Former Terra Linda basketball standout launching competitive AAU team
Former Terra Linda High basketball player Kenny Woodard launched his business, 24/8 Training, with the mantra to “work the extra day.”
When Woodard was approached about potentially adding a competitive platform to his basketball training venture, he took that mantra to heart.
“I was steering away from doing the competing platform because it’s a lot of work for me. It’s really overwhelming,” Woodard said. “But I thought let me see how much work it is. I talked to a few mentors and people from different programs who said ‘You’ve established something pretty great in Marin. The hardest thing about starting an AAU program is getting the kids and getting them to buy in’.”
It didn’t take long for Woodard to be swayed.
“In my head, I’ve taken on my much,” Woodard said. “I’ve gone through a bunch of stuff my whole life … I love challenges. It might not be perfect but let me try to give these kids a platform to compete in.”
Woodard spent some time getting an AAU membership and getting the liability insurance squared away. He hopes to field 10 teams for the upcoming season, which begins in early March.
Tryouts for 24/8 Elite Athletic Amateur Union (AAU) teams in the various age groups began on Sunday and continue into February. Tryouts for 5th/6th and 7th/8th grade boys teams continue this Sunday at Terra Linda High and the girls tryouts begin on Feb. 4.
“Teams will get to travel to different cities,” Woodard said. “Teams will get the opportunity to play against some high-ranking players, as well. The travel is usually East Bay, Sacramento, SoCal then summer in Las Vegas is when teams from across the country come to play in one city spread out through different gyms so that’s also pretty fun.”
The venture is being backed by Play Marin, a non-profit that provides athletic opportunities for kids in Marin City and Southern Marin. Play Marin CEO Paul Austin played a big role in persuading Woodard to start his own competitive platform.
“I might have one of the bigger voices in his ear saying ‘You need to step out on faith and do this’ because I know what it takes to start a business,” Austin said. “The importance of having Black leadership, especially in Marin county, it’s a little different but it’s good. It’s something that folks want.”
The 24/8 Elite AAU venture is a bit of a coming-full-circle moment for Woodard, who grew up playing AAU basketball in Marin.
“He can do this,” Austin said. “I’ve known Kenny since he was a young man. … he was coached by Jerry McIntosh when he was in AAU with the Southern Marin Lightning program so he was once one of the kids that he’ll be serving.”
Woodard starred at Terra Linda High and was an all-MCAL first team selection in 2010 before playing at Westminster College in Utah. Woodard went on to play professionally in Puerto Rico and Mexico.
“Kenny is a young man who had opportunities through basketball to travel the world and be able to learn the game from some of the best,” Austin said. “He comes with the energy and understanding that you need when you’re looking to develop young boys and girls in sports.”
On the web: https://24-8training.com/ and https://www.playmarin.org/