Recently, the Washington Post published Eric Prisbell’s "An Endless Summer League," a story about a young man who intends to bypass high school play and instead ride the AAU circuit to the pros. The article seemed to suggest that the absence of this young man’s talents from high school basketball will somehow negatively impact high school sports.

The truth is that we wish the young man all the best, but his absence will allow another player to compete in his stead. High school sports programs are not bidding with other leagues (AAU) for high-powered talent or recognition. Any suggestion to the contrary must be based on a misconception of high school athletics.

Allow me to explain our role.

First, high school sports are not about winning "tournaments and rings and stuff like that." Trophies and victories are not of paramount importance in high school sports because there is more to education-based athletics than those ultimate ends. In high school sports, the preparation, practice and process are as important as the competition.

Any coach will tell you that victories depend on the

opposing team as much as their own. However, the process of teaching within high school sports is wholly under the coach’s control. And this process is what separates high school sports from other youth-level leagues. Club, travel, and recreation leagues appear to focus solely on the skill development of their athletes, while high school sports seek to develop the entire student, providing skills useful in the gym, in the classroom and in the world.

Secondly, students in high school sports are treated as students, not commodities traded to the team with the best shoe deal. These students learn the game, as in other leagues, but they also learn to set priorities and accept responsibility in their lives. If a student’s academic focus is too distracted by athletics, the high school sports process can effectively refocus that student’s attention.

In high school sports, students learn self-control and other skills necessary for dealing with people. Fighting, foul language and other disrespectful behaviors — on or off the court — are regularly addressed by educators in the high school sports system. Most importantly, students in the high school system learn the constant expectation for sportsmanship and the demonstration of good character.

Of that we have a well-documented example. Jim Johnson, the basketball coach at Greece Athena High School in New York, seized an opportunity to teach his students about sportsmanship and character when he recognized his autistic manager, Jason McElwain, for all his dedication by allowing him to play in the senior night basketball game. Johnson taught his students about determination, hope, grace and humility: skills of character that will transcend the basketball court.

Finally, high school sports are about identity and camaraderie. Students identify with their high school team. These teams represent their school and their community. Players can be together for years; they are not thrown together for single seasons, individual events or a weekend tournament. True friendships and long-lasting memories are formed on these high school teams. Communities rally around them whether they are undefeated or seeking their first victory. These are "our kids," known to everyone; and people in the stands rarely have to ask, "Where did he come from?"

The high school sports system was not designed to be a highway to college or professional athletics. Instead, sports programs at our level are intended to prepare students for academic, athletics and societal success. For those wanting to learn more than sport skills, high school programs offer endless opportunities to learn life skills. Our message to all our students is a simple, yet sincere, suggestion: Take part. Get set for life.