10 things you can do to impress at AAU tryouts

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Plus 5 things you really need to avoid!</h2>   AAU tryouts can be intense. You're not just trying to make a team – you are competing for a spot in a high-level program that plays on regional and national stages, where college coaches routinely watch from the baseline, where you have an opportunity to chart the right course for your future. If you're already on a varsity roster, and doing the extra work on your own five or six days a week, you've put yourself in the mix. The question is, how do you prove that to AAU evaluators who have an hour or two to pass judgement while trying to assemble their best possible roster for the 2026 campaign?   We've got suggestions! Here are 10 things you can do to impress at AAU tryouts, along with 5 things you really need to avoid.   DO THESE 10 THINGS   1. Plan your tryout schedule strategically   Don't try to bounce from one tryout to another all on the same day. If Team A's tryout is at 7:00 p.m. in Woodbury, don't plan to attend Team B's session at 5:00 p.m. in Bloomington. You risk showing up late, worn out, or distracted. Instead, map out your top two or three choices, and commit to them fully. Show up early, get warmed up and be sure you are rested and ready to go hard every time. If you can comfortably sprinkle in some other one-off tryouts, go for it.   2. Be smart (and realistic) about where you attend tryouts   It's rare for top-tier teams at the biggest clubs to take players from open tryouts unless you are a well-known prospect or have been recommended to the club by someone they trust. But second and third teams often have spots available, and getting into the club now can lead to future opportunities. Players who aren't scholarship-level prospects should focus on more realistic rosters to target.   3. Attend every scheduled session for your target teams   If your target team holds multiple tryout dates, schedule yourself to show up for all of them. Each time you walk into the gym, you have another chance to leave a positive impression. It shows your interest, commitment, and consistency – traits that matter as much as whatever innate basketball talent players bring to the table.   4. Make yourself easier to spot   It might sound silly, but wearing bright or unusual shorts or socks can help evaluators track you more easily. In a gym full of the same old colors, wearing neon orange shorts or socks with unusual patterns can help you be remembered. Just make sure it's tasteful – none of those sassy socks with the sketchy language please.   5. Have an identity   Know what you do well, and do it with confidence. If you're a shooter, let it fly. If you're a slasher, get downhill. Coaches aren't looking for someone to do everything – they're looking for players who bring a clear, dependable skillset to the floor.   6. Do the little things well and consistently   Sprint the floor. Box out. Set hard screens. Make sharp cuts. Communicate. These details may not make the highlight reel, but coaches notice them because they win games. At tryouts, small things separate serious players from everyone else.   7. Compete like it's a championship game   Effort is everything. Tryouts are not like open gym with your friends or high school teammates. Every drill is an opportunity to show grit. Be the first on the floor for loose balls. Fight for rebounds. Never jog – always sprint. Energy, hustle and Intensity aren't optional at this level.   8. Be vocal and positive   Players who talk stand out. Call out screens. Clap for teammates. Give direction on defense. Encourage others – even the ones you're technically competing against and those whose skillset may be lacking for the level. Coaches want leaders and communicators, not just quiet talent.   9. Have a short memory   Turnovers happen. You're going to miss layups. You're probably going to turn the ball over. What matters most is how you respond to these miscues. Don't hang your head or throw your arms up. Sprint back. Talk on D. Make the next play. Coaches want mentally tough players who don't unravel under pressure. This summer I have watched a particular super-talented player numerous times who pauses and hangs her head every time she makes a mistake, transforming herself from a high-level college prospect to a liability. That's a hard “no” from me.   10. Talk to the coaches   Before or after the session, make a point to introduce yourself a couple of the coaches/evaluators running the session. Yes, they are busy and tryouts can be hectic. But taking a moment to say “hello” and “thank you” can leave an impression that will help you. Players should be the ones doing this, not parents. Confidence, maturity and respect go a long way in this game.   DON'T DO THESE 5 THINGS   Now that we've got the positive steps you can take out of the way, let's be blunt about some things you should NOT do at tryouts.   1. Don't try to be someone you are not   This isn't the time to prove you're a point guard if you're really a wing. Don't force post-ups if that's not your game. When players try to show too much outside their comfort zone, it usually backfires. Stick to your identity and be the best you can be at that core skill.   2. Don't be a ball hog   Trying to prove you can score on every possession or dominate the ball won't get you far. Coaches are watching how you move the ball, how you read the game, and how you impact others. Selfish play is a sure way to get noticed and earn yourself a one-way ticket out the door.   3. Don't show bad body language   Pouting after a turnover. Shaking your head. Shrugging off feedback. Refusing an opponent's offer to help you up off the floor. All of that stuff gets noticed and not in a good way. Show resilience. Shrug off your mistakes and move on to the next play. Coaches want players who keep their heads up and lead by example.   4. Don't play passively   If you don't talk, don't touch the ball, or don't show energy, you'll just blend in, and that is the last thing you want at tryouts. Be aggressive. Be vocal. Make your presence felt from the first drill.   5. Don't let one tryout define you   Even if it doesn't go your way, don't get discouraged. Everyone's journey is different. Don't think of it as failure. Instead use it as fuel to ignite your fire. Keep working, keep improving, and keep trying to make the best roster you can. In the end the right doors will open.