Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors has formed an AAU program based in Michigan (Photo: Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and Arizona Cardinals linebacker LaMarr Woodley have announced the formation of an AAU basketball program in their home state of Michigan.
Both are Saginaw natives and remained in-state during their college careers with Green at Michigan State and Woodley at Michigan.
According to a press release, the new GreenWood Elite program will be free to all participants.
The program will have under-15, under-16 and under-17 elite teams and an under-10, under-12, under-13 and under-14 regular teams. The elite teams will debut at the Super 16 Nike Showcase in Columbus May 15-17. The under-10 an under-13 teams will compete this weekend at the Michigan state AAU tournament.
Among other events on the schedule are the adidas Invitational in Indianapolis in July for five teams and the AAU Nationals in July in Lexington, Ky., for the under-16 team.
Participants “will be armed with educational and basketball skills to instill a foundation of academic, decision-making, planning, responsibility, reliability and perseverance abilities that will contribute to their potential as they mature into young men,” according to the announcement.
GreenWood also announced an academic component to be led by Alycia Giles, who is a school counselor, math teacher and MME/ACT test supervisor at Saginaw High School.
According to a news release, “the academic success of its student-athletes is fundamental to the GreenWood Elite AAU program. GreenWood Elite will offer academic skills and SAT & ACT tutorials to ensure a focus on classwork and to enhance the potential of collegiate qualifications and acceptance.”
LaMarr Woodley, now a member of the Arizona Cardinals, has formed an AAU basketball program in his home state of Michigan. (Photo: Jason Bridge, USA TODAY Sports)