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!
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