Massive basketball showcase called a success

For the convenience in having 18 basketball courts and five big tournaments occurring simultaneously under one massive roof, the debut of the AAU National Championships and Super Showcases in Louisville drew high praise from college coaches who attended the event. And officials from the AAU and Kentucky State Fair Board said they have every intention of keeping the tournament at the Kentucky Exposition Center next year.

The games at the Expo Center and Freedom Hall wrapped up Monday after six days of competition. More than 300 teams and about 3,000 players participated in the 10th-, 11th-and 12th-grade Nationals and 10th- and 11th-grade Super Showcases. About 1,000 college coaches — from Hall of Famers such as Rick Pitino and Roy Williams to NCAA Division III assistants — stopped in for at least one day to evaluate players at the championships, which moved this year from its longtime home near Orlando, Fla.

Add in AAU club coaches, media and spectators, the combined attendance was estimated at between 20,000 and30,000.

"Everything was great," AAU President Henry Forrest said. "There were no bad statements made to me. Everything went well. I think the college coaches enjoyed the 18 courts, and they didn't have to go anywhere, didn't have to drive. Everything was organized. … Overall, I was satisfied and think the week went well."

The contract between the AAU and Kentucky State Fair Board, which operates the Expo Center, is for an additional two years. Either party can opt out over the next 30 days, but Forrest said the tournament was a success, and he wants to return to Louisville.

Amanda Storment, the Fair Board's vice president for communications, said the Expo Center "absolutely" wants the AAU back as well and "has every expectation" it will be. The Fair Board has reserved dates for the AAU for future years.

"It went very smoothly," she said. "We think it could not have gone better for the first year. There were no hiccups. … We were very thrilled to have them, and the fact they moved from Orlando is something that was great for this community. It's a group that we'd like to have every year."

The Expo Center provided a unique, sprawling setup with 18 courts, including Freedom Hall, all at the same location. Many similarly sized club basketball tournaments, including the previous AAU Nationals in Orlando, take place at multiple sites that are sometimes miles apart.

The centrality of the Louisville event proved appealing.

"It's very well-run," Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said. "You don't have to drive all over town. You can walk from court to court, and it's probably as good of a setup as I've seen.

"Not many facilities in the world have the opportunity to set up a tournament like this and have it all under one roof. It's different than anything I've seen in college coaching."

First-year Samford coach Scott Padgett, a Louisville native who played at St. Xavier High School and the University of Kentucky, said he hopes some of the teenagers who played in Freedom Hall appreciated the history of the building.

"They're pretty lucky to play here," he said.

Forrest's only area of displeasure was with the Expo Center's $8 daily parking charge, which he felt was burdensome to spectators who had to make multiple trips to the site — and sometimes multiple times a day. Storment said there was also a $12 daily pass for sale with in-and-out privileges.

Forrest, whose organization gave each AAU team five all-week parking passes, said he plans to bring up the parking costs when the AAU and Fair Board discuss terms of the 2015 event.

"That's the biggest hurdle we're going to have to overcome, in my opinion," Forrest said. "… Outside of small problems, we will be back."

North Carolina's Williams said the AAU Nationals had a "great run in Orlando," but Louisville has "really embraced" the move.

"It's gotten a lot of attention, and you see a lot of people in the stands," he said. "It's a great venue. … Basketball is pretty doggone important here, and it will be for a long time."

Steve Jones can be reached at (502) 582-7176 and followed on Twitter at @SteveJones_CJ.