SEASON DETAILS FOR BOYS BASKETBALL
Point of Contact
Each high school cluster will have their own Youth Coordinator(s) who can answer general questions about PIL coaches, PIL teams, and middle school league details. The coordinators are the primary point of contact for boys basketball in the Winter season. Information for the upcoming PIL Winter basketball seasons will not be known until October, as that is the earliest that preparation begins.
Each high school cluster will have their own Youth Coordinator(s) who can answer general questions about PIL coaches, PIL teams, and middle school league details. The coordinators are the primary point of contact for boys basketball in the Winter season. Information for the upcoming PIL Winter basketball seasons will not be known until October, as that is the earliest that preparation begins.
- Grant's Boys Youth Basketball Coordinators are currently:
- Anissa Hardges (PPS/PIL only) - Lead Coordinator
- Jazmyn Foster (both PPS/PIL and Ball Out) - Admin. Assistant
Tryouts
Tryouts will typically take place in late October or early November. Players CANNOT tryout if they have not completed: Athlete Clearance. Families need to make sure they are 100% cleared and have all paperwork and registrations complete PRIOR TO tryouts. The Grant boys' basketball "Registration Day" event will be available for parents wanting to confirm clearance, ask questions, meet coaches, etc. ahead of the tryouts. Attending this ahead of time will also help to significantly reduce the wait time in line on the day of tryouts.
The tryout process itself involves a panel of all 6 of the PIL youth coaches from all grades. In addition, the Grant Varsity Head Coach, Dondrale Campbell, and some of the Grant High School coaching staff will be present as well. Over the course of 2 days, they put prospective players through a series of drills and then scrimmage time to be observed and evaluated. Coaches are looking to assess their defense, communication (vocal leadership), offensive skillsets, attitudes, body language, and coachability, etc.
EVERY coach from the panel takes notes during EACH grades' tryouts. This means there are a lot of eyes watching the groups and multiple coaches that will be providing input for another coaches' grade level and visa versa. At the end of the day, all coaches sit down together with the Varsity coach and staff to go over their notes from each grade. They discuss players they each selected or didn't select, and work together to get a consensus on a core group of selections. From there, the head coach of each PIL youth team narrows it down to make the FINAL DECISION on selections for their specific team.
Tryouts will typically take place in late October or early November. Players CANNOT tryout if they have not completed: Athlete Clearance. Families need to make sure they are 100% cleared and have all paperwork and registrations complete PRIOR TO tryouts. The Grant boys' basketball "Registration Day" event will be available for parents wanting to confirm clearance, ask questions, meet coaches, etc. ahead of the tryouts. Attending this ahead of time will also help to significantly reduce the wait time in line on the day of tryouts.
- 2023-24 season Registration Day date/time: TBD
- Location: Grant HS
The tryout process itself involves a panel of all 6 of the PIL youth coaches from all grades. In addition, the Grant Varsity Head Coach, Dondrale Campbell, and some of the Grant High School coaching staff will be present as well. Over the course of 2 days, they put prospective players through a series of drills and then scrimmage time to be observed and evaluated. Coaches are looking to assess their defense, communication (vocal leadership), offensive skillsets, attitudes, body language, and coachability, etc.
EVERY coach from the panel takes notes during EACH grades' tryouts. This means there are a lot of eyes watching the groups and multiple coaches that will be providing input for another coaches' grade level and visa versa. At the end of the day, all coaches sit down together with the Varsity coach and staff to go over their notes from each grade. They discuss players they each selected or didn't select, and work together to get a consensus on a core group of selections. From there, the head coach of each PIL youth team narrows it down to make the FINAL DECISION on selections for their specific team.
- 2023-24 season tryout dates/times: TBD
- Location: Grant HS
Team Selections
The PIL structure for teams will be determined in October of each school year. In the previous 2022-23 season the structure was as follows:
The PIL structure for teams will be determined in October of each school year. In the previous 2022-23 season the structure was as follows:
- 10 players were selected for boys teams
- coaches were given the discretion to choose up to 12, if they wanted
- evenly-skilled teams were formed at the 6th and 7th grade levels
- tiered-skilled teams ("A" and "B") were created for the 8th grade level
For Players who are Cut
This coming Winter basketball season, there may potentially be an option for cut players to still participate in recreational basketball at the 6th grade level. Please visit Grant's boys basketball youth feeder program for more information.
This coming Winter basketball season, there may potentially be an option for cut players to still participate in recreational basketball at the 6th grade level. Please visit Grant's boys basketball youth feeder program for more information.
Practices
Every PIL boys basketball team will have two practices each week:
Every PIL boys basketball team will have two practices each week:
- practice schedules are not determined until after teams are formed
- practices are typically 1 hr - 1 hr and 30 mins in length
- 8th grade teams always will have 1 hr 30 min practices
- sometimes, teams in the same grade will have one joint practice together and have their second practice be on their own
- this will be at the coaches' discretion
- practice locations include:
- Beverly Cleary-Fernwood K-8 campus
- Laurelhurst K-8 campus
- Beaumont Middle School campus
- practice time could fall anytime between 4:30-9:00pm
- practice times are based on coach availability and cannot be changed
- if the schools are closed for any reason, practices do not take place
Games
League games for PIL begin in early December each season.
League games for PIL begin in early December each season.
- game schedules are not posted until after Thanksgiving break
- families should always double check the schedule each week during the season, as there are occasional changes made at random (such as a location switch or a time change)
- boys teams typically will have games on Thursday evenings
- weeknight games are typically hosted at a PPS middle school location
- boys will also have occasional games on Saturdays
- weekend games are hosted at a PPS high school
- the season concludes with a tournament at the end of February
- this is for the top teams in league play only
Sponsorship
The PIL has secured NIKE as a major sponsor to provide the following FREE items for each player:
The PIL has secured NIKE as a major sponsor to provide the following FREE items for each player:
- Reversible team uniforms (must be returned at the end of the season)
- Basketballs (must be returned at the end of the season)
- Grant Youth Basketball/PIL branded hoody sweatshirt (for players to keep)
- 1 pair of Nike basketball shoes (for players to keep)
Participation Costs
District funding for school sports, corporate sponsorship, and fundraising helps the PIL keep participation costs low for PPS student-athletes. Families can expect:
District funding for school sports, corporate sponsorship, and fundraising helps the PIL keep participation costs low for PPS student-athletes. Families can expect:
- a $200 player fee
- or $60 (for free/reduced lunch eligible students)
- payments can be made on SchoolPay
- basketball is a sport that will have cuts, so payment should NOT be made until after teams are selected
- proof of payment must be sent to Youth Coordinators by the first practice
Additional Offerings from the Youth Feeder Program
Separate from PPS/PIL, the Grant boys basketball has a year-round feeder program known as: Ball Out. This program self-organizes additional activities, events, and opportunities for players, teams, and coaches during the Winter season. Fundraising helps to fund these options which go above and beyond what is offered from PPS and the PIL. During the 2023-24 Winter season, they are looking to offer the following opportunities for PIL players and coaches, based on participation in fundraising:
Separate from PPS/PIL, the Grant boys basketball has a year-round feeder program known as: Ball Out. This program self-organizes additional activities, events, and opportunities for players, teams, and coaches during the Winter season. Fundraising helps to fund these options which go above and beyond what is offered from PPS and the PIL. During the 2023-24 Winter season, they are looking to offer the following opportunities for PIL players and coaches, based on participation in fundraising:
- Pre-season coach development, including
- curated handbooks outlining grade level progressions, expectations, and outlines for each coach
- a series of on-court practice drill breakdowns and Q&A with high school coaching staff
- on-court demonstration and walk throughs of the Grant playbook for youth coaches, led by Varsity Coach Campbell and the high school staff
- coach training/coaches clinic led by a paid outside facilitator ***A FAVORITE OF THE GRANT COACHING STAFF***
- Pre-season Jam Session
- selected youth and high school athletes and their families come together under one roof for short scrimmages, food, music, and fun!
- ***NEW*** this year: Ball Out is looking to organize a Media Day for youth teams, just as the high school program has
- this would provide the chance for youth families to get individual and team pictures taken
- Theme nights at Varsity boys home games during the season
- PIL youth players wouldn't have to pay an entry fee
- chance for players or teams to play at halftime of high school games
- End of Year pizza party and player certificates
Disclaimer
Boys basketball tends to receive emails each season inquiring about:
For apparel & shoes, families MUST put their child's size in Family ID before tryouts OTHERWISE a random size will be ordered for them at the district level. There is absolutely NO way to send gear back or exchange at all as these items are sent in bulk, and are free of charge!
Boys basketball tends to receive emails each season inquiring about:
- if coaches can change their practice time
- if players can be switched to different teams with other friends
- if shoes/gear can be exchanged due to sizing
- Families are encouraged to keep all of their weeknights open for Winter season basketball, as practices could fall on any day of the week (except Thursdays, which is reserved for boys weeknight games).
For apparel & shoes, families MUST put their child's size in Family ID before tryouts OTHERWISE a random size will be ordered for them at the district level. There is absolutely NO way to send gear back or exchange at all as these items are sent in bulk, and are free of charge!
- Families are encouraged to double check that the correct sizes are listed for their players in Family ID profiles
- if parents are unsure about the fit of certain NIKE products, it's always a safe practice to go half a size up for players to grow into!