The economics of girls club basketball are changing FAST, and I don’t think people realize where this is headed. Let’s be clear. Money changing hands in AAU basketball isn’t new. It’s been happening on the boys side for years, and the truly elite girls have always had some negotiating power. But traditionally, having your travel expenses covered was considered a pretty good deal. Not anymore. We’re now seeing parents asking for travel expenses PLUS CASH. And it’s no longer just the elite, program-changing players. Even role players on circuit teams are starting to expect compensation. A big reason? The circuit wars. New circuits are throwing serious money around to compete with the Big 3 shoe companies. And when you’re trying to convince established programs and elite players to leave, money is one of the quickest ways to get their attention. I heard about a girl last year who received a deal worth more than her parents make in an entire year. And seriously, WHO ISN’T TAKING THAT DEAL? I certainly don’t blame the families. But here’s what happens next. The superstar gets paid. Then the next-best player wants money. Then the starter. Then the role player. What was once the exception slowly becomes the expectation. My prediction? Within 3–5 years, top girls club programs will need their own version of collectives just to remain competitive. And that’s where things get interesting. You can have great coaching, development, exposure, college relationships and a proven track record of getting players recruited. But what happens when another program can offer all of that AND money? I think we’re heading toward a massive divide between the HAVES and HAVE-NOTS in girls club basketball. Some really good programs are going to get priced out. Not because they aren’t good enough, but because they can’t afford to compete financially. We’re watching girls club basketball evolve from a development and exposure model into a player-acquisition marketplace. The question isn’t whether money will change the game. It’s how fast the club model will die for what comes next.

AWARDS SZN🏅: 2025-26 Houston Boys Basketball All-VYPE Teams🏀 With the season in the books, it’s time to spotlight Houston’s elite💎 ➡️🔗vype.com/Texas/Houston/award… ✍️ @MatthewOgle777

Michael… I’m not sure we have not had the chance to meet yet, but your boss reached out to me back in October, and I personally extended an invitation for him and his entire staff, including you, to stop by HCU for any of our practices or games. I would love the opportunity to host you on campus so we can chat about how NIL and revenue sharing works at the college level. Schools in the Southland Conference vary widely in what they can allocate, ranging from $0 to well over a million annually for their rosters, depending on resources and priorities. You are right that McNeese has done an excellent job loading up with high caliber Houston area talent. Those five players you mentioned came in from strong programs (Oklahoma, Providence/Seton Hall, LSU/K State/SMU, Tulsa, and UTSA), and each player has quality representation that commands significant market value. In the Houston market, none of the five NCAA D1 programs (PV, HCU, TSU, Rice, UH) can compete financially with McNeese unless their mascot is a Cougar. That said, if you had joined us at an HCU practice I would have introduced you to Houston area standout Demari Williams. He starred at Fulshear HS, spent time at Arizona State and Oral Roberts, and has really blossomed here at HCU, jumping from 2.2 PPG at ORU to 9.7 PPG this season (.469 FG%, .309 3PT%, .794 FT%) with 3.2 RPG, while being our best on-ball defender. Demari is a prime example of the growth and opportunity that HCU can provide. Additionally, we have had several other Houston area players in our program recently, including one from your school. You are surely familiar with this. Despite the challenges of the NIL era and having one of the toughest jobs in college basketball, we have positioned ourselves as one of only five Southland Conference programs to earn bids to the conference tournament in both the 2025 and 2026 seasons. We are proud of that progress, and we are far from finished. Our focus remains on recruiting talented, attainable transfers, both locally and beyond, who want real competition in a rising Southland Conference and are physically ready to handle the league’s demanding style. You have an open invitation to hang out with us in our men’s basketball offices at HCU. We would love to share more about our vision, strengths, and challenges as well as hear your thoughts on the Houston area landscape. Feel free to swing by campus anytime in the coming weeks. Send me a DM and we will get things squared away. Congratulations on another outstanding high school season. HC HS has been truly dominant. Impressive work! Looking forward to connecting. God bless!

The 2025 VYPE Holiday Invitational tips off next Monday The 2025 VYPE Holiday Invitational tips off next week, featuring a full slate of elite programs — several with UIL State Championship aspirations! READ:vype.com/Texas/Houston/the-2…