PRESS RELEASE – The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) will launch their All-American Basketball Skills Academy series this June 2011. This will be the first time the largest youth organization in the United States will be offering basketball skill development events nationally to the well-over 300,000 basketball participants and 1.5 million current members in their organization.

“The AAU is proud to take the next step in furthering the growth of the sport of basketball,” stated Bobby Dodd, AAU President and CEO. “Emphasizing the importance of skill development is an integral component to the continued successful development of the game.”

The AAU All-American Basketball Skills Academy will be managed by the NOM Group, a brand management firm based in Orlando, FL. NOM Group President, Travis King stated “We are committed to making the AAU All-American Skills Academy the ultimate basketball skill and educational experience for student athletes across the United States.”

Former NBA All Star, Olympic Gold Medalist and AAU All-American Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway stated “The AAU basketball program was the foundation for my career in basketball. It allowed all of the elite players in my city to unite and showcase our athletic talent to college coaches. As the Skills Academy Director of Player Personnel, I want to help the AAU develop our next generation of AAU All-American Student Athletes.”

The AAU All-American Basketball Skills Academy will have a boys and girls Junior Division (6-8th grade) and a Senior Division (9-11th grade.) All of the academies will include academic performance sessions, life tools training, combine testing and measurements, fundamental basketball training, conditioning regiments, organized games and contests. Camps will take place in Charlotte, N.C., Hampton, Va., Memphis, Tenn. and Orlando, Fla.

For the first time, the AAU will evaluate and rank individual student athletes nationally. The inaugural 2011 AAU All-American Senior Boys and Girls teams will be named in April 2011. The Top 100 rankings by grade for underclass boys and girls will be announced at the end of the summer based upon Academy evaluations.

For more information about the AAU All-American Skills Academy or to sign up, please visit www.aauallamerican.com or email info@aauallamerican.com.

To become a national or an event sponsor of the AAU or the AAU All-American Skills Academy, please contact Ashley Smith, Mint Sports & Entertainment Group, Inc. at ashley@themintinc.com or 949.246.1999.