Big 12 coaches worried about 7-on-7 tournaments

“We don't want to go that route,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said.

The AAU basketball summer circuit, which sometimes features questionable characters steering recruits to a certain school, could be the worst case scenario after the recent rise of high school 7-on-7 football tournaments, particularly in Texas, where UIL rules prevent high school coaches from coaching their players in summer 7-on-7 competitions.

Those UIL rules provide an opportunity for people with questionable motives to fill the void and coach, and often gain the trust of, elite recruits during their prep careers.

“The more young people are influenced and are directed by people outside of the high schools, their coaching staff and their families, (it) is a concern,” Stoops said. “Because I don't know that the intent is always great for all of the individuals.”

Said Gundy: “I have some concerns about who is involved in the recruiting. I hear things about what happens in recruiting with basketball, with AAU and coaches, people that are involved that don't affect the future of the young man from the standpoint of (being) family or (being) the coach.”

It's particularly problematic for Big 12 teams who heavily recruit Texas and, more and more, find themselves having to interact with 7-on-7 coaches who don't always have the athletes' best interest at heart.

“Our biggest concern with the 7-on-7 tournaments is that high school coaches are not involved,” Texas coach Mack Brown said. “As long as parents are running it, we've felt confident that they are handled in the best interest of the kids, but with more and more outside individuals getting involved, we see a lot more concerns popping up.”

Said Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman: “I would be in favor of (high school) coaches being a part of it. I don't see anything negative with coaches being a part of 7-on-7.”