jumper

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

NBA officials tend to come from their system. There is no direct pathway for the NBA with people that work college basketball ...

I'm not disputing what JRutledge states, he seems confident and seems to know what he's talking about, he works top-notch scholastic and college games and has been a trainer at many basketball officiating camps all over the Midwest, and beyond, probably knows several professional basketball officials, I've only worked scholastic games here in my little corner of Connecticut and have only known just a few professional basketball officials.

I'm just curious as to how someone can be identified as a potential professional basketball official, receive professional training, and then begin to make their way up the professional ladder, with little prior scholastic or collegiate basketball officiating experience.

Perhaps JRutledge is referring to professorial training/evaluation/recruiting camps, just like we have scholastic and collegiate training/evaluation/recruiting camps?

Want to be a professional official? Start by attending so-and-sos professional camp? Little prior scholastic or collegiate basketball officiating experience required? Previous success and accolades at scholastic or collegiate basketball officiating not necessary? We'll teach you the professional way from the get-go? Fastest way up the officiating ladder to an NBA or a WNBA career? Guaranteed, or your money back?

All the very few guys that I know in the professional ranks were previously outstanding scholastic and collegiate basketball officials.

I wonder how many top-notch professional basketball officials started out by working scholastic middle school, freshman, or junior varsity games to begin their climb up the officiating ladder?

Maybe one can start officiating at the college level with no scholastic experience; or maybe one can start officiating at the professional level with no scholastic or college experience?

Maybe there's not just one long ladder, but several ladders, and one can chose, or not chose, to switch ladders, or start on any ladder that they wish to start.

As anyone can easily tell, I'm way out of my league in regard to this topic. Outside my wheelhouse. Fish out of water.