Garrett Weil building AAU club to serve small-school athletes

In the fall of 2022, Garrett Weil set out on a mission that would not only change the lives of young basketball players but also reshape his own. What began as a single-team AAU program in West Lafayette, Indiana, has quickly evolved into one of the fastest-growing basketball clubs in the state.

Region Elite Basketball Club was founded with a simple but powerful goal: to give small-school athletes the same opportunities as players from larger programs.

At the time of Region Elite’s launch, Weil was still in college, juggling multiple jobs to fund the program and provide his athletes with the exposure they deserved. Despite financial struggles and personal sacrifices, he remained committed to the vision. His determination paid off. After just one year, Region Elite expanded from a single team with seven athletes to six teams with 50 players across northern Indiana.

Success on the court soon followed. Competing in the Prep Hoops Circuit, Region Elite not only won games but also earned national recognition. Their growing reputation led to an invitation to join the prestigious PUMA NXT Circuit, allowing their national teams to travel across the country and compete against elite talent from the United States and beyond.

Through all this rapid growth, Weil never lost sight of Region Elite’s core values. The club prioritizes hard work over player rankings, ensuring that every athlete willing to put in the effort gets a fair shot at exposure.

Social media has played a key role in amplifying the program’s reach, with Region Elite’s Instagram garnering over 100,000 views in just the past month. And interest continues to soar. Region Elite held two tryouts at the Carver Community Center recently and netted more than 50 kids, ranging from middle school to high school. And more than 100 new athletes across Indiana are expressing a desire to join the club.

However, success did not come without challenges. Weil faced constant doubt from others, financial hardships, and grueling travel schedules that often left him sleeping in his car rather than paying for a hotel. He sacrificed weekends, comfort, and personal security to ensure his athletes had opportunities that many small-school players never get.

Despite the struggles, Weil remains deeply grateful for the journey. To him, Region Elite is more than just a basketball club. It is a testament to resilience, a platform for second chances, and a vehicle for young athletes to reach the next level. The program didn’t just change the lives of its players; it saved Weil’s own life during his lowest moments.

Now, through his leadership, he hopes to guide the next generation away from mistakes he made and toward a future filled with possibility. From 0 to 100, Region Elite is more than just an AAU team. It’s a movement.