LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Dec. 17, 2013) – The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and the Louisville Sports Commission have announced that Louisville will host the AAU high school boys grades 10 through 12 Division I national championships and Gold Super Showcases – the elite AAU competition – for three years starting in 2014.
The events will be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
“Hosting the AAU Boys Basketball National Championships and Showcases is a huge win for Louisville,” said Louisville Sports Commission Executive Director Karl Schmitt. “Sports fans in the local community and the region will have a chance to watch the best high school basketball players in the nation every summer. Additionally, the event will generate more than 8,400 hotel room night stays every year, and attract significant media, high profile coaches and sports personalities to our town. We look forward to the opportunity.”
“When it comes to high school and college basketball, our city and region is best in the world, so it’s fitting and exciting that the AAU Boys Basketball competition is coming to Louisville,” Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said. “Many of the super players we’ve cheered and appreciated in recent years in our local programs have been showcased at AAU, so it will be great for our local fans to see them compete at these elite championships and showcases.”
The 2014 AAU Boy’s Basketball National Championships is expected to attract 340 teams, 200 officials, more than 900 college coaches and scores of national media and will generate more than $3 million in annual economic impact. Detailed information regarding general admission tickets will be announced in January 2014.
“Our national championships and showcase events attract the best-of-the-best AAU teams and elite high school players in the US and several foreign countries,” said AAU Treasurer Ron Crawford. “Alums of these games help fill the rosters of the leading college programs and NBA teams on a regular basis. Our championships take place during an open recruiting period for colleges, so representatives from nearly every team in all divisions of the NCAA and the NAIA will attend, including the biggest names in the coaching business.”
Players participating in the event the last three years have included:
2012 – Andrew Wiggins (Kansas); Julius Randle, Andrew Harrison, Aaron Harrison and Dakari Johnson (Kentucky)
2011 – Nerlens Noel (Kentucky/Philadelphia 76ers), Anthony Bennett (UNLV/Cleveland Cavaliers), Montrezl Harrell (Louisville), Archie Goodwin (Kentucky/Phoenix Suns), Mitch McGary (Michigan), Alex Poythress (Kentucky)
2010 – Chane Behanan (Louisville), Austin Rivers, (Duke/New Orleans Pelicans), Bradley Beal (Florida/Washington Wizards), Ben McLemore (Kansas/Sacramento Kings), Andre Drummond (UConn/Detroit Pistons), Michael Carter-Williams (Syracuse/ Philadelphia 76ers), Wayne Blackshear (Louisville)
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