e sure to check out Ruben Ramos: Climbing to the Division I Level in the Officiating.com store!

Officiating.com: How did you get started officiating basketball?

Ramos: I have always been 'connected' to the game throughout my youth and that continued after my college years were over. I was playing in a city league at Woodlawn Gym in San Antonio and was seen by my former high school coach, John Hunt. Coach Hunt was actively involved in the then called SBOA (Southwest Basketball Officials Association) — San Antonio Chapter and asked me to consider officiating prep basketball in the South Texas area. I was amazed at the number of former players and coaches that I knew, or my father knew, growing up in San Antonio. I was also surprised at the number of officials that still officiated who worked my games when I played!

Officiating.com: To what do you attribute your breaking into college basketball?

Ramos: Without a doubt, it was the camp system. An aspiring basketball official, at any level, must dedicate their off-season to being identified by a coordinator of officials. Camps are invaluable for conferences to identify, train and develop officials. Accordingly, I attribute my association with every league I work to a officiating camp at some point in time.

Officiating.com: What advice would you give someone trying to reach the Division I collegiate level?

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