Tryouts are typically 2 weekends in September. The schedule for tryouts is posted below. If you have any questions directly related to tryouts, please contact the tryout coordinators at tryouts@eaganhoops.org.

The Eagan HS coaches (Kevin McKenzie (boys) and Jesse Madsen (girls)) are sponsoring pre-tryout prep camps the week of September 9 - registration links are here:

BOYS:  https://district196.ce.eleyo.com/course/42914/youth-fall-2024/eagan-wildcat-fall-boys-basketball-clinic-grades-4-8

GIRLS:  https://district196.ce.eleyo.com/course/42913/youth-fall-2024/eagan-wildcat-fall-girls-basketball-clinic-grades-3-8

Due to the significant time commitment required, we expect players to prioritize Traveling Basketball practices and games over other sports during the basketball season.

DO NOT TRYOUT FOR TRAVELING BASKETBALL IF YOU CANNOT COMMIT TO BASKETBALL AS YOUR PRIMARY SPORT DURING THE BASKETBALL SEASON.

Our coaches and players commit significant time to prepare and play traveling basketball. Players with repeated unexcused absences or who do not prioritize traveling basketball over other sports may be benched or, in extreme circumstances, removed from teams.

Tryout dates for the 2024-25 Season

(Subject to change)

SAVE THE DATES: 

Tryouts will be two sessions for most grade levels (other than 3rd grade boys and girls). PLAYERS MUST ATTEND BOTH SESSIONS.

Please (1) look carefully at the schedule below and (2) double check the times and locations as they get closer. We occasionally need to change locations or times due to certain conflicts. We try our best to schedule around all the different sports and activities that kids play.

SESSION 1

Friday, September 13, 2024

Location: Eagan High School

• 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – 6th grade girls
• 7:05 p.m. – 8:05 p.m. – 7th grade girls
• 8:10 p.m. – 9:10 p.m. – 8th grade girls

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Location: Eagan High School

• 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – 3rd grade girls (Only 1 day tryout)
• 10:10 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. – 4th grade girls
• 11:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. – 5th grade girls
• 12:50 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. – 4th grade boys
• 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – 5th grade boys
• 3:10 p.m. – 4:10 p.m. – 6th grade boys
• 4:20 p.m. – 5:20 p.m. – 7th grade boys
• 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – 8th grade boys

SESSION 2

Friday, September 20, 2024

Location: Eagan High School

• 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – 6th grade girls
• 7:05 p.m. – 8:05 p.m. – 7th grade girls
• 8:10 p.m. – 9:10 p.m. – 8th grade girls

Sunday, September 22, 2024

Location: Eagan High School

• 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – 5th grade girls
• 10:10 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. – 4th grade girls
• 11:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. – 3rd grade boys (Only 1 day tryout)
• 12:50 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. – 8th grade boys
• 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – 5th grade boys
• 3:10 p.m. – 4:10 p.m. – 6th grade boys
• 4:20 p.m. – 5:20 p.m. – 7th grade boys
• 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – 4th grade boys

PLAYERS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND BOTH SESSIONS (except 3rd grade boys and girls who each have a one day tryout session).

• Two deposit checks will be required when you check-in on the first day of tryouts for your child to be able to participate in tryouts.
• Checks Payable to:  Eagan Basketball Association (EBA)
• First Check in the amount of $100.00 to cover the cost of your player's assigned team uniform.
• Second Check in the amount of $250.00 to cover the cost of required parent volunteer hours during the Eagan Tournament. If you wish to buy out of your required volunteer hours (4 per child in the program), you can do so for $200 for each child. This check will be cashed immediately in order to help fund workers for the Eagan hosted tournament. 
• Both checks will be held and destroyed at the end of the season if your player's uniform is returned washed and undamaged, and you have completed your required parent volunteer hours.  If the uniform is not returned and you fulfill your required parent volunteer hours only the uniform check will be cashed.  If you do not fulfill your required parent volunteer hours, but return your uniform, then only the volunteer check will be cashed, etc.

Tryouts are conducted by independent evaluators. Players are placed on teams based largely on the independent tryout evaluations, with consideration of prior year coaches’ player evaluations and input from current year coaching candidates. Although the Board of Directors strives to place as many kids on a traveling team as possible, a spot on a traveling team is not guaranteed – there may be certain rare circumstances where a player is not placed on a team due to the number of players trying out. A traveling team typically has 8-10 players and players are placed on an A, B, or C level team.

If you have any questions directly related to tryouts, please contact the tryout coordinators at tryouts@eaganhoops.org

• Tryouts will consist of two sessions. Players will be independently evaluated to determine individual skill level. Players will be given an opportunity to demonstrate skill and ability through a combination of individual drills, partner and team related drills and 5v5 game play.
• Please arrive 30 minutes early prior to the start time.
• Each player must attend all tryout sessions assigned for his/her age group.  Any deviation from this requirement must be approved by the President in advance.  Approved absences are no guarantee of placement and pooling may be affected.  Players are expected to alter their schedules to attend tryouts.  Injured players should also notify both the President and Tryout Coordinators in advance.  Injured players will still be required to attend each tryout session as an observer and a doctor's note will be required.
• Players trying out will be required to wear a plain white, black or gray t-shirt each day of tryouts.  Clothing must not have names or logos of any basketball related camps they may have attended.  For example, a "Nike" shirt is fine; but a "Trent Tucker Camp" or "MDB" shirt is not. 
• Please do not bring basketballs to tryouts.
• Players will be issued a jersey for tryouts at check-in during the first session.  Players are responsible for bringing this jersey to each tryout session as it includes their number to be evaluated.
• Players are encouraged to bring a water bottle.  NO sports or energy drinks.
• Tryouts are closed - parents, siblings and other spectators are not allowed in the gym while tryouts are being conducted. This includes non-tryout related basketball Board Members as well.
• Parents will be notified individually if your child has not made a team prior to team postings. 
• Players who do not make a team will be refunded the registration fee with the exception of the $50 tryout fee.
• The tryout fee is non-refundable regardless the circumstance. 
• Players who have not made a traveling team are encouraged to sign-up for the Eagan In-House Basketball program (3rd-6th graders). Your refund is not automatically applied to your In-House fee.
• For players that make a team, no refunds will be issued once tryouts are complete. NO EXCEPTIONS

How are tryouts conducted to ensure independent, objective, and appropriate decisions?

EBA makes use of the following strategies during tryouts: 1) equal opportunity; 2) team play and skill assessments; 3) independent evaluation.

• Equal Opportunity: All players are asked to wear plain tee shirts without their names or past basketball team/camp/clinic participation on them. Each player receives a tryout jersey.  Throughout the tryout players are referenced by number only. In addition, team groupings for scrimmages during tryouts are changed several times so that each player will play with and against many different players.  An effort is made to equitably distribute height on the scrimmage teams.
• Team Play and Skill Assessment: Drills are used to provide an opportunity for evaluators to observe basic skills. Scrimmages give evaluators a chance to observe skills, along with a player’s abilities to use these skills in a game-like situation.  Scrimmages also allow evaluators to observe a player’s approach to team play.
• Basketball is a game of match-ups. Scrimmages allow evaluators to assess on court ability versus other players at equal levels, lower levels, and higher levels.
• Independent evaluation: Independent, outside evaluators use the drills and scrimmages to apply scoring for each player.  The scores of each player determine their pooling placement. These pools model the team levels (1, 2, 3, etc.).

How are teams formed?

The teams will be formed by the Tryout Selection Committee, which includes the EBA President, Lead Independent Evaluator, and Boys/Girls Program Director. If a conflict of interest exists in a specific grade or gender, a suitable replacement will be found to be part of that tryout committee. The committee will take all available data to made the team decisions. This mainly consists of the tryout data from the independent evaluators, but will also include other data such as previous season player data.

After the teams are formed, the selected paid/parent head coach will be asked for input on the teams. If further discussion is needed, past coach survey results may be used to provide more information. Coaches will not be allowed to be in communication during tryouts.

Once there is consensus on the teams by the Tryout Selection Committee, the parent coaches will be announced for each team based on the interview rankings.

Should parents/guardians observe their child during tryouts?

The ETB tryout sessions are closed - no parent, sibling, or any other spectator will be allowed to observe tryouts.  The only non player persons allowed in the gym will be independent evaluators, coach candidates that have applied and been interviewed, hired court assistants (Eagan High School players), Eagan HS basketball coaches, and required Board Members.

How can I get more information about what tryouts will be like?

Please contact one of our Tryout Coordinators for more information.
 

These tryout videos are examples of tryout drills. There will be some variations due to player age levels and tryout time constraints.

https://youtu.be/DYIBKvnDvs8  -  Layup and dribbling drill. Change of direction move at the two middle cones. Right handed dribbling and shooting on the right side and left handed dribbling and shooting on the left side.

https://youtu.be/FCpKRiwg7rs  - Shooting off of the dribble. Change of direction dribble at the cone and dribble to the elbow area for the shot. Rebound, Repeat dribbling to opposite elbow area for the shot.

https://youtu.be/tZQLDUqgyGY  - Shooting off of the catch. Start on the baseline and go around cone at the elbow area. Catch and shoot. Repeat on opposite side.

https://youtu.be/ILrFz3HnrOs  - 2 on 2. Defense starts with the ball and passes to offensive player in corner, the 2nd offensive player sets a screen and play continues until there is a made basket by offense or defense controls the ball. Evaluating defensive close outs, setting screens, communicating on offense and defense.

Complete Absence from Tryouts: Request for the Player to be Considered for the Top Team - Form

• Per EBA's Operating Procedures, players are required to attend all tryout times. For a player that misses a tryout for a traveling team, either partially or completely, notice of such absence and the reason for it must be provided to the Tryout Director and President in advance of the tryout. 
• For partial absences at tryouts: A player may be placed on a lower team based on their partial tryout evaluations. 
• For complete absences at tryouts: A player is normally not placed on the top team when there is more than one team for that grade. The parent or guardian of the player may make a formal written request for the player to be considered for the top team and the reasons such placement might be justified. Please use the form below to make any such request.