When Basketball Costs More Than College | Denver News

Youth sports are turning into a luxury game, with travel teams costing thousands and leaving kids from less wealthy families behind—despite their talent. A $40 billion industry is prioritizing profit and marketing over player development, as clubs shell out big bucks for “marketable” athletes instead of nurturing local rec center stars. Thomas Trotman, who runs a nonprofit basketball club in Colorado, takes a loss to keep the doors open, converting his warehouse into a gym to cut costs. But even his efforts can’t compete with the rising tide of expensive, win-at-all-costs programs that churn through players like products. The result? Kids burn out, lose love for the game, and get left out—not because they’re not good enough, but because they can’t afford to play. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/d7d0ff6347f3510a