Aram Parunak coaches, writes, and builds. Essays on basketball development, training, and the work itself.https://aramparunak.com/https://aramparunak.com/writing/when-you-tweet-your-camp-invitation/https://aramparunak.com/writing/when-you-tweet-your-camp-invitation/I saw a tweet this week: 'Blessed to receive a camp invitation from [D1 school name]. The grind continues! #Blessed #D1Bound'Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/d2-schools-can-give-full-scholarships-even-to-out-of-state-kids/https://aramparunak.com/writing/d2-schools-can-give-full-scholarships-even-to-out-of-state-kids/Let's be honest. Most families have no idea how D2 scholarships actually work. It's not really their fault. Especially for basketball, Division 2 is the 'wild...Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/you-cant-yell-decision-making-into-existence/https://aramparunak.com/writing/you-cant-yell-decision-making-into-existence/The timeout buzzer sounds. Coach storms onto the court, veins bulging. 'What were you thinking out there? That was a terrible decision!'Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/stop-blaming-the-system-and-start-working/https://aramparunak.com/writing/stop-blaming-the-system-and-start-working/I'm tired of hearing people complain about youth basketball.Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/are-basketball-training-programs-a-scam-lets-be-honest-about-youth-sports/https://aramparunak.com/writing/are-basketball-training-programs-a-scam-lets-be-honest-about-youth-sports/Someone asked me today if what we do is a scam. He was joking, then followed up with 'I love a good scam.' But let's be honest - plenty of people think that...Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/thats-not-basketball/https://aramparunak.com/writing/thats-not-basketball/Youth basketball programs sell two things, depending on the age group.Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/the-transfer-portal-changed-everything-and-high-school-players-still-dont-know-it/https://aramparunak.com/writing/the-transfer-portal-changed-everything-and-high-school-players-still-dont-know-it/Let's be honest about what you're really competing against.Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/how-to-fix-youth-basketball-development/https://aramparunak.com/writing/how-to-fix-youth-basketball-development/Here's How You Fix Youth Basketball. Nobody Will Do It.Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/is-youth-basketball-developing-your-child/https://aramparunak.com/writing/is-youth-basketball-developing-your-child/Let me be real with you for a minute — not as a marketer, not as someone trying to sell you something, but as someone who has spent years in gyms, on...Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/stop-paying-for-basketball-that-doesnt-teach-basketball/https://aramparunak.com/writing/stop-paying-for-basketball-that-doesnt-teach-basketball/The truth is, a lot of youth basketball right now is built on a lie.Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/the-worst-habit-anyone-can-have-what-is-your-standard/https://aramparunak.com/writing/the-worst-habit-anyone-can-have-what-is-your-standard/Letting someone else set your standard is probably the worst habit anyone can have.Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/stop-chasing-exposure-start-chasing-excellence/https://aramparunak.com/writing/stop-chasing-exposure-start-chasing-excellence/In youth basketball, the chase for exposure has become louder than the pursuit of excellence. Scroll social media and you’ll see commitment edits, circuit...Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/improvement-is-only-the-beginning-for-basketball-players/https://aramparunak.com/writing/improvement-is-only-the-beginning-for-basketball-players/Progress feels amazing. You see the results, hear the praise, and feel like all your hard work is paying off. It’s natural to think, “I’ve arrived.”Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/basketball-playmaking-development-dont-play-for-yourself-is-the-wrong-answer/https://aramparunak.com/writing/basketball-playmaking-development-dont-play-for-yourself-is-the-wrong-answer/There’s a contradiction in basketball playmaking development that shows up everywhere.Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/why-so-many-people-think-basketball-training-is-a-waste-of-time/https://aramparunak.com/writing/why-so-many-people-think-basketball-training-is-a-waste-of-time/There’s a common belief in basketball: players just need game reps. Or worse, that basketball training is a waste of time.Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/youth-basketball-player-development-why-1-on-1-and-3-on-3-matter-more-than-teams/https://aramparunak.com/writing/youth-basketball-player-development-why-1-on-1-and-3-on-3-matter-more-than-teams/When it comes to Youth Basketball Player Development, 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 Matter More Than Teams.Sat, 24 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/making-simple-things-difficult-the-hoops-college-way/https://aramparunak.com/writing/making-simple-things-difficult-the-hoops-college-way/This is the Hoops College Way. We've mastered something that most trainers and coaches don’t. We've figured out how to make the most simple and basic skills...Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/reclassification-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/https://aramparunak.com/writing/reclassification-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/Reclassification is very popular among American basketball players.  It is the practice of making an athlete repeat a grade. Usually, repeating a grade is...Sat, 02 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/the-buck-stops-here/https://aramparunak.com/writing/the-buck-stops-here/As a head coach and as a coaching staff, it is our responsibility to accept fault for every failure and give away the credit for every success. It is much...Tue, 07 May 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/dear-parent-of-a-prospective-college-basketball-player/https://aramparunak.com/writing/dear-parent-of-a-prospective-college-basketball-player/Parent of a Prospective College Basketball Player,Wed, 22 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/the-lack-of-fundamental-development/https://aramparunak.com/writing/the-lack-of-fundamental-development/The lack of fundamental development in youth basketball is alarming. Over the last few months, I've watched more bad basketball than I ever care to watch.Tue, 01 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/let-them-fail/https://aramparunak.com/writing/let-them-fail/Why don't we let them fail?  Why do we pretend that our kids aren't human?  Why do we try to protect them from the struggle? The truth is we all fail, we all...Mon, 25 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/the-narrative-about-aau/https://aramparunak.com/writing/the-narrative-about-aau/So the narrative about AAU is very prevalent. The idea is that you have to play 'AAU' or travel basketball to get recruited. We'll look at that as well as the...Sat, 19 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/pickup-basketball-the-good-bad-and-ugly/https://aramparunak.com/writing/pickup-basketball-the-good-bad-and-ugly/Pickup basketball is the most popular way that basketball is played. Millions of people around the world play pickup daily. It's where many find their 'love'...Sun, 24 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/you-can-have-my-job/https://aramparunak.com/writing/you-can-have-my-job/You can have my job. But the truth is you don't really want it that bad.  It sure looks nice.  It sure sounds nice. But you want the shortcut.  You want me to...Fri, 01 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/kids-should-play-3-on-3/https://aramparunak.com/writing/kids-should-play-3-on-3/Kids should play 3 on 3 basketball simply because there are fewer players on the court. Your next statement might accuse me of being Captain Obvious in the...Fri, 18 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/what-is-important-to-you/https://aramparunak.com/writing/what-is-important-to-you/What is important to you?Fri, 28 May 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://aramparunak.com/writing/evaluate-your-aau-program/https://aramparunak.com/writing/evaluate-your-aau-program/Parents and Players,Please evaluate your 'AAU' program. You are spending considerable money paying for practices, tournaments, uniforms, shoes, book bags,...Thu, 20 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT