“Its going to be an amazing summer” says Pistons Director of Fan Development, Geo Thomas, “We are planning some amazing things for our tour this year.  Things that kids will remember for a lifetime.”

“We try to give the kids something unique, something different that they cant get at any other camp,” adds Camp Director Aaron Smith, “Each day we are going to deliver something special!”

There are plenty of new activities within the camp this year.  Perhaps the most notable is the NBA-like combine each Monday.  Campers will participate in drills that will measure speed, strength, vertical leap, and their basketball IQ.  “We just purchesed over $1000 of training equipment for our campers,” says Thomas, “We want to be able to give them the same experience the NBA Rookies have before they are drafted.”

The Camp tour kicks off on June 17 in Birmingham and runs at a different location each week.  The camp is for boys and girls entering grades 3-9 and runs every day from 9am-3pm.  A Pizza Lunch is offered at each camp for $5 per day and each camper receives a Pistons Academy Camp Shirt.  

For more information on Pistons Academy Camps, please contact Camp Director Geo Thomas at 248-371-2048 or click the “Summer Camp” tab at the top of this website.  For a sneak peak of our camp, check out this video from the Detroit Pistons website: http://www.nba.com/pistons/video/2012/09/20/FuturePistonsPistonsAcadNewmp4-2220444

Andre Drummond was voted by NBA Coaches to the 2012-13 All-Rookie 2nd Team

AUBURN HILLS, Mich.–Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond and forward Kyle Singler were both named to the 2012-13 NBA All-Rookie Second Team, the NBA announced Tuesday, May 15. 

                The ninth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Drummond averaged 7.9 points, 7.8 rebounds. 0.5 assists, team-high 1.6 blocks, 1.0 steals and 20.7 minutes in 60 games (10 starts) while shooting a team-best 61% from the field.  He recorded nine double-doubles which ranked second on the Pistons and second amongst all rookies.  Drummond scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds vs.Milwaukee(1/29) becoming the first rookie in NBA history to record those numbers in a game coming off the bench.  He scored a career-high 29 points atCleveland(4/10) and was one of five centers in the NBA this season to record 90-plus blocks and 55-plus steals.

                A 6-foot-11 center from the University of Connecticut, Drummond finished fourth in the 2012-13 Kia NBA Rookie-of-the-Year balloting.  He was also selected as a member of Team Shaq as part of the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge at NBA All-Star 2013 inHoustonbut was unable to play due to injury.        

                Singler, selected 33^rd overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, averaged 8.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 28.0 minutes per game.  He was the only Piston to play in all 82 games (74 starts) and among NBA rookies this season, finished fourth in scoring (8.8 ppg), sixth in rebounds (4.0) and fifth in 3-point field goal percentage (.350). 

The voting panel consisted of the NBA’s 30 head coaches, who were asked to select five players for the first team and five players for the second team, regardless of position. Coaches were not permitted to vote for players on their own team. Two points were awarded for first team votes and one for second team votes.

2012-13 NBA ALL-ROOKIE FIRST TEAM

2012-13 NBA ALL-ROOKIE SECOND TEAM

The first is our Spring Break Basketball Camp which is for boys and girls in grades 3-8 (advanced 2nd graders are welcome to attend).  The camp will run from 9am-3pm starting Tuesday, April 2 and ending Friday, April 5.  The camp will be the perfect mix of skill development and playing games.  Held at the Covington School gymnasium (1525 Covington Rd, Bloomfield Hills), this will be a fun amd entertaining week of basketball.  To register, please visit www.communityed.net or call Birmingham Community Education at 248-203-3800.

The other spring event is the Pistons Academy Spring Basketball League.  There will be three divisions offered (grades 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8) and although these leagues are mostly boys, girls are welcome to play as well.  The season tips off with a live draft on Saturday, April 13 and games begin April 20.  The season will have 2-3 Thursday practices and playoffs will start June 1 with Championship games played on June 8.  To register, please visit www.communityed.net or call Birmingham Community Education at 248-203-3800.

The five nominees of Huntington Woods Player of the Year pose with Pistons star rookie, Andre Drummond after the Academy Awards

Over 600 people attended the 2nd Annual Academy Awards show last Thursday as players of the Pistons Academy were recognized for their efforts in the 2013 season.

“It was a great opportunity to reward the kids for their amazing efforts this season,” said Pistons Academy Director, Geo Thomas, “So many of our players really take the game seriously and invest their time and effort to make their teams better.  This gives us a chance to return the favor.”

There were six categories and five nominees in each category–Sportsmanship, Most Dedicated, Lady Piston of the Year, Huntington Woods Player of the Year, Defensive MVP and League MVP.  Each winner gave a 30 second speech on what the awatd meant to them.  “The kids were very prepared and extremely articulate,” added Thomas, “They all did a great job at the podium.”

Brandon Knight and Andre Drummond made appearances, as did Palace Sports and Entertainment president/CEO Dennis Mannion.  “We are looking to take the success of this season’s Pistons Academy and grow it to other areas in Michigan,” Mannion said to the audience. “This is just the first step!”

As the Winter season draws to a close, the next Awards presentation will be in November where the Flight Crew and Hooper will make their annual appearance.  To see the video of the Awards Show and interviews with Andre, Brandon and all the nominees, check back here next week or visit the Pistons website at www.detroitpistons.com.

To view photos from the Academy Awards, visit the Detroit Pistons Facebook Album:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10151509827365295.1073741828.71284685294&type=1

Becca Hancock (#8) is one of the finalists for Lady Pistons Player of the Year!

The 2nd annual Pistons Academy Awards will be held Thursday, March 7, from 7-8:15pm at Birmingham Groves High School.  This “Red Carpet” event is the Pistons Academy’s largest event during the year with over 800 people expected to attend.

The night is designed to recognize all the participants in the Pistons Academy winter leagues and clinics.  It is also designed to tip-off the summer camp promotional season and introduce the Pistons Academy to perspective players and their families.

“The Pistons Academy is relatively new,” says Geo Thomas, Pistons Director of Fan Development, “This event will be a great way to recognize the kids who are currently playing and give a taste of what we are all about to new players and their families.”

The night will be hosted by Pistons Academy Coach Aaron Smith and will feature appearances from Pistons entertainment teams, Palace Sports and Entertainment President Dennis Mannion as well as a very special appearance by Pistons star player, Brandon Knight.   Free prizes will be raffled off and those who attend will be able to sign up for summer camps at a discounted price.

The event is FREE and open to the public.  Doors open at 6:30pm and the show will start at 7pm sharp.  For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Geo Thomas at gthomas@palacenet.com.  If attending, please RSVP with the number of seats you wish to acquire.

Members of the Pistons Academy will be recognized on Nov. 2

As the Detroit Pistons prepare for their season opener on October 31, the Pistons Academy is preparing for their fall season’s closing ceremonies.  To commemorate the first season of Pistons Academy, we are hosting two very special events.

The first is the “Academy Awards” on Friday November 2nd.  This event will recognize many of the players currently in the Pistons Academy.  Awards such as Most Improved, Best Sportsmanship, All-league and the Pistons Academy MVP will be passed out to those players who have worked so hard this season.  After the awards, the Pistons dunk team, “The Flight Crew” will showcase their amazing passing and dunking skills.  HOOPER, the Pistons mascot, will also be there to entertain.  The  Academy Awards will be held at Berkshire Middle School from 7:45pm-9:00pm on Friday November 2.  Admission is free and everyone is welcome!

The second event will be the Pistons Academy Night at the Palace.  On Sunday, November 18, members of the Pistons Academy are invited to attend a free basketball clinic at the Palace.  Then, every player gets a FREE ticket to watch the Pistons take on the Boston Celtics.  Parents can purchase additional tickets at a discounted price.  The Clinic is from 3:30-5pm and friends are welcome to attend.   Check out the form for more information or call Geo Thomas at 248-371-2048.    ACADEMY NIGHT AT THE PALACE ORDER FORM

Thanks for your participation this fall and we look forward to seeing you on the court again soon!