2021–22 Basketball Information

Patriots!

I hope everyone is ready for our 2021–2022 basketball season coming up!  We are excited to announce all the opportunities over the next few months for our Patriot family to play the game we all love this season.  In this basketball update we have included as much information as we can, some details are still to be confirmed.

We are introducing new and more opportunities for our school students and community to join a team and be a part of the Patriot Nation Basketball family.  We are now providing the opportunity for our younger ones with AHS Bantam for 3–7 grade!  We are introducing our very own freshmen girls and boys basketball teams, along with UCSSAL, USSA and UHSAA teams.  This is going to be great but we are going to need your support.  Together we can build one of the best programs for Heavenly Father, and help everyone come closer to our Savior through basketball.

If you have any questions, ideas, want to support as a coach, manager, or know someone who knows someone who would like to get involved and help, please come and talk to me, I would love to hear from you.

Coach Winitana

Director of Basketball Operations

CALENDAR AND DETAILS

OCTOBER 2021

UCSSAL League: 8th and 9th Grade Basketball (AHS students only)

8th grade boys tryouts: 11–12 October, 3:30-5:00 p.m

Head Coach: Dallin Harris, Ph: 801-842-1488, Email: dharris@ahsmail.com

Practice times: 5:00–6:30 p.m. in the Rec Hall on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays

Season Dates: October 18–December 10

Costs: $350.00

9th grade boys tryouts: 19-20 October, 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Head Coach: Wichard Jean, Ph: 385-349-6999, Email: wicharjean0131@gmail.com

Practice times: 3:30-5:00 p.m. in the Rec Hall on Tuesdays, Fridays

Season Dates: October 25–December 10

Costs: $350.00

Bantam League: 3–5 Grade Boys and Girls Basketball (AHS and non-AHS students)

Tryouts: 26 October, 4:00–6:00 p.m in the Rec Hall

Head Coach: Parents of players—TBD

Practice times: TBD—Times and venues are to be organized by parent coach

Season Dates: 21 November–February 28

Costs: $195

Bantam League: 6–7 Grade Boys and Girls Basketball (AHS and non-AHS students)

Tryouts: 27 October, 4:00–6:00 p.m in the Rec Hall

Head Coach: Parents of players—TBD

Practice times: TBD—Times and venues are to be organized by parent coach

Season Dates: 21 November–February 28

Costs: $195

NOVEMBER 2021

UHSAA League: High School Boys and Girls (AHS students only)

Tryouts: 8–10 November, 3:30–5:30 p.m

Head Coach: Paora Winitana, Ph. 801-898-1002, Email: pwinitana@ahsmail.com

Practice times: Between 3:30–6:30 p.m. 

Season Dates: 17 November–February 25

Costs: $550–$675

USSA League: High School Boys (AHS students only)

Tryouts: 8–10 November, 3:30–5:30 p.m

Head Coach: TBD

Practice times: Between 3:30–6:30 p.m. 

Season Dates: 17 December–February 25

Costs: $500

DECEMBER 2021

UCSSAL League: Girls 8th Grade Basketball (AHS students only)

Head Coach: Dixie Nielson, Ph: 208-830-2839, Email: dixie.nielson@lowbooksales.com

Tryouts: December 6–7, 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Practice times: 3:30–5:00 p.m in the Rec Hall on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Season: Dates: January 3–February 17

Costs: $350.00

USCCAL League: 9th Grade Girls Basketball (AHS students only)

Head Coach: Windy Pinson, Ph: 801-830-2562, Email: wgpinson@gmail.com

Tryouts: December 13–14, 3:30–5:00 p.m.

Practice times: 3:30–5:00 p.m. in the Rec Hall on Tuesdays, Fridays

Season Dates: January 3 – February 17

Costs: $350.00

LEAGUE INFORMATION

BANTAM LEAGUE, GRADES 3–7 GIRLS AND BOYS

We are excited to introduce AHS Bantam basketball. Our purpose is to provide opportunities for more of our younger students to learn and play. The only way we can achieve this goal is to partner with a league like Utah County Bantam and rely on parents to provide support through coaching and directing these teams.  Grades 3–7 will participate in the Utah County Bantam league.  Our Grade 8 boys will also play Bantam, but our grade 8 girls won’t due to their UCSSAL competitions happening at the same time.

Utah County Bantam Basketball is a competitive youth basketball league created and directed by the high school basketball head coaches in Utah County. Both AHS and non-AHS students are invited to play on AHS Bantam teams!

Based on the tryouts, every effort is made to place each player on a Bantam team that meets the player at the threshold of his or her ability. Depending on turnout, each grade level could have multiple teams (e.g., an A team, B team, etc.) so that all who want to participate are able to do so.

IMPORTANTLY, each Bantam team is required to provide its own coach who will commit to our AHS standards and code of conduct.  

COSTS: $195. Each Bantam player must register with and pay the AAU membership fee at this link ($14–$16) separate from the $195 team fee. AHS will secure uniforms for the Bantam teams and each player will pay for and keep their uniform at the end of the season. Parents will pay for their Bantam participation fee through Veracross.

PRACTICE TIMES: Bantam teams typically practice once or twice per week, as set by the team coach. Practice locations are secured by the coach. AHS has limited space available before school in the morning and on Saturdays for AHS Bantam teams. Our strong preference is to have Bantam teams practice on Saturdays. Please talk to Coach Winitana to arrange the use of AHS facilities for these practices.

GAMES: Games are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays and are played at various Utah County locations. In a special arrangement, we have communicated to the Bantam organizers that we don’t want Monday games and they have granted this which is fantastic!  They have let us know that the majority of our games will be on Saturdays, and some on Wednesdays.  On Wednesdays, games are between 5–9 p.m. On Saturdays, games happen throughout the day.

Utah Charter and Small Schools Athletic League (UCSSAL), 8TH and 9th grade GIRLS AND BOYS

AHS has participated with UCSSAL for many years. This year, both our eighth and ninth graders will play in this league, which consists of nearby charter and private schools.

UTAH SCHOOL SPORTS ASSOCIATION (USSA), HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

AHS has participated with the USSA league for several years. USSA is made up of charter, alternative, and private schools. High school boys are invited to continue to improve their skills and enjoy participating in the great game of basketball in the USSA league.

UTAH HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION (UHSAA), HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS AND BOYS

In 2018, AHS began participating with the UHSAA for many of our sports, including basketball. This year, we will have boys and girls teams at the sophomore, JV and varsity levels.  Our varsity girls and boys have the opportunity to compete at State for the 2A Championship.

REGISTER MY ATHLETE: GET IT DONE ASAP!

ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (GRADES 9-12) interested in playing basketball UHSAA league basketball this 21–22 season need to do this quick!  This year we are only allowing those students who have completed their RMA (“Register My Athlete”) to TRYOUT.  That’s correct, we have let all our basketball players know over the fall so no surprises here.  We wanted to make sure that everyone who hasn’t been involved with fall basketball knows about this requirement. Players and parents, please get your RMA done ASAP, thank you.

This is a very simple process but unfortunately, in the past, we have had students and families leave this until last minute. Most of our families are familiar with RMA, if you are new, all you need to do is go to the RMA website https://www.registermyathlete.com/login/ and click “create account,” then follow the prompts. If you need a hand please reach out to your respective coach or feel free to contact Yahosh Bonner or myself anytime. The longest part is the physical that needs to be done, this is a visit to your doctor or health specialist.

Reminder, if you have already played a UHSAA fall sport, then you don’t have to do this again. All you need to do is go into your RMA account and switch sports to basketball.

BASKETBALL IN THE AHS WAY

Our “Fab 5 Patriot Basketball Priorities” will be…

  1. Heavenly Father
  2. Family
  3. Academics 
  4. Church and work commitments
  5. Basketball 

Our basketball trainings, practices and games will always support these priorities. This year we project to have a record number of participants and teams at American Heritage.

Even with this rapid growth we are doing everything possible to have our trainings over by 6:30 p.m. so students can get home early, go to mutual, do homework and other things that support what we truly value.  On game nights, the latest game of the evening will be at 7pm.

If any family needs financial assistance please speak to myself or Coach Bonner.  I don’t want anyone missing out on participating because of costs or financial hardship.  We will provide a way that all students can play the game we all love.

Once again, thank you for all your support.  This is a very exciting time to be a Patriot basketball player and we can’t wait to start this season!

GO PATRIOTS!