Monday, January 26, 2015

LEAGUE UPDATES

It's been a busy January, in a good way. Some things have been coming together, which I've mentioned or tweeted about to many. Here's the list.

- First, the website is live. There are many things left to be filled out (rosters, schedule, etc.) but it's up and running, and you can see how official it will be. Check out empirestatetakeover.org for the scoop.

- It's official. Empire State Takeover has a home for summer 2015 at Union College's Viniar Athletic Center (their main gym) and the Memorial Field House. This is a very nice facility, located on the campus of a prestigious school in Schenectady, NY. They don't come cheap, but it's worth it. The access to multiple gyms means all players/teams will play multiple games per night, like I hoped for.

- The future is in the works. I'm looking into having a fall event - a regular exposure one, and maybe a team camp of sorts? More details in a few months. Stay tuned...

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Underclassman Report: January 25

Section 2

- Schuylerville junior Clayton Patrick had 13 points in their 64-51 win over South Glens Falls. That's 5 games finishing in double digits for him, and he's averaging 10 even.

- In the same game, South Glens Falls standout junior Matthew Higgins had a team high 19 in the loss. Higgins puts in just under 18 points per game, including a season high of 35 earlier this week.

- Troy junior Dyaire Holt chipped in 13 points in their 63-50 W over Uniondale. The point guard has an offer from Siena and interest from plenty of others, and he's averaging 20.3 per game.

- Sophomores Hameir Wright & Will Bennett had 11 apiece in a very balanced effort for Albany Academy, as they smacked Watervliet 86-52. The 6'7" Wright averages just over 14 a game and currently boasts offers from James Madison and Vermont (at least that's what I know of). This was Bennett's 4th game in double digits - he averages just over 7 per game.

- In the same game, Watervliet junior Ty'jon Gilmore had a game high 22 points. The standout was right on track, averaging just a touch over 20 a game.

- Colonie freshman Bryce Waterman led their squad with 13 points in a 48-40 W over LaSalle. 8 were at the line. He's up to 9.2 points per game on the season.

- In the same game, LaSalle sophomore Brandon Holmes led the team with 11 points. He averages 12.5, including a season high of 22 just over 2 weeks ago.

Massachusetts

- Chicopee junior Jake Midura led the way with 19 points in their 56-38 W over Chicopee Comp. He's averaging 14.2 points per game with three 20+ point games and 28 threes. At this time, he's hit over 100 career treys and has scored just under 700 career varsity points.

- In the same game, Chicopee Comp junior Kenny Mendez led his team with 10. Mendez averages 8.2 points a game, including a season high 19.

- Granby sophomores Kate Sarnacki & Kate Sullivan had 19 & 16 in their 60-51 W over Wahconah. Sarnacki averages 14.9 per game, including a season high of 22 three weeks ago - Sullivan averages 9.2, with a season high of 19 that same week.

- In the same game, Wahconah was paced by sophomore Lily Pudlo's 18 points. She averages 7.9 per game with 5 double digit games, including 2 of the last 3.

- Drury junior Molly Moulton paced them with 10 points in an easy 39-13 W over Frontier. She averages 10.4, but this game broke a streak of 3 straight games with under 10 points.

- Hampshire junior Nicole Buzzee scored 15 points in their 55-42 W over Mount Greylock. This was her 2nd highest output of the season, and it bumped her average up to 7.8. Sophomore Katie O'Connor added 8 points (tied a season low) and a monster 24 rebounds. She's their leading scorer, averaging 16 points and plenty of boards. Junior point guard Chelsea Moussette was impressive - just 4 points, but 8 rebounds at (maybe) 5'0" and a handful of assists.

- Mount Greylock junior Arianna Walden chipped in 10 points in that game, right around her average of 10.2. She had a monster game a couple weeks ago, putting up a season high 24.

- Hoosac Valley junior Madi Ryan dropped 18 points with 5 treys in their 53-34 W over Athol. The season high puts her up to 10.6 points per game. Sophomore Fallon Field added 11 points, and is their 2nd leading scorer at 13.8 points per game, including a season high of 20 over Christmas break.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Underclassman Report - January 24

Section 2

- It was young city in Glens Falls today. Sophomore Marcus Friend dropped 24 and fellow sophomore Ky'ere Tillery added 23 for Bishop Maginn in their 62-56 W over Glens Falls. That was Friend's 6th 20+ point game of the season, and Tillery's season high by a long shot. Glens Falls was led in defeat by 8th grader Joe Girard III, who had a game-high 25. The junior high standout has scored 20+ in 5 straight games (including a season-high 41) and has scored 20+ in 8 of his 12 games, now averaging just under 23 per game with 45 threes.

- Argyle sophomore Kobe Lufkin dropped a game-high 34 in their 84-72 loss to Section VII Schroon Lake. He's up to 48 threes on the season, averaging 29.6 points per game including a season-high of 42.

- Junior Connor McCart had a team high 16 points for Hoosick Falls, including the go-ahead putback with 10 seconds left, and his squad (#8 in the state in Class B) defeated Lake George (#2 in the state in Class C) 51-50.

- Saratoga junior Alex Skaine chipped in 13 points in their 65-56 W over Bishop Gibbons. Skaine averages 8 points per game, and has scored double-digits in back to back games.

- Hudson Falls sophomores Cameron Jett and John Combs had 15 & 11 points respectively in their 60-46 L to Hoosic Valley. Combs leads the Tigers with 13 points per game, and Jett averages 12.7. They're still looking for their first win.

- Junior Alexa Brown & sophomore Claire Carpenter scored 13 points apiece for South Glens Falls in their 51-48 overtime W over Bishop Maginn. Carpenter averages 9 points per game with 7 games in double digits; the 13 was a season high for Brown, averaging 5.7 per game.

- Troy sophomore Micah Torres, known more for post defense and rebounding, chipped in a season high 9 points in their 52-37 win over Nottingham.

- Argyle's Sam Humiston, a 5'11" freshman,  had a monster game by her standards in their 68-15 beatdown of Schroon Lake. Her 18 points were good for half of her season total. 5'10" junior guard Katie Buck added 14 in her first game in just over a month - she averages 13.8 per game.

Section 3

- Lowville junior Brian O'Connor dropped 22 in their 52-31 W over Belleville-Henderson. He averages 12.2 points per game, and this was the most he's scored since their opening game.

- General Brown junior Nick Nortz had a season-high 10 in their 65-21 thrashing of Lyme. Fellow junior Evan Will added 10, also a season high.

- South Lewis sophomore Josh Newman had 12 points in their 46-30 L to South Jefferson. He's averaging 16.8 points per game. Dylan Durgan, another sophomore, added 12 more and his average is up to 10.7 points per game after scoring double digits in 5 of his last 6 games.

- Canastota freshman April Dabrowski led them with 9 points in their 35-25 W over Otselic Valley. She averages 7.3 and has had a pair of double-doubles this year.

- Sauquoit's, Allison Moreau, an 8th grader, had a game high 13 points in their 48-36 loss to West Canada Valley. She's scored double digits in 4 straight games and averages 11.9 points per game. Junior Marissa Jones added 11 in the loss, averaging 7.5 per game with that being her first game in double-digits in 6 weeks.

- 6'1" Nottingham junior Kamille Davis had a season high 17 points in their loss to Troy.

- 6'0" junior standout Morgan Jordal had 11 points & 10 rebounds for Pulaski in their 47-39 W over Fabius-Pompey. She averages 13.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. At 867 points, it might be a stretch, but scoring 1,000 before the end of her junior campaign is possible.

- In the same game, Fabius-Pompey junior Rachel Scalisi led their team with 11 points. This was actually a season low for her. She averages 20.6 points per game and is not far behind Jordal, with 829 career points.

- Whitesboro junior Lauren Lapertosa led the squad with 17 points in their 42-38 W over Fayetteville-Manlius. She averages 9.7 points per game and consistently gets double digits in rebounding. Fellow junior Jessica Sardina, who averages 5.9 per game, chipped in 10.

- Fayetteville-Manlius junior D'Jhai Patterson-Ricks had 17 in the same game. She's scored double digits in every game except 1 (where she had 9). She's averaging 16 per game on the season.

- McKayla Roberts, CNS' standout junior, led the way with 12 points in a 47-42 W over a tough squad from Section IV Horseheads. She averages a team high 16.1 points per game. Fellow junior Beth Bonin added 11 in the W - right around her average of 11.2.

- 5'11" Jamesville-Dewitt junior Julia Fairbanks tied her season high with 10 points in a 60-25 shalacking of Pittsford Sutherland.


Sunday, January 18, 2015

The Week Ahead - 1/19 - 1/25

So many games, so little time.

Monday - The schedule says Kennedy/Newburgh girls at Our Lady of Lourdes at 12:00. Seems kinda weird, and it's an hour & a half drive, but I'll do it. Voorheesville boys tournament, depending on the time of it (Greenville, Bishop Gibbons, Ravena, Voorheesville). Finishing off the night at Hoosick Falls to watch their boys take on Mt. Anthony of Bennington, VT.

Tuesday - Couple small school games. Undefeated Class D Germantown at Taconic Hills boys at 5:30, then Hoosick Falls at Tamarac girls at 7:30.

Wednesday - Really light night, so I'm heading to Greenville for a girls/boys doubleheader against Taconic Hills. I'll have my fill of that team in a few days.

Thursday - Heading to western Massachusetts for a pair of girls games. Mount Everett takes on Saint Joseph at 5:30, and then I'll rush to Lenox/McCann Tech right after.

Friday - Probably 2, but maybe parts of 3 games for this one. Schalmont girls take on Albany Academy at 6:00. I'll take the very short drive to Cohoes/Holy Names girls, which would be well underway by the time I get there. If that ends early, I'll finish the Albany trio by catching the back half of Bishop Maginn/Albany boys.

Saturday - Back to western MA for girls games! Hoosac Valley has a day full of fun, and I wouldn't miss it for the world. Four games - conflict on the schedule, but this is the best I can deduce. Drury/Frontier at 12:00, Granby/Wahconah at 1:30, Mount Greylock/Hampshire at 3:00, and Athol/Hoosac Valley at 4:30.

Sunday - Four more games, this time it's boys and I'm staying in Albany. Albany Academy has a showdown at the Armory - Schuylerville/South Glens Falls at 12:00, Uniondale/Troy at 1:45, Watervliet/Albany Academy at 3:15, and LaSalle/Colonie at 5:00.

If you see the 6'6" dude with the binder, that's me. Lot of games, hopefully a productive week!

The Week in Review

Not a successful week as far as talking to new players goes, but I did hit a lot of games. My lasting thoughts:

- Joe Girard is going to be something special. Actually, he already is now. The 8th grader (yes, 8th) dropped 41 big ones (yes, 41) in an overtime win for Glens Falls over rival South Glens Falls. He was one I was able to talk to - unfortunately, Matthew Higgins of South Glens Falls got out before I was able to. He makes waves of his own - the athletic swingman junior dropped 20 while shooting a decent percentage, including a 2-handed flush after a steal with a defender on his heels. Great game to watch and a couple solid players showcasing what they can do.

- Albany girls had an impressive win today over Newburgh, who's state ranked in Class AA. It was a comfortable 61-42 W, and a couple underclassmen that I've already talked to led the way. Junior Leah Dollard had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and freshman Bridget Whelan added 17 of her own. The inside-out duo, along with Colgate commit Mylah Chandler and electric guard Ranaveya Richards, make the Lady Falcons a tough out come sectional time.

- Height kills. Especially in girls' basketball, and especially when you get it from your guards. Bethlehem, led by Northeastern commit Gabby Giacone (6'1" stretch 4) and her sister, high-major D1 prospect Jenna (6'0" point guard), gave a much shorter and younger Colonie team fits earlier this week en route to a big win. Colonie has a phenomenal 8th grade talent in Aliyah Wright at the point, but she was giving up the better part of a foot to her counterpart, as were the other guards. Height alone in girls' hoops can get you somewhere. Mix high-level skill with that height, and your college education pays for itself.

- I'm in desperate need of this day off Sunday... well, it isn't a day off, but I won't hit a game. Recharge the battery and back at it Monday!

Monday, January 12, 2015

I Missed You This Year

... but you're good enough for the league, or I've been told by people I trust that you're good enough. Maybe I just caught you at a tournament and didn't have the chance to say anything and family wasn't there. Maybe I just didn't get to catch you. There's one of me and a massive area to cover both boys & girls - I like to think I can cover it all, but sometimes it slips through the cracks. That's what this is for.

Anyway, Empire State Takeover is basically an all-star summer showcase league. It starts in late June, going once a week, culminating in our playoffs on Saturday, August 8. All games besides that are on weeknights (boys generally Wednesdays, girls generally Thursdays). Everyone gets two games per night, with a maximum possible amount of games between 13 & 15, depending on how playoffs go. All games are at Union College in Schenectady, one of the top indoor athletic facilities in New York's Capital District.

The two main benefits of this league are strong competition and a high level of college exposure, which go hand in hand. If you don't want to play with/against other good players or don't take an interest in perhaps playing at the next level, this probably isn't for you. If you do, then this might be worth a harder look. Instead of typing it all out here, I've posted all of the league information in various blog posts. The main links are below, just click and it will take you there. The magic of technology.

League Overview
'Alternate' Option
FAQs
Game & League Rules

And if you decide you want in, all I need is submission of event packet information and payment - if you are choosing the ALTERNATE option, payment is different. Refer to the 'Alternate' Option link above. More links!

Coaches' Packet Form
Payment Info

IF YOU ARE A BOY - exact league dates are 6/24, 7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22 (all Wednesdays), 7/30 (Thursday), 8/8 (playoffs - Saturday). Game times are 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 - 2 games a night. I HAVE ALREADY SENT COLLEGE COACHES PRELIMINARY INFO - rosters will be finalized by Saturday, June 13 and final, concrete info will be sent to coaches starting that weekend. I will need a decision of yes, no, or alternate by 6/12. I apologize for the short notice. If there are any questions, please let me know - contact info below.

IF YOU ARE A GIRL - exact league dates are 6/25, 7/2, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23 (all Thursdays), 7/29 (Wednesday), 8/8 (playoffs - Saturday). Game times are 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 - 2 games a night. I JUST FINISHED OFF PRELIMINARY ROSTERS, coaches started receiving preliminary info on Tuesday, 6/2. Definitely still tweaking those rosters. They will be finalized by Monday, 6/15 and final, concrete info will be sent to coaches starting in the middle of that week. I will need a decision of yes, no, or alternate by 6/15. Again, I apologize for the short notice. Contact info is below - please reach out to me with any questions.

Thank you!


Jeff Mlinar
Program Director - Empire State Takeover
C: (315) 360-2730
E-Mail Me!

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Empire State Takeover Summer Showcase League FAQs

As I've been going around on the recruiting trail for the boys and girls leagues, there's been a lot of questions and comments. Some people love the idea of what I'm planning to do - others feel the need to come up with all the reasons that it won't work, like I haven't thought of (or already went through) those issues already. Above all, there's been questions, and a lot of them. However, the same few questions/comments keep popping up. Why not answer them here?


- So what's this about? What is this Empire State Takeover?

In essence, it's an all-star exposure event that takes the shape of a conventional high school summer league. The goal is to assemble the best talent possible in the region in one central location throughout the summer. It blends the goals of high-level AAU hoops, but like a traditional school summer league, takes place once per week from late June through early August. In 2015, the first installment of EST, players came from locations as far away as Canton, NY (3.5 hours from Union College), along with Plattsburgh, Moriah, Syracuse, Johnson City, Leominster, MA, and Bristol, VT - all drives of 2-3 hours from Union.

- But my kid plays AAU with (name your program) already.

Well, of course. Out of two years running leagues like this (before the introduction of EST, I ran the King of Kings College Prospect League in Utica in 2014), I've only had 3 people out of 210 total participants that didn't play AAU that spring/summer. Pretty much everyone that's serious about the game is in the circuit now. I'm not trying to compete with AAU. The schedule for Empire State Takeover, being in the middle of the week, generally doesn't conflict with AAU schedules. There are some exceptions - in the NCAA live viewing period for Division I coaches, boys tournaments such as EYBL Peach Jam, Live in AC, and various Hoop Mountain/Hoop Group sessions, along with prestigious such as the Victor Oladipo camp and CP3 Rising Stars camp, have forced players to miss weeks. Girls that participate in a national schedule in July will be away during one of our sessions in early July almost always, but the 2016 EST will schedule off of the massive USJN national tournament in Washington, DC to avoid schedule conflicts in that regard.

Long story short - it's summer, and I know pretty much everyone will miss a week or two due to different obligations. And it's OK. I'm not expecting this to monopolize your summer. I do expect people who are full-time participants in the league to not be a scheduling headache and hopefully not miss more than a couple weeks - but if your schedule is too crazy and you'd miss half of the season or more, an 'alternate' option is also provided. Please check out the 'Alternate Status' post on the blog for more info regarding this week-by-week option. If I talk to you about playing this summer, it's because I really want you in it, and we're willing to make it work!

- How do you know coaches will come?

I can't guarantee particular coaches coming. I can just tell you that I work extremely hard to try and get programs to come out and check the players out. Ask the basketball coaches in the Northeast about the e-mails and calls. The more college-level players that play, the more programs will attend. That's natural - and that's why I make the effort to get as many of the players good enough to compete at this level as possible. Coaches from a total of 85 programs came through the doors between the two leagues in 2015, and I'm looking for that number to spike upwards in 2016.

- How did you find out about me/my kid?

Box scores, probably. I'm up at 5:45 in the morning typing this after pulling an all-nighter. I'm looking at box scores all night from everywhere. If you make me take notice, I'll see what you're about.

- How come you're talking to me and not my senior teammate, they just scored their 1,000th point!

Senior. We don't do seniors... unless they're going prep next year for a post-grad. Empire State Takeover is for those with remaining eligibility, which besides the aforementioned scenario, means current juniors and younger.

- How many teams?

Depends on how many people participate. General rule is to have as many teams as possible without watering down talent. The goal for each league is always 6 teams - if there is additional interest, I'm willing to bump the number up. For quality purposes, I'm also willing to drop the number - the Capital District girls' league had 5 teams in 2015.

- Why don't you just send information to the high school coaches?

There are a number of reasons. I like to actually get out and view players myself anyway to see who is good enough to play at the next level, and nothing to me is better than the eye test. My general experience, though, is that most HS coaches have not been the most helpful. I am extremely grateful for those who have been helpful & supportive of EST, and I've also been grateful for those who have, even if they don't really care for it, let me do my thing. That being said, many have been less than helpful. As I type this, I'm a few days removed from e-mailing a group of coaches about some early-season scheduling and I'm working at a 10% response rate. Occasionally (although their heart is in the right place), I'll also get the other side - coaches that offer up a group of kids that aren't capable of playing at a highly competitive level. This is a select event - a major selling point of Empire State Takeover's summer program is that this is where good players come to play with and against other good players, players that have the ability to play at the college level. If I had more meaningful success through HS coaches, I would use it as more of a resource - and there are some that I've thankfully built connections with that I ask for insight and rely on information from - but it's a resource that has been largely ineffective from my standpoint.

- Sounds good. Do you have a website?

Yes! The website is http://www.empirestatetakeover.org. This may not be news to you if you checked out the paper I gave you, or of course, if you found this post from the site. It's constantly being updated. All of the 2015 information is still on it (rosters, schedules, etc.) and will remain until the weeks leading up to June 2016, when rosters/schedule will be finalized. As things pertaining to 2015 players happen (collegiate commitments, accolades, etc.) or information regarding the 2016 leagues arise, you're sure to see it on the site. Check it out!


I get some other questions from time to time, but those are the eight main questions and comments that I receive on a day-to-day basis. I hope this helps clarify some of those inquiries, whether it's about the format of the play, the goals of the league or anything in between. If there are any other questions or comments, please let me know. I'll be glad to answer them - either fully or to the best of my ability!