Team Nikos Practice Player Program
Team Nikos Basketball Academy is an ever-growing program. In order to meet the demands of incoming players who are ready to compete at the club level, we have implemented a Practice Player Program. This will allow new, competitive-level players to join the Team Nikos program as a “practice player” when there are no open roster spots available in their grade level.
JOINING
In order to join Team Nikos as a practice player, a youth athlete must be evaluated by one of our professional club coaches. This may involve attending at least one Academy session and/or one team practice session. If it is determined that the player is able to compete at the level required to be a club player, they may be invited to join as a practice player IF there is a spot available. Invitations can only come from the Coaches’ Director once they have confirmed readiness with the coach(es) in that grade level, and once availability of an open spot is confirmed with the Program Manager.
AVAILABILITY OF PRACTICE PLAYER SPOTS
Practice player spots are limited to one (1) per team. For example, if a team has nine (9) players on their roster and is therefore “full”, the addition of a practice player will give that team ten (10) players for practices. For the current 2016-17 season, teams will not exceed ten (10) total players for practices (9 roster players plus 1 practice player). Although the maximum roster number for future seasons is subject to change, it will remain that teams with full rosters will only be allotted one (1) spot for the addition of a practice player.
COST
The monthly cost to be a practice player is currently $200 per month, not including payment processing fees, and is subject to change.
UNIFORM/GEAR
Practice players will need to purchase the standard Team Nikos Uniform/Gear package for the current season. This package typically includes a game uniform (reversible numbered jersey and shorts), 2 practice jerseys, a warm-up/shooting shirt and a backpack. The price of this package may change/vary from season to season, but generally runs around $250 to $275.
TOURNAMENTS
Practice players in good standing with no payment delinquencies are eligible to sign up for Off-Weekend Tournaments (OWT’s). The same standard OWT rules and policy applies to practice players registering for OWT’s and may be reviewed here. The cost to sign-up for an OWT is $41.24.
Practice players in good standing with no payment delinquencies may also be eligible to participate in regularly scheduled tournaments BY COACH INVITATION ONLY. This means that they could play in a regular tournament IF AND ONLY IF a team is going to be short players for a particular tournament, AND the coach of said team invites a practice player to participate with his/her team for that specific weekend. The cost to participate in a regular tournament is also $41.24, but may vary depending on the location and size of the tournament.
Practice players must also submit their birth certificate, most recent report card and AAU membership card (with Extended Coverage; club code WWC6WC) in order to be eligible to participate in tournaments. For more information on how to join AAU, please click here.
QUESTIONS
For questions regarding the Team Nikos Practice Player Program, please contact Program Manager, Carol Miller, at [email protected].
2016 AAU National Champions
TEAM NIKOS BASKETBALL ACADEMY CEMENTS SIXTH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Team Nikos’ 10U, 11U and 12U Basketball Teams Clinch National Victories in AAU Div II and III
Ladera Ranch, CA August 23, 2016 – Three of Team Nikos’ youth basketball teams, won their respective AAU Division II and III National Championships in Rocklin, California this summer. Invitations to the championship tournament were based on the win-loss record for all qualifying West Coast AAU teams.
On June 23rd through the 26th, the Courtside Basketball Center outside of Sacramento was home to the West Coast’s most elite basketball talent. Team Nikos brought home three titles to Orange County, making them National Champions six times over.
The 10U team, coached by Concordia University alum, Michael Tolmaire, is comprised of Aaron Auci, Saatvik Barla, Neel Chintamaneni, Ethan Jarvis, Mason Londre, Evan Mika, Romario Peralta, Joseph Michael Rosser, and Wisnel Shook. This was the 10U team’s first appearance in the National championship, and they brought home a Division III title.
The 11U team entered the competition as defending Champions from their title last year. Jameel Mahmud coached Kole Clark, Zack Davidson, Samuel Dunnell, Ben Durham, Niko Lopez, Ethan Rhee, Blake Sullivan and Trey Tolmaire to their Division II title.
Team Nikos’ 12U team, coached by the program’s founder, Steve Williams, is comprised of Mason Brehmer, Michael Chapman, Braden Christenson, Donovan Comestro, Jake Hesse, Grant Marquez, John McFadden, Tanner Mehrens and Isaiah Tolmaire. The 12U team earned their third consecutive appearance at the National Championship, and their second AAU title.
Team Nikos celebrated their hard earned victories at their brand new, state-of-the-art home, the Ladera Sports Center in Ladera Ranch, California. The recently built solar powered and air-conditioned facility boasts eight full size courts, and countless amenities. In addition to weekly practices and academies held at the Ladera Sports Center, Team Nikos hosted the LA Clipper camp last month, as well as various NBA celebrities like Tyson Chandler and Anthony Brown.
Team Nikos Basketball Academy is the premiere basketball program in South Orange County, training athletes ages 6 to 18.
2015 AAU National Champions
TEAM NIKOS 4th GRADE TEAM WINS AAU NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Team Nikos Takes Home AAU Championship 3rd Year in a Row, as South Orange County’s 4th Graders Advance to the National Spotlight
Mater Dei High School, Santa Ana, CA, June 28, 2015 – Team Nikos’ 10U basketball team, comprised of 9 South Orange County 4th graders won the AAU Division III National Championships. Invitations to the championship tournament were based on the win-loss record for all qualifying West Coast AAU teams. This win marks the third straight AAU title for Team Nikos Basketball Academy.
Team Nikos advanced three of its flagship teams to the National Championships- 10U, 11U and 12U. Both the 11U and 12U teams took 2nd place in their respective divisions. There were 49 teams competing overall for titles over the weekend. The 10U Team Nikos team beat Team Dynasty from Oregon, SGV from the San Gabriel Valley and the Dominators from Rancho Cucamonga to advance to the championship game.
Team Nikos held a solid lead throughout the first half of the championship game, but Team Dynasty took over the lead in the third quarter. The two teams battled back and forth in the fourth quarter with Nikos trailing by 2 points and 8 seconds left in the game. Nikos’ Bryce Ford made a coast to coast layup that tied the score and sent the game into overtime. With 18 seconds left on the clock in overtime and the Dynasty up again by one point, Nikos’ center Zach Davidson had a clutch steal against Team Dynasty and fed the ball to shooter, Bryce Ford, who executed another perfect layup for the 2 points to clinch the victory for Nikos. The final score was 51-50.
Team Nikos 4th grade team members are Gage Burnett (Ladera Ranch), Bryce Ford (Laguna Beach), Jackson Gray (Coto De Caza), Niko Lopez (Ladera Ranch), Trey Tolmaire (Trabuco Canyon), Blake Gray (Coto De Caza), Blake Sullivan (Laguna Beach) , Zach Davidson (Mission Viejo ), and Ethan Rhee (San Clemente). Coaches Jameel Mahmud and Prince Swafford
Team Nikos Basketball Academy is the premiere basketball program in South Orange County, training athletes ages 4 to 18.
2014 AAU National Champions
TEAM NIKOS 4th GRADE TEAM WINS
AAU NATIONAL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
6- 0 Record Advances South Orange County’s 4th Graders to the National Spotlight
Folsom High School, Folsom, Ca – June 30, 2014 – Team Nikos’ flagship basketball team, comprised of 10 South Orange County 4th graders won the AAU Division III National Championships. Invitations to the championship tournament were based on the win-loss record for all qualifying West Coast AAU teams.
Team Nikos was one of 12 West Coast teams competing for the National recognition. On Saturday, the boys won games against the Stockton Hoops, Team Trail, and the DEG Warriors, which advanced them to the Semi Finals. After winning a tough fought game against SGV on Sunday it propelled Team Nikos to the championship game.
The championship game against the Dominators out of the Inland Empire ended in a score of 53-38, clinching the championship spot for Team Nikos.
Team Nikos 4th grade team members are Kellen Mitchell (Ladera Ranch), Isaiah Tolmaire
(Trabuco Canyon), Jake Hesse (Ladera Ranch), Braden Christenson (Ladera Ranch), Tanner Deal (Ladera Ranch), Michael Chapman (Coto De Caza),Donovan Comestro (Las Flores) Easton Cattich (San Clemente), Tanner Mehrens (San Clemente), Braden Moore (Ladera Ranch) Coaches Steve Williams and Jameel Mahmud
Team Nikos Basketball Academy is the premiere basketball program in South Orange County, training athletes ages 4 to 18.
2013 AAU National Champions
Team Nikos’ flagship basketball club team, comprised of 10 South Orange County eighth graders, won the AAU Division III National Championship at Mater Dei High June 29-30.
Team Nikos, who were one of 12 West Coast teams in the tournament, opened pol play with victories over the Nevada Nets, Baseline Basketball, and the Eastvale Warriors. The victories advanced the squad to the semifinals, where it defeated Fastbreak Basketball on a buzzer-beating shot by Blake Birmingham (San Clemente High).
Article Tab: The Team Nikos eighth-grade boys basketball team took first place at the AAU Division III National Championship at Mater Dei High June 29-30. Members of the team include: Josh Crutchfield, James Vanginkle, Blake Birmingham, CJ Ursetta, Christian Potts, Nick Draper, Tyler Horgan, Demetrius Jackson, Joey Spurgeon, Jake Bailey and coach Steve Williams.
The Team Nikos eighth-grade boys basketball team took first place at the AAU Division III National Championship at Mater Dei High June 29-30. Members of the team include: Josh Crutchfield, James Vanginkle, Blake Birmingham, CJ Ursetta, Christian Potts, Nick Draper, Tyler Horgan, Demetrius Jackson, Joey Spurgeon, Jake Bailey and coach Steve Williams.
COURTESY OF KIMBERLEE MITCHELL
The team sealed the tournament victory with a 48-35 triumph over the Nevada Nets in the final.
“Hard work, dedication and commitment pays off with Team Nikos,” said coach Steve Williams (Laguna Niguel). “These boys have been together for two years and they’ve put in the time. They have responded to every challenge and I love them!”
Members of Team Nikos include: Josh Crutchfield (Las Flores), James Vanginkle (San Clemente High), Birmingham, CJ Ursetta (Laguna Niguel), Christian Potts (Santa Margarita High), Nick Draper, Tyler Horgan (St. Margaret’s), Demetrius Jackson (Lake Forest), Joey Spurgeon (San Clemente High), Jake Bailey (San Clemente) and coach Williams.
Invitations to the championship tournament were based on the win-loss record for all qualifying West Coast AAU teams.
Team Nikos Basketball Academy began is 2007 and trains young athletes ages 6-16. TNBA stresses proper footwork, shooting mechanics, triple threat position and passing angles that have unfortunately taken a backseat to slam dunking, one-on-one play and high shooting percentages. The TNBA mission is to restore the beauty of basketball by teaching individual skills to players of all ages, gender, and abilities.
