The STARS Story

In July 2003, the seeds were planted for creating an enduring youth basketball organization for the Colorado Springs metro area. In late January 2004, Joe Aldaz through careful planning, cultivated the seeds and the Colorado Springs STARS B-BALL Academy, Colorado non-profit 501(c)(3) organization was born. In its inaugural year, the first component of the organization was developed, the Colorado Springs STARS Select Team Program. In March 2004, 21 high school girls from throughout the Colorado Springs area participated in the Colorado Springs STARS Select Program forming our 16 year-old and under team (Selects) and our 17 year-old and under team (Elite). These teams competed in Colorado and national tournaments combining for a 44-41 record during its inaugural season. During the 2005-2006 school year, the Shooting STARS Basketball Enrichment Program began with a program goal of reaching 500 kids each year. Following two successful girls seasons, the Colorado Springs STARS B-BALL Academy launched its boys basketball program in 2006.

The STARS is the premiere organization in the Colorado Springs metropolitan area that offers the opportunity for at-promise high school girls and boys basketball players within the community to compete at the state, regional, and national level. Although our organization's motto, "Building Better Athletes While Learning Life Skills" is couched in terms of competitive athletics, a much broader sense of our program is to enable girls to experience "success", raise self-esteem, and develop leaders of character. The mission of the Colorado Springs STARS B-BALL Academy is to improve the lives of young people by developing "Leaders of Character" and "Building Better Athletes while Learning Life skills" (B-BALL) through the sport of basketball. Our mission is accomplished by conducting the Shooting STARS Basketball Enrichment Program, our community outreach program, and the Colorado Springs STARS Select Team Basketball Program. Both programs are designed to provide intensive training on improving fundamental basketball skills in a positive, structured, college-prep environment. An additional benefit of our Colorado Springs STARS Select Team Basketball Program is the regional and national exposure our players receive through Colorado and NCAA certified national tournaments which increase our at-promise, economically disadvantaged players' chances of earning college athletic scholarships.

A key aspect of the Colorado Springs STARS B-BALL Academy is to create an environment which fosters a positive climate and creates a setting for developing character and leadership. Basketball is a medium that youth can learn discipline, personal excellence, dedication, focus, organization, and teamwork that are transferable skills into the classroom and beyond. Our structured basketball enrichment program is a for developing not only basketball skills, but life skills. The Colorado Springs STARS B-BALL Academy is about serving kids through the sport of basketball. The Shooting STARS Basketball Enrichment Program for youth ages 12 to 17 is one of the only organized and structure programs of its kind in the Colorado Springs metro area. These clinics are centered on developing basketball skills with the threads of character and leadership integrated into our teaching methods.

Our Mission

To improve the lives of young people by developing "Leaders of Character" and "Building Better Athletes while Learning Life skills" (B-BALL) through the sport of basketball.

Our Vision

A nationally prominent youth club basketball organization .....coaches, players, and parents excelling together in an effort to produce young leaders of scholar and character by providing the competitive environment necessary for aspiring young basketball players who wish to fully develop their individual skills within a team concept and to provide maximum college exposure at NCAA certified viewing events.