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[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I'm not disputed what JRutledge states, he seems confident and seems to know what he's talking about.

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 finals? 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?

The NBA system feels that many officials who have worked extensive HS and college basketball schedules have picked up bad habits that have to be completely undone and/or have been exposed to a lot of bad advice from local veterans. If they see a brand new official working rec leagues or in some sort of camp and they like their look, athleticism, and run, they will snatch them up. They will want them to work games while they are part of the NBA Grassroots program, but they don't care what level they are working, they just want them to work games and see plays. Working NCAA-Women's helps out in that the coverage areas and mechanics are pretty much the same. Working off-season Pro-Am's and adult rec leagues helps them see above-the-rim and athletic plays.