a final event together as a group and reflect on this past basketball season. 

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO RSVP TO YOUR COACH....or email info@PlayVABA.org today!