05/11
On the 21st of November 2010 County Upper Basketball Academy became the first Basketball Academy in England to set foot in America for the second year in a row. This trip was for all academy players to experience college basketball in America and possibly get spotted. By experiencing the facilities on offer at an American college, college classes and the ability level of players who are on programmes who offer scholarships it will help answer most if not all questions regarding what an American college might be like and how good players have to be to gain a Scholarship.
On the 22nd of November, County Upper visited The University of South Dakota an NCAA Div 1 School. USD is Coach Johnson’s Alma Marta and where he spent three years on the coaching staff. USD boast a 10,000 seat arena called the Dakota Dome and an Athletics programme which has an $8 million dollar budget. USD competes in the Great West Conference (NCAA Div 1).
“By seeing the Dakota Dome, the USD athletic department and the campus I am hoping all Academy players will get an understanding of what is on offer to student-athletes who are offered full scholarships to NCAA D1 Programmes, so I do not have to try to explain. I am also hoping this visit will motivate players to want to improve so they too might get a chance to gain a scholarship,” said Coach Johnson.
