About
HDMD AAU Basketball is a competitive travel basketball program that focuses on AAU basketball. The program runs organized competitive travel basketball seasons under the HDMD AAU Basketball name.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: 2026 Season March–August
HDMD AAU Basketball is a small 501c3 non-profit AAU basketball club that has served youth in the greater Santa Cruz County area since 2012. The club has celebrated 15 seasons and began as a small organization with 2 teams. In 2018, HDMD created the youngest team in its history, a 3rd and 4th grade team called “The Littles,” which finished its season winning 3 of its 4 championships. The club uses the slogan, “More than a Team... We are Family.”
The program’s mission states that it is a competitive travel basketball club dedicated to providing opportunities for kids of all abilities to learn and grow in the fundamentals of basketball. The mission also states that the club focuses on confidence and character building through teaching effective communication, leadership, positive sportsmanship, and discipline. The mission further explains that the club aims to keep youth involved in productive activities, offer travel outside of Santa Cruz to other cities, and encourage players to work hard to be ready for middle school, high school, and college pursuits and beyond.
HDMD AAU Basketball was founded by Coach Craig Wooden and Coach Bytheal Ratliff, who are listed as original founders of HDMD. Coach Craig came to California from Florida after enlisting in the United States Army right after high school, and he played basketball and wrestled in high school in Florida. He is a resident coach at B40 Middle School in Santa Cruz and the Head Coach of the Boys Basketball Program at Harbor High School, and he has also coached at the Boys and Girls Club Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Little League, and Scotts Valley Warriors. Coach Bytheal Ratliff held coaching positions for JV football for the Santa Cruz Cardinals, HDMD AAU basketball, Little League baseball, Cabrillo’s GALS and Crushers softball, and various teams at Shoreline Middle School. Bytheal worked as the Athletic Director at Shoreline Middle School and provided campus security for the Live Oak School District. He graduated from Santa Cruz High in 1986, where he played football, basketball, and baseball for the Cardinals, and he also played football at Cabrillo College.
HDMD AAU Basketball describes itself as a small 501c3 non-profit AAU basketball club serving the youth of the greater Santa Cruz County area and states that it maintains an open line of communication with the community. The organization notes that Bytheal dedicated much of his time to giving back to his community and that they keep his spirit present in their hearts and in the work they do for the kids of this community.
Last updated March 11, 2026.
• Ages: 8–18 years old
• Schedule: 2026 Season March–August
HDMD AAU Basketball is a small 501c3 non-profit AAU basketball club that has served youth in the greater Santa Cruz County area since 2012. The club has celebrated 15 seasons and began as a small organization with 2 teams. In 2018, HDMD created the youngest team in its history, a 3rd and 4th grade team called “The Littles,” which finished its season winning 3 of its 4 championships. The club uses the slogan, “More than a Team... We are Family.”
The program’s mission states that it is a competitive travel basketball club dedicated to providing opportunities for kids of all abilities to learn and grow in the fundamentals of basketball. The mission also states that the club focuses on confidence and character building through teaching effective communication, leadership, positive sportsmanship, and discipline. The mission further explains that the club aims to keep youth involved in productive activities, offer travel outside of Santa Cruz to other cities, and encourage players to work hard to be ready for middle school, high school, and college pursuits and beyond.
HDMD AAU Basketball was founded by Coach Craig Wooden and Coach Bytheal Ratliff, who are listed as original founders of HDMD. Coach Craig came to California from Florida after enlisting in the United States Army right after high school, and he played basketball and wrestled in high school in Florida. He is a resident coach at B40 Middle School in Santa Cruz and the Head Coach of the Boys Basketball Program at Harbor High School, and he has also coached at the Boys and Girls Club Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Little League, and Scotts Valley Warriors. Coach Bytheal Ratliff held coaching positions for JV football for the Santa Cruz Cardinals, HDMD AAU basketball, Little League baseball, Cabrillo’s GALS and Crushers softball, and various teams at Shoreline Middle School. Bytheal worked as the Athletic Director at Shoreline Middle School and provided campus security for the Live Oak School District. He graduated from Santa Cruz High in 1986, where he played football, basketball, and baseball for the Cardinals, and he also played football at Cabrillo College.
HDMD AAU Basketball describes itself as a small 501c3 non-profit AAU basketball club serving the youth of the greater Santa Cruz County area and states that it maintains an open line of communication with the community. The organization notes that Bytheal dedicated much of his time to giving back to his community and that they keep his spirit present in their hearts and in the work they do for the kids of this community.
Last updated March 11, 2026.
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