Columbia Cascades Summer Basketball Club
A non-profit Organization
Club Head Coach Al Aldridge
PO Box 821362
Vancouver, WA. 98682
360 253-8690
aaldridge@qwest.net
Cascades Mission/Philosophy Statement
Our mission is to provide a competitive opportunity for high school girls basketball players to participate in college viewing period tournaments while playing with some of the Northwest’s best players. Our players will be coached by knowledgeable, conscientious high school and college coaches with proven successful records. We strive to develop our players towards being the best players they can be, and developing their talents within a team structure. We teach teamwork, discipline, defense, and competitive spirit within the team concept, and to help players understand how hard they need to play to reach the “next level.” We support our club athletes and promote them towards college programs and help them attain athletic scholarships to play basketball in college at a level where they can be successful.
Each year the teams consist of players who demonstrate more than just basketball talent. Equally important are such characteristics as player development, attitude, academic achievement, team play, sportsmanship, and the ability to relate with teammates, opponents, officials and coaches.
Our goal is to assemble the best players in the northwest in order to compete at the highest levels in the tournaments we participate in. One thing has been steadfast throughout the 26 years of the Cascades program, and that is that this club is able to assemble enough good players every year to compete at the “Elite Level,” and be successful. This club was formerly called the “Puget Sound Cascades” and was run by Gary Wilson formerly of South Kitsap HS former assistant at PLU. Because of some issues with the NCAA, Mr. Wilson has given the ownership of the Cascades program to Prairie HS Head Coach Al Aldridge. Al has coached the Cascades number one club for the past 10 years and has won over 75% of his summer club games while competing at the top or elite level of every tournament entered. He knows how to win and what it takes.
Many college coaches comment to us on the preparation we give our players for college basketball, and that “no other club” shows consistent improvement year in and year out like our club does. Coach Aldridge won his 615th game at Prairie HS last year, ranking him number one in state history with the most wins. He knows what it takes to get kids to the next level, and the Cascades Club players benefit from his knowledge and understanding. Prairie HS Girls Basketball and the Columbia Cascades program program has produced over 20 D-1 college players in the last 9 years.
Check out the players list for that list of players and where they have gone.
Because we have a good reputation and an excellent following from college coaches, our players get the maximum exposure at the tournaments we enter. We do not interfere with the high school teams in June. We have team placement tryouts memorial weekend, May 24 & 25 of 2009, and meet at Prairie HS in Vancouver, WA to practice June 25 – July 5 before beginning our tour.
In 2007 we participated in the following tournaments: Arizona in April, Oregon City (twice) Seattle, Memphis, and San Diego, in July.
In 2008 we participated in the following tournaments: Arizona in the spring, Oregon City ( twice ) Chicago, Phoenix & San Diego, Cal.
Coaches
Reign Team: Chad Meador’s Head Coach at Lower Columbia Community College.
Waves Team : TBA
Cascades Team: Al Aldridge Head Coach Prairie HS.
Advantages to the Cascades Program: 26 years of success:
- Over 240 players have gone on to play in college
- We have won the prestigious Oregon City Tournament 5 times
- We have won or placed in a major tournament every summer since 1989
- We won the BCI Open Division National Championship in 2000
- We have quality players from all over Alaska, Oregon, Idaho & Washington
- We do not interfere with the high school summer seasons in June.
- We will play in spring tournaments only if the players are requesting it.
- Meet to organize on Memorial weekend (Sunday and Monday)
- 10-14 day camp at the end of June, first week in July.
- Players are available and encouraged to play with their high school teams in June
- We participate in the best tournaments in the nation.
- We keep all cost reasonable as we are a non-profit organization
- We are a “highly regarded club” by college coaches and tournament directors.
- We make our summer tour enjoyable with off court activities and experiences.
- We have experienced knowledgeable coaches who have an interest in the kid’s futures.
- We promote our players to college coaches
- We run a tight ship in terms of conduct and discipline with zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol.
- Our players are accountable for their actions and performance.
We need good players for our teams. If you are invited to tryout, you need to pay a $500 deposit. The check will guarantee you a spot on a team in the club. (A team to play on, not necessarily the top team.) We will have 3 teams this year. (One team is loaded with the best players by position, and the other two teams are balanced equally.) We do not have a “younger team.” The total cost of the summer trip will be approximately $3300 which includes all travel, tournament entry fee’s, hotels, van rentals etc. This fee does not include food, or spending money. If you are interested in playing for the Cascades and do not have an invitation, contact Coach Aldridge via email. Deposits are non-refundable unless a suitable replacement is found.
References on request.
Send deposits & make checks payable to:
Columbia Cascades Basketball
% Al Aldridge
PO Box 821362
Vancouver, WA 98682
360 253-8690