About the Guest(s):
Ruben Diaz is an experienced AAU director, event coordinator, and self-described dream maker within the basketball industry.
With a history spanning over 16 years, Ruben Diaz has been at the forefront of cultivating young talent in basketball. His expertise in coaching and networking has greatly influenced the trajectories of many aspiring athletes, guiding them towards successful collegiate basketball careers.

Episode Summary:
In this episode of the podcast, host Ashley Roberts engages in a candid conversation with Ruben Diaz, touching upon the evolving landscape of AAU basketball and the challenges facing players, coaches, and parents today.
From the outset, the discussion sets a tone of honesty as Ruben shares his thoughts on the importance of proving one's capabilities on the court rather than riding the wave of unproven hype.
This jam-packed episode not only scrutinizes the intricacies of basketball recruiting but also takes a hard look at the implications of the transfer portal and the struggles of independent teams amid a sea of leagues.
Ruben Diaz offers sage advice for parents, emphasizing the necessity of research and understanding the AAU system's track record. He draws from his wealth of experience to outline strategies coaches can utilize to ensure athletes are seen by college scouts. Furthermore, the dialogue reveals the rationale behind Ruben's event, the Border War, which caters to Division II, NAIA, and JUCO programs, fulfilling a unique need within the athletic community.

Notable Quotes:

It's crucial for athletes to prove their abilities against top competition rather than relying on promotional hype to catch the attention of college coaches.



Successful basketball programs require honesty in talent evaluation, and coaches should mentor up-and-coming coaches to foster accurate talent assessments.



Relationships and direct communication with college coaches are key for AAU programs to ensure their players get noticed during non-live and live periods.



Independent teams may face challenges making a solid schedule, but clubs in recognized leagues generally have a better chance of getting their players recruited.


"The biggest thing for a parent is the track record. History is history."
"If your team is showing up hoping that coaches come watch, you already lost."



"Building relationships. Cultivate those relationships with college coaches, with talent, with evaluators, and then over time, you'll build a reputation."


Ruben on X: coachrubyd
Its Just Different Podcast on Socials: itsjustdifferentpod
Ashley on IG: _thisisashleyr

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