Indiana was well represented in the younger ages.  We had a team in our pool from Indianapolis (IC Ballers).  We thought we were going to be in position to play George Hill in bracket play but the tie-breakers were kind of screwy and they ended up in another bracket.  That was a big disappointment because they are defending D1 National Champs and the boys really were excited to play them.  But we ended up playing teams from Ohio, Indiana, illinois, Michigan, New York and West Virginia which was a lot of fun.. 

AAU has National Championships from 2nd grade to HS. Just wondering but why do you think education would take a back seat?  Practices are in the evenings and games are on the weekends.  I can't speak for everyone else but the only thing that basketball cuts into is TV or Xbox time and I'm fine with that.  I again can't speak for everyone but AAU basketball has been a big positive in my son's life.  We've gotten to travel to some pretty nice locales and meet some very good people. He's making lasting friendships, not only with the kids on his team but with kids on other teams.  And it's been a huge plus for his basketball development.    

I coach both of my boys' teams (7th and 5th grade teams). During a typical week, I will get 6-8 hours in a gym with my each of my boys and their friends, plus weekend trips and games. I know I'll look back and be happy I spent a ton of time with my sons while they were growing up. I get to control the environment they are in, as well as provide a positive male role model for the few boys on our teams that come from really tough households. Every single boy on both teams (19 total) is on the Honor Roll at school and we get behavior updates from their teachers, the same as a school coach would. For some, basketball is the only thing that forces them to be accountable. Extending the season into the summer means they have some structure during a part of the year they'd just be getting in trouble.

Our kids ask to practice more because they love it. Youth sports are often cast as ugly competitions for the parents, which is true too often. In our program, we have nearly 100 boys that have an opportunity to get better at a sport they love. Those that approach it correctly are able to get better in a controlled environment. OCF, what you don't realize about kids today is that there is no such thing as sandlot baseball or pick up basketball anymore. It is much more structured, and if a kid is good enough to make his school team, he is probably better off in an AAU program.

Things have changed so much since we were kids that a lot of it is new territory.  Philosophically I have a bigger problem with the year-round aspect of sports these days than I do with the tougher competition.  My worry is that three years from now my son will come to me and say "I'm done with basketball."   But right now he is disappointed when he doesn't have practice and on those days he is out in the back yard shooting on his own or begging me to come outside and play him one-on-one.   But it's almost a necessity to have your kid play year round because all the other kids are doing it.  

But IMO playing against serious competition is a good thing.  I know one thing, he's a lot better off as a player for it.  

Lost its Holiday Inn franchise a few years back.  I'd stay a couple of exits south at the Hampton Inn, Country Inn & Suites or Courtyard in Stow.  Steels Corners exit off Rt. 8

What part of the Akron campus did you see?  They have upgraded things in recent years.  To me, it's not that bad.  I guess different people look for different things. 

Having gone there as a freshman in 2002-2003, I can tell you it's nothing special. They started making the major renovations (indoor practice facility, rec center, etc.) when I was there. They were in desperate need of the rec center too. I couldn't find a place to play pickup basketball in the winter because the JAR was always in use and Akron Central Hower (which is basically on campus, or was) was pretty much off limits to anyone who wasn't a student or alumni.

They built the school on top of a hill and the wind just sweeps right down the middle of campus. Winter nights have never been more cold than when I was at Akron. It may be different now, but when I was there it seemed like everything was very spaced out, which made for very long and cold walks. It just feels very integrated with the city, which could be a good or bad thing, depending on how it's done. For comparison, both Xavier and UC are in populous areas of Cincinnati. Xavier feels very homey and separated from the community, and UC is smack dab in the middle of it all.

OUVan - just out of curiosity, where did you play your games? Any local high schools?