Future Stars directs summer teams in Iowa and Nebraska and co-opts with Marty Dello Basketball in Illinois to present the Future Stars/MD basketball select program.

Contact these Directors in your state if you have an interest in playing in the summer:

IOWA - Hank Huddleson 319.504.3330

ILLINOIS - Marty Dello 815.482.5672

MISSOURI - Mark McLaughlin 660.874.4630

NEBRASKA - Damon Vogt 402.562.1428

The program is open to boys in current grades 7-12 (2006-2007 school year)and is split into these divisions:

College Prep - Grades 11-12 and advanced underclassmen

Varsity Prep - Grades 9-10 and advanced 8th graders

Junior Select - Grades 7-8 and advanced 6th graders

Nebraska teams will practice at Central Community College in Columbus, Nebraska the week of June 4 to 12 in a scheduled three-day practice set. This will be scheduled by Coach Vogt as the time to begin arrives.

Iowa teams will practice at local high school or fitness centers procured by your assigned team coach June 1-3 and 8-10.

Illinois teams will practice as designated in the Crystal Lake, Illinois or Quad Cities area locations as determined.

There are generally not scheduled practices after the inception of the program as kids are far flung and far apart. Weekly practices aren’t really practical. However, some teams come into a tournament venue the night before an event and can request practice time by working through Josh Kruse, our logistical coordinator.

Each team will participate in four tournament events minimum. Three-day events guarantee seven games (2-Friday, 3-Saturday, 2-Sunday) while two-day events guarantee five games (3-Saturday, 2-Sunday). Three day events typically begin between noon and 1 PM Friday and conclude by 4 PM at the latest on Sunday. Two-day events kick off by 10 AM Saturday morning and generally conclude by 5 PM at the latest on Saturday.

The Future Stars Midwest Developmental League incorporates our teams from Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois, and hopefully teams this year from Wisconsin. While teams within the League will see each other perhaps multiple times during the summer, this is not, as some competitors would suggest, a bad thing. More than half of the teams in any Future Stars event are outside teams, from similar organizations to ours, big time AAU clubs, down to organized conference all-star teams. All games played both inter-league and against outside guest squads factor into the seeding of the Future Stars Club Championship Tournament, a double-elimination final ending event open only to Future Stars Teams. This event produced a state tournament atmosphere the last two years. The event advances teams to the Future Stars National Championship Tournament, moving this year to Chicago, Illinois.

Outstanding coaches direct teams at all levels for Future Stars Sports, and here’s where the difference is most stark between us and other organizations trying to do the same thing…Our coaches adhere to our philosophy of player development, playing time and treatment of players. They are exceptional, adaptable coaches who have learned to adjust quickly, to teach during every waking moment with players, and the results are dramatic from start to finish. Winning is important to our teams, players and coaches, but measurable game to game improvement of teams and players is guaranteed.

While Iowa-Nebraska and Illinois schedules may vary slightly due to distances and number of teams participating (up to 24 in each age division), the general schedule is as follows:

There are few real, true developmental basketball opportunities in the Midwest currently, with a greater focus on the National travel aspect of elite level AAU basketball.

This program is for the average to excellent junior high or high school basketball player looking to improve his individual game with other players of similar attitude and desire. There are rarely egos or poor attitudes present with this program.

Players grow up and gain maturity both on the court and off, as a great emphasis is placed on building lasting bonds between players and their coaches and their families. Parents often remark about the level of deep friendship and closeness that results from these teams, and kids who play for us stay in touch with their coaches and their teammates long after the program is completed.

Future Stars emphasis on exposure, evaluation and promotion of the recruit-able athlete after the fact is well-founded. Perhaps no organization in America works harder to counsel athletes on the recruiting process, academic decision-making, and self-promotion in the process.

Future Stars President Mark McLaughlin?s definitive written work on the recruiting process, ?The Next Level?The Future Stars Guide to Basketball Recruiting? is available for purchase currently from the web page-. Any player at any level with a question or ?need? relative to recruiting, weathering the basketball ?ups and downs? that occur during any season, and constant access and encouragement throughout high school and to the point of decision are hall marks that make Future Stars select travel team basketball completely unique.

A huge and important component of participation in any Future Stars team, camp or exposure shootout is the detailed and comprehensive feedback provided to players on their game, what they need to do to improve, and steps to take to strengthen body, mind and spirit. The evaluation is hands-on, accessible with user-name and password approximately a month after the program’s conclusion and can be used as a “checkpoint” in sharing your progress with high school coaches upon your return.

Our alliance with the National Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is an acknowledgement of the importance of a national governing association opening doors to new participants, teams in our program, and open doors for our program to National AAU Level participation. Your AAU “AB” membership is your insurance coverage for the summer and covers you for all AAU events through August 1 of the program year.

Contact Mark McLaughlin at (660)874-4630 or by email at MarkMc@nemr.net for "the personal touch".