The 2013 AAU / Travel / Showcase season is now underway with tryouts  complete.  The Fairfax Stars are honored and continue to express gratitude for the 9th year of their extraordinary affiliate partnership with NIKE, and are excited about the growing relationship in year ten and beyond of this prestigious affiliation.  NIKE has affiliate relationships with only 20 - 24 other AAU/Travel basketball programs throughout the United States and the Fairfax Stars AAU/Travel basketball program is proud to be among the organizations selected for this prestigious collaboration. 

The Fairfax Stars are the ONLY girls basketball program in the metropolitan Washington, DC area to enjoy such an affiliation.  The Fairfax Stars are the ONLY program whose U16 and U15 teams are invited to participate in the prestigious Nike Nationals Invitation tournament to close the showcase season in July in North Augusta, South Carolina and play in front of more than 550 college coaches.

As a result of this relationship, unique opportunities are available to Fairfax Stars student-athletes that will help improve their skill development and exposure to college coaches.

A NEW element that began with the 2010 season and going forward was the addition of U15 teams for a Junior Nike Nationals Invitational tournament at the end of the travel season.  Only 16 teams in America were invited to participate, and the Fairfax Stars were included.  It is exciting that the U16 Girls Premier Showcase team will be joined now each season by the U15 team for such a prestigious gathering of the best teams in the country, and more than 500 colleges coaches.

The Fairfax Stars are very proud to be one of the top 20 programs in America to be invited to participate in the exclusive Nike Nationals Invitational elite tournament in July for the most outstanding women's travel basketball teams in the United States.  In 2006 the Stars advanced to the final of the Silver Division, playing in front of hundreds of college coaches.  In 2007, the Stars again advanced to the Silver Division championship bracket.  In 2008, the team did not advance, however, remained extremely competitive and received much attention from college coaches as they demonstrated their talent and skill.  In 2009, the Stars advanced to the Final Four of the tournament, falling in the Gold Bracket Championship semifinals, and Myisha Goodwin was named to the All Tournament 1st Team.   2010 was another terrific showing for the Fairfax Stars producing lots of attention from college coaches.

In 2011, the Stars went undefeated in pool play throughout summer and captured the programs first summer showcase championship by winning the Nike Summer Showcase in Chicago, Illinois. The Stars culminated the summer by advancing for the first time to the championship game of the Gold Bracket of Nike Nationals before finishing as the tournament runner-up. In North Augusta, Breyana Mason was named to the All-tournament 1^st Team.

The 2012 tournament saw another strong showing as the Stars advanced to the Silver Bracket semifinals before completing their tournament run.  The U15 Girls advanced to the tournament quarterfinals after winning their pool and moving into bracket play.

Many have identified Nike Nationals as "THE" tournament of the summer for women's basketball, with the best teams and All-Americans galore gathering to compete against the best.  The Fairfax Stars are extremely proud to be among those, and what a wonderful opportunity for Fairfax Stars student-athletes.

Additionally, in the three years from 2005 - 2007, the Fairfax Stars were represented at the annual Nike Skills Academy, an invitation-only skills camp that is limited to the top 20 women's basketball players in the country.  In 2005, Jasmine Thomas was invited, and at the 2006 Academy, both Jasmine Thomas and Chay Shegog were invited to participate.  In 2007, Chay was invited again to this prestigious event.  We have a number of candidates for the 2011 session.

Since 2009, the Nike Skills Academy has moved to a Regional model and the Stars continue to be well represented each year in the Mid Atlantic region.

After an extensive review and evaluation process, NIKE entered into an affiliate partnership with the Fairfax Stars AAU/Travel basketball organization in 2003.  Effective with the 2004 AAU season and since, the Fairfax Stars girl's program is the ONLY NIKE affiliate AAU/Travel basketball group in the Metropolitan Washington area, and is the only program between Hampton, Virginia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on the east coast.  The Fairfax Stars boys program is currently being evaluated and is a candidate to join this affiliate partnership in a future AAU/Travel basketball season.

As a result of this unique affiliate partnership, Fairfax Stars teams have participated in some of the most prestigious invitational basketball tournaments around the United States, providing an opportunity to showcase the extraordinary skill levels of the talented student-athletes who wear the Stars uniform.  As an example, in 2010, the Fairfax Stars U12 Girls National team won the Nike Midwest Showdown Tournament in Ohio, playing in the U13 Division.

Additionally, the Fairfax Stars will partner with NIKE and other NIKE-affiliated AAU basketball programs to conducts camps and clinics in an effort to increase skill levels and to provide enhanced visibility with college coaches on behalf of those student-athletes.

"We are very proud that NIKE has recognized and acknowledged the quality and dedication of the players, coaches and the adminstration of the Fairfax Stars AAU basketball organization and our sustained commitment to skill development as a fundamental foundation of this program's philosophy" stated Fairfax Stars Founder and Executive Director Aggie McCormick-Dix.  "This affiliate partnership will provide additional opportunities for Stars players to pursue their dream of playing college basketball if that is one of their goals" added McCormick-Dix.

"NIKE is recognized as one of the premier basketball organizations in the world, and this partnership is an acknowledgement of the commitment made by the organization since the beginning 14 years ago to offer an opportunity to young student-athletes in our community to participate in AAU level basketball competition, both locally and nationally" said Stars Chairman Derrick Mashore.

If you have any questions, or require more information about the Fairfax Stars AAU basketball program, please contact via e-mail at fairfaxstars@aol.com .