Off Season

The off-season is one of the most important times for players to grow and improve their basketball skills. Meaningful development does not happen during just a few months of the year; it comes from consistent practice, learning, and a love for the game throughout the year. We encourage all players to stay active during the off-season by continuing to work on their fundamentals, strength, conditioning, and basketball IQ. Whether it's shooting in the driveway, attending camps, participating in open gyms, or playing in leagues, every opportunity to touch a basketball helps build confidence and improve skills.

Hastings Basketball is committed to providing opportunities for players to continue their development year-round. Throughout the summer, we offer a variety of programs, including: summer basketball camps, open gyms, skill development sessions, and shooting and dribbling challenges.

In addition to Hastings-sponsored activities, there are many excellent opportunities through local clubs, training organizations, and community programs that can help players continue their growth.

Most importantly, the off-season should be fun. It's a chance for players to develop new skills, spend time with teammates, compete, and continue building a lifelong passion for the game. The more time players invest in improving during the off-season, the more prepared and confident they will be when the next season begins.

Our camps are led by Hastings High School varsity coaches and staff and are designed for boys and girls entering grades K-12. Whether your child is just getting started or looking to prepare for the next level, there's a camp for every player. Hastings provides two camps throughout the summer. The youth and varsity camp generally starts the first week school is out, and the Better Every Day Camp (Boys) and Prepare to Play Camp (Girls) are generally at the end of June. See the Summer camp page for more details.

Open Gym offers players (grades 4-12) an opportunity to work on their skills, compete, and stay active throughout the summer. See the link below for more info and open gym dates.

The Summer Shot Club is a free summer challenge designed to encourage players to develop consistent shooting habits through shooting repetition. Players are recognized for 10k, 15k, and 20k milestones. See the link below for more info and tracking sheets.

New this year is the Summer Dribbling Club! This program is designed to help players improve their ball-handling skills through consistent daily practice. Just a few minutes each day can lead to significant improvement by the end of the summer. See the link below for more info and tracking sheets.

AAU basketball is another excellent off-season opportunity for players who are looking to continue developing their skills through additional practices and competitive games. Unlike Hastings Basketball, AAU teams are typically organized by independent clubs and bring together players from multiple communities, so teams are not made up exclusively of Hastings athletes. While Hastings Basketball encourages players to pursue off-season development opportunities that fit their goals, we do not organize, endorse, or promote any specific AAU club or team.

Most AAU organizations hold tryouts during July-August or January-March to form teams for the upcoming spring and summer seasons. Because each club operates independently, tryout dates, fees, practice schedules, and tournament commitments vary.

Below are links to several AAU organizations that serve players in our area. This list is provided as a resource for families exploring off-season opportunities. If you know of an AAU program that should be included, please send us its website, and we'll be happy to add it to our list.

Boys programs usually hold their tryouts in Jan-March. Some teams build their teams via recruiting and do not hold tryouts.  

• Border Select (Hudson)
• Wear Out the Net (Lakeville)
• MN Fury
• East Metro Wave (Cottage Grove / Woodbury)
• MN Bulldogs
• Legacy Hoops
• D1 Minnesota
• MN Suns
• MN Select
• Howard Pulley
• MN Comets
• MN Suns
• MN Swish
• SW MN Stars
• Team GetShook
• Grassroots/Sizzle
• MN Thunder
• MN Crossfire
• MN Heat
• MN Hustle
• MN Nice
• MN Magic

Girls' programs (usually) hold their tryouts in July/August for the following spring season.  Some teams build their teams via recruiting and do not hold tryouts.

• NORTH TARTAN (Oakdale)
• FURY
• STARS
• METRO STARS
• SUNS
• Crossfire (Rosemount)
• 43 Hoops
• Hustle
• Comets
• MN Thunder
• Heat
• Opportunity Basketball (Woodbury)
• East Metro Wave (Cottage Grove / Woodbury)
• Minnesota RISE

Local colleges offer a wide variety of basketball camps throughout the year, providing players with another great opportunity to improve their skills while learning from collegiate coaches and players. Options range from day camps to overnight experiences, with programs available for a variety of ages and skill levels. There are many excellent camps to choose from. Below are a few that we are aware of and that some of our Hastings players have attended. This list is intended as a resource for families exploring additional off-season development opportunities.

Boys Local Basketball Camps

• Johnny Tauer’s Annual Championship Basketball Camp, St. Thomas University – St. Paul

• Day 1 Basketball Camp, Mankato State University – Mankato, MN

• Day 2 Basketball Camp, Mankato State University – Mankato, MN

• Elite Camp, Mankato State University – Mankato, MN

• UW River Falls Basketball Camps, UW-River Falls, River Falls, WI

• Macalester Youth Basketball Camp, Macalester College, Leonard Center, St. Paul, MN

Girls Local Basketball Camps

• Tommie Pride Girls’ Basketball Camps, St. Thomas University – St. Paul

• Maverick Skills Camp, Mankato State University – Mankato, MN

• Elite Camp, Mankato State University – Mankato, MN