Amsterdam & Shen Bring the Epicenter of NY Holiday Hoops to the 518

From the basketball quiet on Christmas Eve & Day to the wild nature of the schedule that directly follows, there's no point during the year that goes from 0 to 100 quite like holiday tournament week. Thankfully for hoop enthusiasts that live in the 518, four straight action-packed days give off more of a March Madness feel than high school midseason play.

There are several holiday tournaments throughout Section II - places like BKW, Glens Falls, Maple Hill, Mayfield, and Mohonasen bring the more traditional four-team format to their courts - but two separate themselves from the pack in many ways. Throw in the late cancellation of Elmira's Josh Palmer Classic and decentralization of the Syracuse area's More Than a Game Classic, who had to pull all games out of Onondaga Community College, and the Amsterdam College Showcase and the Shen/Impact Athletic Center Holiday Classic headline holiday hoops in upstate NY.

The Amsterdam College Showcase, held at Amsterdam High School on December 27-28, features 14 teams representing four NYSPHSAA sections along with a New Hampshire representative. A couple late backouts have forced some late schedule adjustments from 16 overall games down to the currently scheduled 13, but both days include AM-to-PM action. Among the long list of must-watch players at the event are a half-dozen D1 offered or committed players, and seven of the teams were recognized in the NYSSWA's initial state rankings last week. That includes four in the AAs, host Amsterdam (#12 in A), Schalmont (#4 in B), and Duanesburg (the state's top-ranked C). One scheduled out-of-state participant, Holy Redeemer of Wilkes-Barre, PA, was a late scratch, so the remaining non-New York representative is New Hampshire & NHIAA Division II power Hanover.

After the completion of Amsterdam's showcase, Shen/Impact follows suit on December 29-30. This inaugural event currently holds a full field of 16 varsity teams/16 games over two days (along with 10 JV teams on a separate court). Alongside a heavy contingent of Section II teams, there are also teams representing four NYSPHSAA sections & New Hampshire at this event. The similar pre-event watch list can be given for here, as around a half-dozen D1 offered/committed players headline those anticipated to play and eight NYSSWA state-ranked teams. Among the headlining in-state programs are host Shenendehowa (#3 in AA), Averill Park (#1 in A), and Pittsford Mendon (#5 in A). Their lone out-of-state representative is another state power in New Hampshire Division I Bishop Guertin out of Nashua.

Full schedules, as of December 26, are listed below. A lot of good basketball in the 518 between these two places. Hope to see you in the gym!

AMSTERDAM COLLEGE SHOWCASE (all games held at Amsterdam High School)

DECEMBER 27 (Monday)

11:30 - Duanesburg (II) vs. Wallkill (IX)

1:00 - Albany (II) vs. Penfield (V)

2:30 - Troy (II) vs. Saugerties (IX)

4:00 - Shaker (II) vs. Baldwinsville (III)

5:30 - Bethlehem (II) vs. Hanover (NH)

7:00 - Saratoga Springs (II) vs. Fairport (V)

DECEMBER 28 (Tuesday)

10:00 - Troy (II) vs. Wallkill (IX)

11:30 - Baldwinsville (III) vs. Penfield (V)

1:00 - Shaker (II) vs. Saugerties (IX)

2:30 - Schalmont (II) vs. Fairport (V)

4:00 - Saratoga Springs (II) vs. Hanover (NH)

5:30 - Albany vs. Duanesburg (both II)

7:00 - Amsterdam vs. Johnstown (both II)

SHEN/IMPACT HOLIDAY CLASSIC (all games held at Impact Athletic Center)

DECEMBER 29 (Wednesday)

10:00 - Fonda-Fultonville vs. Mechanicville (all II)

11:30 - Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake vs. Queensbury (all II)

1:00 - Albany Academy vs. Cambridge (all II)

2:30 - Colonie (II) vs. Our Lady of Lourdes (I)

4:00 - Averill Park (II) vs. Pittsford Mendon (V)

5:30 - Albany (II) vs. Cicero-North Syracuse (III)

7:00 - Shenendehowa (II) vs. Bishop Guertin (NH)

8:30 - Niskayuna (II) vs. Liverpool (III)

DECEMBER 30 (Thursday)

9:30 - Albany Academy vs. Mechanicville (all II)

11:00 - Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (II) vs. Liverpool (III)

12:30 - Averill Park (II) vs. Bishop Guertin (NH)

2:00 - Shenendehowa (II) vs. Pittsford Mendon (V)

3:30 - Albany (II) vs. Our Lady of Lourdes (I)

5:00 - Colonie (II) vs. Cicero-North Syracuse (III)

6:30 - Cambridge vs. Fonda-Fultonville (all II)

8:00 - Niskayuna vs. Queensbury (all II)

The Week Ahead: December 13-19, 2021

Three down, 14 to go!

Skipping the small talk this time, it's a weekly thing. Time for 'The Week Ahead'. What gyms am I tentatively planning to be in this week? Check it out:

Mon, 12/13: Gananda @ East Rochester (S5) 

Tues, 12/14: Penfield @ Pittsford Mendon (S5)

Wed, 12/15: Catskill @ Greenville (S2) as primary; will catch some of Hudson @ Cairo-Durham before

Thurs, 12/16: Elmira Notre Dame @ Waverly (S4) for now; this could change

Fri, 12/17: Ichabod Crane @ CCHS (S2) or Marathon @ Union Springs (S4) - still to decide

Sat, 12/18: Heuvelton @ Massena, then Lowville/Gouverneur, Harrisville/Hermon-DeKalb, Northern Adirondack/Canton @ SUNY Canton (S10) - weather dependent & also could change

Sun, 12/19: nothing on the schedule as of now - if there's a game I'm unaware of, let me know!

The two highlights of this week, at least at this stage, are pretty apparent: I'm making my first Section V trip of the year to start the week, and besides that, there's a lot of uncertainty. Thursday & Friday are currently somewhat up in the air due to my own indecisiveness (and understanding that I'll need to be flexible given all the recent schedule changes), and Saturday could bring snow to the area in which I plan to travel to. As far as games go, Penfield/Mendon has to take the cake for hottest contest of the week. I'm sure I'll be one of approximately 385738 people covering it - see you all there! Gananda's season opener & a good matchup in the post against defending Section V C1 champ East Rochester to start. Janay Brantley, fresh off a 50 piece McNugget, and her Catskill team head to a sneaky solid Greenville. END/Waverly should be intriguing, Ichabod/CCHS features two of the Albany area's finest young guards & Marathon/Union Springs features two of its region's finest older guards. Altogether, should be fun wherever I land. See you in some gyms!

The Week Ahead: December 6-12, 2021

The weekly count continues... two down, hopefully 15 left!

If you've followed along to this point, you know the drill. If not, welcome to the party. Time for another installment of 'The Week Ahead', a weekly post highlighting my anticipated/hopeful schedule leading into each week of HS season for the following days. This is always subject to change - the coordination & occasionally necessary process of making sure schools are allowing media in the gym (which hasn't been an issue so far but things are always fluid), the dreaded five letters of COVID, and the ever-changing Northeast weather patterns can change plans in a heartbeat. As much as I'd like for it to be set in stone, this is always in pencil, never in Sharpie.

That being said, my hopeful schedule for the upcoming week:

Mon, 12/6: Corinth @ Saratoga Catholic (1st half), South Glens Falls @ Hudson Falls (S2) (was Warwick/Lourdes, then Frankfort/Poland before postponements)

Tues, 12/7: Bethlehem @ Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake (S2)

Wed, 12/8: Marcellus @ Bishop Ludden (S3)

Thurs, 12/9: Red Hook @ Millbrook (S9)

Fri, 12/10: Fonda @ Duanesburg (S2) (time change took away possibility of 2nd game)

Sat, 12/11: Elmira @ Maine-Endwell (S4) (second game postponed)

Sun, 12/12: Tournament @ Our Lady of Lourdes (S1) - includes Lourdes, Saratoga Springs, Ursuline, West Genesee

Another travel-heavy week as the Section 2 schedule slowly churns to full strength - Friday is the first truly busy day in the 518. I plan to make my first 845 trips of the winter this week, and it could be multiple times, though three planned nights quickly turned into two after a postponement. Still some small school action, but some more AAs & As this week as the large schools are revving up to full game activity. Another 11-game week planned - not an overload (to put in perspective, holiday tournament week will bring me to about 30 games), but also not nothing either. And a seven-day week - games on Sunday!

Every day brings a potentially intriguing game for various reasons. On top of that, there are plenty of good ones that I'll miss because I can't split myself yet - might have to finally break out some Views From The Couch if I have time. Hopefully I'll see you in the gym!

The Week Ahead: November 29-December 5, 2021

One week of games down, hopefully 16 more to go!

Another installment of 'The Week Ahead'. Again, look for weekly posts on this blog highlighting my planned or hopeful schedule leading into each week of action during HS season. This is always subject to change with so many moving parts during scholastic season, especially in these times. Consistent coordination with ADs/coaches to make sure they're allowing media in the building is still needed, the dreaded five letters of COVID, and of course the ever-changing Northeast weather patterns all change plans at a moment's notice. So think of this as 'in pencil' & not 'in Sharpie' - always subject to change!

That being said, my hopeful schedule for the week:

Mon, 11/29: required off day (probably the only one!)

Tues, 11/30: Tournament 1st Round @ Walton (S4) - Worcester vs. Franklin, Deposit/Hancock @ Walton

Wed, 12/1: TBD... Section 7 (Willsboro)? Section 3 (Auburn)? have yet to decide

Thurs, 12/2: Queensbury @ Johnstown; likely another Foothills game after (Scotia/Broadalbin?)

Fri, 12/3: Tournament 1st Round @ Delaware Academy (S4) - Cambridge/Duanesburg, Cooperstown @ Delhi

Sat, 12/4: Drago Tournament Consolation/Championship @ Oneonta (S4) - Colonie, Horseheads, Newark Valley, Oneonta; Tournament Consolation/Championship @ Laurens (S4) - Edmeston, Hunter-Tannersville, South Kortright @ Laurens

Sun, 12/5: haven't found anything yet... anyone have a game or scrimmage that I've missed? Let me know!

Another week of small school madness, for the most part, and a whole lot of Section 4. This isn't a surprise & usually the way it goes; it's usually small schools that play more actual games in the early stages of the season, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that the eastern half of Section 4 loves their tipoff tournaments. Especially if I go north to Section 7 on Wednesday, there's potential to hit the entirety of 10 games and parts of another couple this week.

Particularly looking forward to getting eyes on Queensbury, who didn't play last winter, and there are some intriguing matchups at the tournaments - Worcester/Franklin, Cambridge/Duanesburg, a potential Colonie/Newark Valley contrast of styles, etc. Hopefully I'll see you in the gym!

The Week Ahead: November 22-28, 2021

It's about that time... we're back!

Look for weekly posts on this blog highlighting my planned or hopeful schedule leading into each week of action during HS season. This is always subject to change with so many moving parts during scholastic season, especially in these times. Consistent coordination with ADs/coaches to make sure they're allowing media in the building is still needed, the dreaded five letters of COVID, and of course the ever-changing Northeast weather patterns all change plans at a moment's notice. So think of this as 'in pencil' & not 'in Sharpie' - always subject to change!

That being said, my hopeful schedule for the week:

Mon, 11/22: Scrimmage (S2) - Catskill @ Colonie (Empire State Takeover Basketball: Colonie & Catskill Cross Paths in Season Opening Scrimmage: Notes & Thoughts)

Tues, 11/23: Tournament @ Hunter-Tannersville (S4) - Margaretville vs. Windham-Ashland-Jewett (Consolation), Schenevus @ H-T (Championship) (Five is Enough as Schenevus Runs Past H-T; Hunter-Tannersville Tournament Recap (empirestatetakeover.com))

Wed, 11/24: Scrimmage (S2) - Berne-Knox-Westerlo, Fonda-Fultonville @ Amsterdam

Fri, 11/26: Tournament @ Schoharie (S2) - Bishop Gibbons/Cherry Valley-Springfield, Germantown @ Schoharie (Cherry Valley & Schoharie Run Through Openers; Schoharie Tournament Recap (empirestatetakeover.com))

Fri, 11/26: Tournament @ Cohoes (S2) - Lansingburgh/Mekeel, Bishop Maginn @ Cohoes

Sat, 11/27: Muggsy's Tournament @ Saranac (S7) - Beekmantown vs. Heuvelton (Consolation), Northeastern Clinton @ Saranac (Championship) (NCCS Rolls, Beekmantown Youth Rises to Occasion: Muggsy’s Tournament Recap (Championship Day) (empirestatetakeover.com))

Sun, 11/28: Tournament @ West Canada Valley (S3) - Brookfield, Sherburne-Earlville, Westmoreland, West Canada Valley (Consolation/Championship)

Small schools rule the stage for the week as the majority of 'counts on the record' game action is Class B-D tipoff tournaments. At least a couple scrimmages are mixed in with the hopes of adding 2-3 more. Week 1 of a fun few months underway!

Colonie & Catskill Cross Paths in Season Opening Scrimmage: Notes & Thoughts

November 22, 2021

Feels great to talk about high school hoops in November again. The 2021-22 season is a go!

Although games that count on the record start to trickle in during Thanksgiving week, I always call this, the 2nd week of the season, scrimmage season. Day 1 of scrimmage season tipped off Monday with a light load of gatherings. The one I was able to stop at featured two Section 2 teams not used to bumping into each other, as Patroon/Class B Catskill made the trip north to compete with Suburban/Class AA Colonie. A few notes & takeaways from opening day in Raider country:

The versatility shows here, as Gabby Martin takes care of some ballhandling duties for Colonie. The developing 5'10" 2024 will be called upon to do some of everything for the Raiders this year.

The Next Progression: EST Enhances Comprehensive Coverage with Subscriber Content

It was only a matter of time, right?

In recent years, I've called Empire State Takeover an 'all-encompassing endeavor' in the girls' basketball world, particularly in the home base of upstate NY (but as we know, that coverage base has expanded into various parts of Pennsylvania & New England). It's moved from a summer league to other events, then incorporated basketball-specific media coverage with writing and photo/video content. It's parlayed into a greater level of visibility & recognition for the athletes, and at times, I've been able to assist in other outlets that provide recognition for their work (all-state teams, etc.). Among all of those things, the writing - which hasn't always been consistent, but is a constant presence during the HS hoops season - tends to be one of the most well-received avenues.

In more recent times, the basketball-specific writing coverage of upstate NY players & teams has waned. That's at no fault to anyone involved - lack of staffing leads to regionalization of what used to be local coverage, plus relocation of other respected media members that paid attention to the girls' game has led to this. With that, an opportunity to provide the level of coverage the players, teams, & coaches of the region deserve while expanding the footprint & growing the offerings of EST has presented itself.

As recognizable of a logo as there is among girls' basketball players in upstate NY at this point... it's time to take the next step in EST offerings & comprehensive coverage.

Ok, cutting to the chase here. EST will now introduce exclusive subscriber content with the utilization of another blog site beyond this one. This blog will still be active with 'free reads' and will be updated with some regularity! However, to receive the most in-depth coverage of girls' basketball coverage within my primary coverage region, the place to be is EST Blog (empirestatetakeover.com) (in high school season, this includes Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, & 10 in NY along with District 2 in PA and other areas, including Section 1, to a lesser extent). Expect game writeups from every game I attend in person, consistent roundups from what's happening on the high school scene statewide, individual player articles as the winter season goes on & I get used to the process of providing daily content, and much more as situations present themselves. During AAU season, the player articles will come to the forefront along with consistent reviews & writeups of events that I attend. Also, ALL PHOTOS WILL BE AVAILABLE AS DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT FOR SUBSCRIBERS TOO! There's plenty more beyond the few that I post on social media, and they'll all be available.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN SUBSCRIBER CONTENT

- Detailed game writeups & thoughts from every HS game that I attend in person (with rare exception of things like holiday showcases with 8 games in a day, at which point there will be an event recap) - will likely attend 200-250 games during HS season

- Statewide roundups to keep track of what's going on from section to section in girls' hoops (one comprehensive place to receive all info) - weekly at minimum, but will likely be 2-3x per week on busier weeks

- Individual player profiles & articles throughout the year, incorporating player/coach interviews with information & my own thoughts and evaluations

- Other scholastic-related articles as the situation calls for them, such as preseason previews (already complete for many sections) and postseason previews

- Event recaps/thoughts/notes during AAU season

- ALL PHOTOS taken at any game or event now available in one place

All photos, like this of budding Union-Endicott star Adriana Fontana - who also has her own writeup in the Section IV large school preview - will be up & available for subscribers.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE BLOG 'FREE READS'

- Game writeups & thoughts from HS games that I watch streams/game film of - think 'Views From The Couch' special introduced in February-March 2021 - will be done as time allows

- Any post made related to scrimmages I attend in person

- Any 'ESTers in Action' special article, which highlights the performances & accolades of EST event participants at the high school or collegiate levels

- Weekly 'The Week Ahead' articles, which will lay out my planned schedule for coming days

- Various other articles as situations present themselves, such as scholastic event previews/players to watch

- All comprehensive EST event coverage!

Don't worry, the caffeinated stick figure will be back as time allows - and for free on this blog!

This is a particularly large & time-consuming undertaking for one person that's already busy, so there will be a fee for subscriber content. The monthly subscription is $5/month, and an annual subscription is $40/year (equates to pay 8 months/4 months free). This can be accessed at various spots on the website - one was posted above - and another easy way to subscribe is through this link: Subscription Plans (empirestatetakeover.com). 

As always, the aim is to provide the highest quality content & coverage for girls' basketball now and in the future. With the knowledge base I've thankfully been able to acquire through the daily grind over the last several years, between 'recent history' & the present time, I think this will be a great resource for coverage in upstate NY & beyond. The work has already started, as several preseason previews are up on the blog - Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6 (plus MMA) either already have or will soon have complete previews with contending teams/players to watch/games to circle. Sections 7, 9, & 10, all spots where I was pretty much unable to attend last February/March, will stop short of team previews but offer players to watch & games to circle.

As always, if there are any questions or thoughts, my social media/website DMs are open. Always open for suggestions on how to enhance the EST coverage & offerings! This is an expansion of EST that I'm particularly excited about, and I hope that feeling is mutual on your end. See everyone in a gym somewhere this winter!

The Review: 7th Annual EST Fall Showcase (PM Session)

The review... Part II! Back to the intro:

If you're a basketball enthusiast, October 3 wasn't your typical Sunday in Scranton. Far from it.

Over the course of the day, 106 girls and approximately three dozen college coaches from throughout the Northeast descended upon Riverfront Sports for 2021's installment of the EST Fall Showcase. 54 of those players were responsible for finishing the day off strong in the PM session, which ended up running from approximately 12:30-3 PM. I've spent time each day obsessing over notes/details & breaking down game film, and with that comes a verbal playback of what I was able to witness. The afternoon session review:

All smiles from Alexis Ferguson, Faith Walker, Molly Boek, & Kaelah Carter. They played like this was how they felt, and it translated. Catch all four of them in the writeup below!

The Review: 7th Annual EST Fall Showcase (AM Session)

If you're a basketball enthusiast, October 3 wasn't your typical Sunday in Scranton. Far from it.

Over the course of the day, 106 girls and approximately three dozen college coaches from throughout the Northeast descended upon Riverfront Sports for 2021's installment of the EST Fall Showcase. 52 of those players were responsible for making the event jump from the start, and that they did as a particularly competitive group took the court from approximately 9:30-12:00. I've spent time each day obsessing over notes/details & breaking down game film, and with that comes a verbal playback of what I was able to witness. The AM session review:

Adriana Fontana, who has made her mark & been a consistent presence at EST events in 2021, came through for the Fall Showcase AM session. 

The Note Sheet: A Thursday Night in Troy

October 7, 2021

Technically, there's been a lot of nights in Troy over the past couple months. This is just one that I'm writing about!

I was able to spend last Thursday in the MD Sports Hall gym, home of the 518 edition of EST Summer Run in 2021 among many other things, featuring one of the 518's best AAU programs against one of its best high school teams. Julie McBride & the Albany Capitals, prepping for a Hoop Group event in MA over the weekend, hosted players from Shenendehowa in what was basically a four-team scrimmage (3 from the Caps). A few notes from the night:

For The Love: Over 100 Players Dedicate August Nights to EST Summer Run

112 players.

65 high schools.

19 AAU clubs.

11 nights (19 total sessions in a 32 day stretch).

8 NYSPHSAA sections represented (plus preps from CT, MA, & PA).

7 graduation classes.

1 love.

That, in a nutshell, was the *technically* 1st annual EST Summer Run. The run sessions, a new incarnation birthed from the flagship EST Summer League, took nearly all of my attention in August... and with good reason. A couple nights per week for five weeks, the majority of the extended region's premier talent took the court to get in some work while most are usually in relax mode. Unlike the league, the format was more than just 5v5 - and in the interest of exploring to figure out what worked best, it wasn't always the same from night to night, though 3v3 & 5v5 play was always the base. Like the league, it was a different, relaxed, fun setting, but you know what happens when you get a bunch of good players in the gym... the environment was as competitive as ever.

In coming days, weeks, & months (because it'll take me that long to get through all the game film), more content will hit here & the social media platforms. There's already plenty on Twitter & Instagram from the last few weeks. I'll drop some more detailed individual player thoughts in the near future, but for now, a few sweeping Summer Run thoughts:

Lauren Filien (Stony Brook commit) was 1 of 8 current Division I commits that took the court on EST Summer Run nights. Nearly 30 that hit either the Troy or Rochester gyms on those evenings currently hold scholarship offers.

7TH ANNUAL EST FALL SHOWCASE: Full Info W/ Registration Links

7th ANNUAL EST FALL SHOWCASE

Site: Riverfront Sports (Scranton, PA)

Date: Sunday, October 3, 2021

Time: 2 sessions (approximately 9:30 AM-12 PM & 12-2:30 PM); first-come, first-serve, approximately 60 athletes per session

Cost: $75

For: Classes of 2022-25 (current 9th-12th grade)

Registration Form (completed & submitted online): https://jeffmlinar.wufoo.com/forms/q3zv1z60urqvbs/

PayPal payment link: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=7EKYUQG2YDSF4

Last year changed so much for so many, but one thing it didn't take away was the EST Fall Showcase. EST's lone event last year, it crossed the border into Pennsylvania last year and became a massive success, selling out two sessions in approximately a week with high level talent... so it was only right to bring it back to NEPA for another go-around.

Like 2020, the Fall Showcase will be held at the three-court Riverfront Sports Complex in Scranton, PA. The event is scheduled for Sunday, October 3, and this will be a TWO SESSION EVENT, with Session 1 running from 9:30 AM-12 PM & Session 2 following at approximately 12-2:30 PM. The session preference is "athlete's choice" on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Participants will receive the opportunity to showcase themselves in various outlets while also getting focused reps through skill development. The competition piece includes an extended stretch of 3v3 play to not only allow participants to get into a rhythm & provide a different look, but also to maximize "in-game reps" for all players. It'll then break into more traditional 5v5 run for the duration of the session, with rosters geared to be competitive for all participants. All athletes will also go through a comprehensive individual skill work session, which will be coordinated by renowned trainer Mark Williams & the Team Footprintz organization.

The Fall Showcase has turned into one of the Northeast's prime opportunities to be seen by college coaches. Last November's event had coaches from 58 collegiate programs either walk through the Riverfront doors or tap into the 'virtual option' for 3v3 & 5v5 game film. 58 colleges, approximately 60 players in each session (120 total)... a player-to-coach ratio of approximately 1:1 for each session. This is the sort of meaningful exposure that EST aims to provide and what everyone aims to receive when putting money into a showcase. In order to "showcase", you need to be able to "show" someone. The Fall Showcase has provided that in a major way, and this year will be no different!

Everything will also be accessible to college coaches via game film, as all 3v3 & 5v5 play gets recorded. This has proven to be particularly valuable since the COVID emergence & paid dividends from an exposure standpoint at EST events over the last year. Events have also traditionally been well-covered by other basketball media besides just myself, another valuable resource in the process.

Event days are some of my favorite days of the year, and I'm really looking forward to the return of this one. Registration & payment links are at the top of the page, and a registered player list (updated daily, or at least as often as I can get to it) will be posted directly below. Hope to see you at Riverfront on October 3!

REGISTERED PLAYER LIST (updated as time allows)

Vasilia Anastos (5'4", 2022)

Alexandra Bednarczyk (6'1", 2022)

Presleigh Brunner (5'7", 2022)

Kaelah Carter (5'7", 2022) - Saint Rose commit

Eleonore Collins (5'11", 2022)

Madelyn Cozzens (6'0", 2022)

Stasia Epler (5'8", 2022)

Emily Evans (5'6", 2022)

Morgan Giancaterino (5'9", 2022)

Siena Hallberg (5'7", 2022)

Alexa Kulakowski (6'0", 2022)

Ashlyn Marron (6'0", 2022)

Olivia Muse (6'1", 2022)

Chase Purdy (5'11", 2022)

Kaeli Romanowski (5'5", 2022)

Anna Scoblick (5'9", 2022)

Carly Scott (5'2", 2022)

Emma Shields (6'3", 2022) - Lafayette commit

Brooke Tillotson (5'8", 2022)

Olivia Agunzo (5'8", 2023)

Ashley Ames (5'6", 2023)

Sophie Auer (5'8", 2023)

Madalyn Barrows (5'8", 2023)

Molly Boek (6'0", 2023)

Hannah Bonczkowski (5'7", 2023)

Allison Bono (5'7", 2023)

Jaidyn Chest (5'4", 2023)

Natalee Collins (5'11", 2023)

Megan Desrats (5'7", 2023)

Kassidy Flayter (5'10", 2023)

Lily Funk (5'11", 2023)

Isabella Gilmore (5'10", 2023)

Emily Grasseler (6'0", 2023)

Gianna Guzman (5'7", 2023)

Sydney Hart (5'9", 2023)

Cadence Hiller (5'10", 2023)

Kailey Kalet (5'8", 2023)

Kaylee Krysztof (5'9", 2023)

Kaetlyn L'Amoreaux (5'6", 2023) - Fordham commit

Natalie Lewis (5'6", 2023)

Mia Little (5'3", 2023)

Trista Lukaszewski (5'10", 2023)

Amya McLeod (5'6", 2023) - Youngstown St. commit

Leah Middleton (5'11", 2023)

Delaney More (5'9", 2023)

Megan Perrine (6'0", 2023)

Halie Sifen (5'6", 2023)

Jakeira Stackhouse (5'9", 2023)

Brianna Weaver (5'6", 2023)

Kaya Weiskopf (5'11", 2023)

Cameryn Wilders (5'7", 2023)

Brianna Barr-Buday (6'2", 2024)

Reece Beaver (5'7", 2024)

Finley Bittenbender (5'2", 2024)

Kennedy Bittenbender (5'2", 2024)

Sophia Bonnell (5'5", 2024)

Natalie Bush (5'6", 2024)

Sierra Carter (5'7", 2024)

Grace Caterina (5'7", 2024)

Kyleigh Chapman (5'10", 2024)

Ellie Clearwater (5'7", 2024)

Grace Cozzens (5'10", 2024)

Sydney Delisle (5'3", 2024)

Katie Drozd (6'0", 2024)

Haylee Ellwood (5'5", 2024)

Alexis Ferguson (5'10", 2024)

Adriana Fontana (5'7", 2024)

Natalie Fox (6'3", 2024)

Madison Hart (5'5", 2024)

Taylor Holohan (6'0", 2024)

Brenna Hunt (5'7", 2024)

Allison Kehoe (5'10", 2024)

Niamh Kelly (5'7", 2024)

Madison Lent (5'7", 2024)

Payton Littlefield (5'8", 2024)

Mariah Luke (5'10", 2024)

Kaylee Marvin (6'1", 2024)

Olivia O'Meally (6'0", 2024)

Mackenzie Owens (5'8", 2024)

Mackenzie Perluke (5'7", 2024)

Caitlyn Rea (5'9", 2024)

Emily Romanowski (5'7", 2024)

Victoria Russo (5'7", 2024)

Kate Scoblick (5'10", 2024)

Hailey Shalor (5'6", 2024)

Audrey Shields (6'1", 2024)

A'Shyia Smith (5'5", 2024)

Marisa Smith (6'2", 2024)

Ally Stank (5'9", 2024)

Abby Stuart (5'6", 2024)

Gabby Stuart (5'6", 2024)

Faith Walker (6'0", 2024)

Jade Wallace (6'1", 2024)

Salihah Webster (5'10", 2024)

Morgan Brewer (5'8", 2025)

Maggie Coleman (5'7", 2025)

Callie DiLonardo (5'2", 2025)

Taylor Fall (5'4", 2025)

Angelina Hodgens (5'6", 2025)

Madelyn Little (5'6", 2025)

Lila Lovgren (5'8", 2025)

Talia Moeller (5'2", 2025)

Makayla Mueller (5'10", 2025)

Kendall Parker (5'4", 2025)

Sydney Pleat (5'7", 2025)

Kaila Richards (5'7", 2025)

Ava Sandroni (5'9", 2025)

Megan Terralavoro (5'6", 2025)

Grace Villnave (5'8", 2025)

Ashaya Wallace (5'6", 2025)

Eva Wilkerson (5'3", 2025)

Carolina Williams (5'6", 2025)

Ella Wilson (5'11", 2025)

Julia Wilson (5'3", 2025)

WNY High School Programs Flock To Fisher Camp For Summer Run

This time of year, the vast majority of action revolves around AAU programs preparing for the July grind. There's still plenty of that, but a good amount of Section V & Section VI/MMA's premier talent found the time to get some work in with their high school teams on Tuesday & Wednesday. As a small town native, I'll always have a soft spot for scholastic sports (if you can't tell by my coverage taking on a life of its own in the winter). When there's a chance to see a concentration of respectable high school programs under one roof, I won't pass it up, so it was an easy decision to make the trip to Tri-County Sports Complex outside of Rochester for Wednesday's festivities, the final day of St. John Fisher's team camp.

I wasn't able to watch every participating team in Wednesday's four time slots, but I covered as much ground as possible. A few notes from the day's action:

- This is in no way a comment against any other area, but as my coverage base has expanded to all borders of New York, I've developed an opinion that Section V has some of the best high school coaching in the state. As much fun as it was to watch the players get after it, I also enjoyed watching some of the coaches in "teach mode" in a team camp setting.

Anaya Coleman was must-see TV at the St. John Fisher team camp, including an attention-demanding offensive display in Mendon's final game vs. Penfield.

- This isn't news to anyone that pays legitimate attention to girls' basketball in NY, but Pittsford Mendon is the real deal. The scary thing? Their success in Section V has been as consistent as death & taxes in recent years, they have a state championship & another state finals appearance over the last few years, and this is as talented of a Mendon group that I've seen. Their rising senior group is very strong, and their guard play might be unmatched in New York among the Class A ranks. Anaya Coleman is one of upstate NY's most skilled & exciting guards, and she lit up the gym Wednesday with her scoring ability & creativity. Dani Strauf is a steady performer that can score or create for others, play on or off the ball, and brings some of the "glue player" qualities. Lily Kennedy is in the same boat in many ways, and at 5'10" & a long, fluid athlete, she brings a different level of versatility at both ends. Add Bridget Miller in the post, a strong 6 footer with a budding offensive game, and their firepower is undeniable. A trademark of the Mendon program is what they bring on the defensive end as well - in their 15-0 run culminating in a Section V Class A title in March, they held their opponents under 50 on 13 occasions - so despite graduating Cornell bound Lexi Green, one of Section V's usual suspects appears to be set up for February/March success once again.

Kyleigh Chapman (Canandaigua 2024) is developing into one of Section V's most intriguing young talents.

- Keeping with the Section V Class A talk, if Mendon is the #1 hit, the group rising up the charts has to be Canandaigua. They went 11-2 last winter and made it to the Class A semifinals, and not only are most of their contributors & rotation players back... most of them are 2023s/2024s. They're young in age, but quickly gaining meaningful experience. Behind scrappy & athletic 2023 guard Mya Herman (12.6 PPG), a 5'10" 2024 wing that's developing into a trusted half-court scorer in Kyleigh Chapman, and active & athletic size in 6 footer Kayla Taylor and 5'11" Macy Bacon, both 2024s, they have most of the necessary pieces set for long-term success. The future is now for the Braves, and it'll be fun to watch them continue to grow over the next couple years.

Bella Pucci (Fairport 2023), a dynamic guard with a scholarship-level basketball future, has blossomed into one of Section V's premier players.

- Time to bump up to Class AA for a minute. A couple years ago, Fairport was the team with the young kids that "could end up being really good". Last season, they took the next step into being a legitimate group that no team in Section V could look past, finishing with a 9-4 record & sectional loss to eventual champion Penfield. Going forward, they have to be looked at as a serious contender that could beat anyone in Class AA. Their dynamic 2023 duo of Ella Meabon (17.4 PPG) & Bella Pucci (17.2 PPG) have grown into two of the 585's must-see players with Division I futures. It's not just those two though, as Abigail Smith (2022) gives them another reliable backcourt presence and Riley DeRue (2022) is an athletic 5'11" workhorse that helps anchor their efforts around the rim. I would also anticipate that Ne'vaeh Buntley, a 2024 with upside that shows promise, takes a big step forward too. Combine the dynamic ability of Ella & Bella with their general depth and ability to get production from others, and in my opinion, Fairport now has to be mentioned among the perennial powers like Bishop Kearney & Penfield as a major player in Class AA for the next couple years.

- Speaking of Penfield, I wasn't able to watch the eventual Section V Class AA champions in person during the shortened season, so I was glad to get a chance at this team camp. Much of what they did Wednesday was centered around 2023 PG Grace Alexander, 2023 wing Jackie Funk, and 2022 forward Kennedy Cone, but their system means that everyone is a weapon and they all have a certain level of basketball IQ & understand the game. Can't have a Section V girls' basketball discussion without bringing up Penfield - or a New York discussion for that matter - and that clearly won't change anytime soon.

Emily McDonald, an Orchard Park 2026 that hit the court with St. Mary's, has the potential to be one of WNY's future stars.

- The team camp featured primarily Section V teams, but it wasn't exclusively a 585 thing. Monsignor Martin (Section VI private school) programs St. Mary's and Nichols made the trip east for the two-day event. Missing the first day meant I missed out on watching Shay Ciezki in action for St. Mary's, a nationally regarded 2022 with Power 5 offers & now holding the #40 spot in espnW's latest rankings for the 2022 class. However, they came equipped with several notable players, both established varsity contributors and young up & coming talent. The one in particular that I'll bring up here is Emily McDonald. This was my first time watching her, and it didn't take more than a couple minutes to realize it wouldn't be my last. She's just a 2026 and not remotely close to done physically developing, but her skill level & court presence both are beyond her years, and there was no fear in her eyes even when going up against the aforementioned Mendon guards that are four years older. Her shooting stroke is pure and she knocked a couple down from deep even with a contest, and she has the skill on the ball to create off the bounce. The rising Orchard Park 8th grader will likely be a name that WNY basketball enthusiasts will know sooner rather than later. So much is left to be determined at her young age when it comes to physical/skill development, but she looks to be cut from that cloth of recent Buffalo area lead guards (the aforementioned Ciezki & Kaylee Krysztof, a 2023 getting MM offers). Time will tell... remember the name.

- Now over to Nichols because they've done some shaking up of their own. Along with returning 2023 standout Quinn Benchley making things happen, they also had 2024 Brianna Barr in the building, a 6'2" 2024 that averaged nearly 18 PPG/15 RPG for Grand Island as a freshman and already holds an offer from Buffalo. Bri was a game changer for Nichols as a two-way force - back-to-basket & face-up scoring ability, rim protection, and a powerful rebounding presence. I think she's made serious strides since first watching her a couple years ago, and there's more where that came from.

Again, I wasn't able to catch every one of these teams in action, but shoutout to the 15 programs that spent their Tuesday & Wednesday nights in the gym. They included:

- Avon (Section V Class C1 finalist)

- Canandaigua (Section V Class A semifinalist)

- Churchville-Chili

- Dansville (Section V Class B2 finalist)

- Fairport

- Nichols School

- Our Lady of Mercy

- Penfield (Section V Class AA champion)

- Pittsford Mendon (Section V Class A champion)

- Pittsford Sutherland

- St. Mary's - Lancaster (Monsignor Martin finalist)

- Webster Schroeder (Section V Class AA semifinalist)

- Webster Thomas

Also, this isn't a 100% comprehensive list as I'm sure I'm missing at least a couple - the whole not getting to watch every team thing - but a general list of some of the more notable players putting in work that caught my eye at the team camp:

Anaya Coleman (5'6", Pittsford Mendon 2022 - multiple D1 offers)

Kennedy Cone (6'2", Penfield 2022)

Lily Kennedy (5'10", Pittsford Mendon 2022)

Haley Potenza (5'6", East Aurora 2022 - playing with Nichols)

Dani Strauf (5'10", Pittsford Mendon 2022)

Grace Alexander (5'3", Penfield 2023)

Quinn Benchley (5'9", Nichols School 2023)

Jackie Funk (5'10", Penfield 2023)

Mya Herman (5'7", Canandaigua 2023)

Rachel Kamrowski (5'4", Lancaster 2023 - playing with St. Mary's)

Sarina McDowell (6'2", Avon 2023)

Ella Meabon (5'8", Fairport 2023 - numerous D1 offers)

Sydney Postell (5'10", Churchville-Chili 2023)

Bella Pucci (5'8", Fairport 2023)

Brianna Barr (6'2", Nichols School 2024 - D1 offered)

Kyleigh Chapman (5'10", Canandaigua 2024)

Kayla Taylor (6'0", Canandaigua 2024)

Emily McDonald (5'6", Orchard Park 2026 - playing with St. Mary's)

Sydney Postell is one of upstate NY's most rapidly emerging talents, and junior year is shaping up to be a big one for the Churchville-Chili standout 2023.

Anyone have a team camp, summer league, or anything where several high school teams will be in the same gym on any given night? Let me know and I'll do everything I can to be there. This was fun - thanks to St. John Fisher coach Melissa Kuberka for giving me the heads-up on this. Glad I was able to make the trip!

The Prime Event East: Saturday Recap

I'm usually terrible with getting event articles to the blog - so trying a new format!

High temperatures in the Lancaster, PA area were forecast to be above 90 degrees both days this weekend, so Mother Nature decided to bring the heat. However, the action inside the Spooky Nook facility is proving to be even hotter as The Prime Event revs up. I'm on hand for the entire weekend - Spooky Nook has become one of several second homes to me, so not a surprise - and before Sunday tips off, let's do something a little different and take a look back at the games I was able to catch on the opening day.

8:30 - Albany Lady Stars 2022 vs. Bay State Jaguars 2023 Gold

The day started off with a competitive battle, as I finally got to watch a full game of Coach Twigzz' 2022 squad. This one was pretty close from the jump, and the Jags held a narrow 25-24 edge at halftime. They threatened to separate themselves at one point in the 2nd half, but recent Caldwell (Division II) commit KJ Gordon had a monster 2nd half for the Lady Stars to keep them within striking distance. However, BSJ proved to be too much - thanks in large part to a killer 2025 tandem of Olivia Rodrigues and Aleah Bracey - in a 56-50 Jags victory.

KJ Gordon went off in the 2nd half & led a furious Lady Stars charge in the final minutes.

9:40 - Albany Lady Stars vs. NEPA Elite 2024s

Another time slot, another Lady Stars game, this time the 2024s as they took on NEPA Elite in a battle between two programs in my "primary coverage region". Lady Stars grabbed an early lead, but NEPA went on a big run late in the 1st half fueled by the perimeter shooting of Finley Bittenbender on the way to a 28-22 halftime lead. The Scranton-area crew maintained a narrow lead the rest of the way and held off the Lady Stars for a 43-40 victory. Along with Finley & Kennedy Bittenbender, it was a lot of 2025s that made noise in this one; Sophia Tallutto & Ella Wilson for NEPA, and Azera Gates, Morgan Brewer, & Hannah Lauenstein for Lady Stars.

10:50 - X-Gen Elite vs. Team Final 2023s

Most games that I watched on Saturday were close & competitive the whole way. This was the first one where a team broke away, and it was the X-Gen crew out of the Buffalo area. After a sluggish start, they went on a 7-0 spurt late in the 1st half to push ahead to a 23-13 halftime lead. They continued to extend it from there, running to a 46-28 W. Casey Mahony was particularly impressive for X-Gen. Her impact is always felt on the court, often heavily in non-box score contributions (effort/energy/leadership & on the boards), but she packed a scoring punch with several jumpers off the catch, a couple finishes in transition, & more on the offensive glass. Rachel Kamrowski also picked it up in the 2nd half to help them extend the lead, although in limited minutes due to taking a shot below the eye.

Casey Mahony made her presence felt by impacting the boards & the scorebook as X-Gen ran to 2-0 on the day.

12:00 - City Rocks vs. Team Rio

The first 2022 platinum division game I got to see was this one, as City Rocks took on GUAA program Team Rio. Rio was able to extend their cushion late in the 1st half, thanks in large part to hot shooting across the board, particularly off the right hand of 2022 Faith Pappas, and the offensive prowess of Mikayla Blakes, a 2024 that already holds Power 5 offers. She ended the half with a couple buckets to push their lead to 42-27. Rio pushed the margin into the 20 range in the 2nd half, but an undermanned City Rocks squad continued to battle and eventually cut the deficit back into single digits. However, the hole was too deep, as Team Rio pulled out a 74-65 victory. Payton Graber (2022) packed a much-needed scoring punch for City Rocks and was a noticeable presence on the ball. Maren Louridas (2022) also had her moments throughout the game, and Natasha Chudy, a 2023 that recently picked up her 1st offer from Siena, got it going in the 2nd half.

Mikayla Blakes left no doubt as to why she's already receiving offers from Power 5 programs as a 2024.

1:10 - Bay State Jaguars Gold 2022 vs. Lehigh Valley Fever

This was about the time of day where things got screwy. Because of timing (last game ending late, this one starting early), I didn't get over to Court 10 until later in the 1st half. A scrappy, physical, sloppy-at-times last few minutes of the half led to a 20-14 Jags edge. They were able to open it up in the 2nd half with an overall balanced attack, a testament to the depth of their program, en route to a 52-35 victory.

2:20 - NEPA Elite II vs. NJ Sparks Red

I missed the entire 1st half of this game (and the first couple minutes of the 2nd) due to deciding 2:20 would be my lunch break. When I got there, the Sparks led 34-26. By the end, NEPA had pulled away to a 52-40 victory, so feel free to do the math as to how the last 12+ minutes went. They received a heavy dose of post production from 2022s Chase Purdy and Claire Dougherty, and 2023 guard Kallie Booth was able to handle pressure & spend a lot of time in the paint in the 2nd half in what was an impressive comeback W.

3:30 - NY Havoc Blue GUAA vs. Boston Showstoppers

Two teams that were looking to break into the W column after falling in their bracket play openers, and the Havoc crew shook off a slow start to make sure that it'd be them. Despite struggling offensively through much of the 1st half, they kept the Showstoppers at 4 on the scoreboard for a very long time & pulled to a 22-10 lead at the break. They continued to separate themselves & ran to a 52-29 victory, which was the largest margin I saw on the day. Morgan Tompkins had a particularly solid performance, especially in the 2nd half as they stretched their lead, and Marist commit Jackie Piddock had the kind of solid performance on the ball that you come to expect from her at this point, but the story at this point is the presence of Morgan Lee. The 6'4" 2022 and Georgetown commit recently joined Havoc and has instantly made an impact with her presence around the rim and ability to score in the post. She was a clear difference maker in this game, and I look forward to seeing them as they continue to gel.

Georgetown commit Morgan Lee is already proving to be a major addition for the Havoc program.

4:40 - Exodus EYBL vs. Team PA Polly

Of course, I circled this one on the schedule to stop in and watch longtime WNY standout Shay Ciezki in action, but it's always fun to watch a team with talent depth like Exodus. Shay's profile has blown up over the last 8 months, and her recruitment is cemented among the Power 5 ranks while now seeing her name among the nation's elite on the espnW Hoopgurlz rankings. She had a nice start in what was a competitive opening half, and it didn't take long for others to make their presence felt. It felt like nearly everyone took their turn as they pushed to a 42-32 halftime lead. The beginning of the 2nd half belonged to Carys Baker (2022) as the lefty flashed the offensive versatility, and they broke it open in the process & eventually earned a 66-45 W. Despite the final score, Team PA stepped up to the plate, especially in the early going. Niagara commit Marlie Dickerson made plays for herself & teammates with the ball in her hands, and 6'1" 2022 Anastasiya Astapenka stepped out & showed the range with a few early threes.

Shay Ciezki helped Exodus get started on the right foot in their Prime Event opening W.

5:50 - Capitals Team McBride vs. NJ Sparks NEYC 2024

Though the Capitals led essentially wire to wire, this turned into one of the more entertaining games of the day. The Albany-based group led 27-20 at the break and held off the Sparks on the way to a 55-50 W, but there were a couple twists & turns along the way. I thought Gabby Martin had a particularly noteworthy performance with her effort, energy, & finishing ability 12' and in, and she's clearly cementing herself as a 2024 to watch in the Capital District. Allison O'Hanlon provided consistently solid play and a feeling of steadiness that they needed in the backcourt, and Ellie Cerf packed a big scoring punch for the Capitals along with getting a couple big steals in the final minute. Sofia Sanchez, a strong 2024 guard that showed the ability to get to the rim & score and knock it down from the perimeter, caught my eye for the Sparks.

Gabby Martin made a major impact for the Capitals in their Prime Event opening W.

7:00 - NY Havoc 2023 GUAA vs. CT Starters White

Similar to my first Havoc game of the day, this was a matchup between two teams looking to break into the W column. Also similar to my first Havoc game of the day, T-Flo's group made sure it was them. Behind solid play from Jayla Tyler and a perimeter shooting barrage from Jaidyn Chest & Ava Pearson, they jumped to a 31-16 halftime lead. The Starters responded and continued to battle throughout, with 2023 Annelise Martens and 2024s Samantha Mancini, Sequoia Turcotte-Briggs & Adeline Standish all making some impact. In a 2nd half that I think the Havoc crew would admit was ugly for long stretches, they needed to grind it out, and Meagan Schuermann answered the ball with an extended series of impact plays fueled by her motor. Havoc eventually won 52-40.

8:10 - NEPA Elite Clark vs. Fairfax Stars EYBL

The last game of the day was arguably my best one, as two high-powered groups put on a show while trying to earn a berth into the Platinum division quarterfinals. Ciera Toomey, currently ranked #14 in the 2023 class in the latest espnW rankings, and Drexel commit Kylie Lavelle made their presence felt early. However, the loaded backcourt of Fairfax Stars, led by Kiki Rice (#6 in espnW 2022 rankings), Riley Nelson (2023), and Kiyomi McMiller (#4 in espnW 2024 rankings), quickly established themselves and set the tone for a battle. Moriah Murray, also a Drexel commit, stepped up to the challenge for NEPA Elite & had a strong end to the 1st half, which saw them hold a narrow 30-27 lead. It was the usual suspects doing damage on both ends as Fairfax took a lead, extended it to double digits, and lost it as NEPA battled back. Toomey & Murray had fantastic 2nd halves in particular, and Kaeli Romanowski stepped up & made some big plays in the final minutes, including a three to give them a late lead followed by an assist to Toomey's game winning layup in the final seconds. NEPA walked out with a 67-65 W and a trip to the quarterfinals on Sunday.

Moriah Murray (Drexel commit) was fantastic for NEPA Elite as they ended the day 2-0.

The Brackets: Who's In The Hunt?

I mean, this is bracket play and everyone is playing to win, right? So a quick rundown of who's still in the race for a Prime Event title as all brackets enter quarterfinals Sunday morning:

The 2022 Platinum division features 7 shoe teams and an independent. The top half of the brackets sees a GUAA battle as GTS Fusion lines up against Team Curry, and NJ Sparks EYBL takes on lone remaining independent NEPA Elite. It's Nike vs. Adidas in the bottom half, as Philly Rise EYBL takes on Team Lex Nation 3SSB and Team Takeover EYBL draws Mass Rivals Platinum 3SSB.

Like the 2022s, the 2023 Platinum division also has 7 shoes and an independent remaining. WPA Bruins GUAA takes on Mass Rivals Platinum 3SSB, and Nike vs. Nike completes the top half as Philly Rise plays Fairfax Stars. Team Takeover EYBL gets lone independent I-90 Elite - Wright in a rematch of a fun battle last month, and Exodus EYBL draws the Comets GUAA squad in the bottom half.

The 2024 Platinum division is more evenly split between shoe-sponsored & independent programs. WPA Bruins GUAA starts their Sunday with a good MCW Starz squad, and Mid-Atlantic Magic draw Team Takeover EYBL to complete the top half. The Comets GUAA group plays Team Melo, and it's Philly Rise EYBL and New Heights completing the 2024 matchups.

There are also Gold division championships in each age bracket. I won't go through all of them, but from my primary coverage region: NEPA Elite Rini is in the 2022 quarterfinals after a 2-0 start, where they'll play GTS Fusion Rise. The 2023 Gold bracket is filled with teams from the extended region, highlighted by a Buffalo vs. Scranton matchup as X-Gen Elite gets NEPA Elite. I-90 Elite - McCauley has also made the quarterfinals, where they'll take on Comets Iacone. The 2024s have a Westchester County representative, as the Hoopers - Ziogas squad plays a CT Spirit group in the quarterfinals.

One day down, one to go. See you in the gym as bright & early as I'll wake up for!

Philly Showcase Notes & Standouts, "The Future" Edition (Part I - 2024 & younger)

So much to say, this recap is getting split into multiple parts.

What was initially scheduled as the return of the Atlantic City Showcase had to pivot due to New Jersey COVID-related youth sports restrictions. Lucky for thousands of basketball players & people like myself, Select Events Basketball had the contingency plan handled. The bump was the same, but the setting was an hour northwest in the heart of Philadelphia. 

There were 27 game slots over three days & much more than 27 teams that I wanted to see (maybe I should hire someone), so I didn't get a chance to catch everyone... but I thankfully saw my share. That included plenty of time watching younger age divisions, particularly at the 8th & 9th grade levels, so the first post is dedicated to some of the names you'll be hearing at the high school level for years to come. A few standouts & notable performances that I had a chance to see from individuals in the 2024 class or below (players listed in alphabetical order):

*** This list mainly centers around players from what I consider my primary coverage region - the state of New York north of NYC, western New England, & northern PA - though it doesn't consist entirely of players from those regions. I cover the game because of programs/individuals participating from those regions, but don't solely pay attention to them during the game. A disclaimer in case you're new to EST! ***

4TH ANNUAL EST SUMMER KICKOFF: Full Info W/ Registration Links

4TH ANNUAL EST SUMMER KICKOFF

Site: Accelerate Sports Complex; Whitesboro, NY (Utica area)

Date: Friday, June 4, 2021

Time: 2 sessions (5-7 PM & 7:30-9:30 PM); first-come, first-serve, approximately 60 athletes per session (SOLD OUT)

Cost: $75

For: Classes of 2022-24 (current 9th-11th graders)

Registration Form (completed & submitted online): SOLD OUT... reach out directly regarding waiting list spots

PayPal payment link ($78 if PayPal due to service charge): https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=H6SB6E3CWLF78

The EST Summer Kickoff was one of the many COVID basketball casualties of 2020. It was a pause instead of a stop though, as perhaps the most sought after EST high school event is back in full force at a new location after a one-year hiatus. 

This will be the first EST event ever held in my old stomping grounds, the Mohawk Valley. It's taking place at the three-court Accelerate Sports Complex in Whitesboro, NY, just outside of the city of Utica. It'll be held on Friday night, June 4, and this will be a TWO SESSION EVENT, with Session 1 running from 5-7 PM & Session 2 following at approximately 7:30-9:30 PM. The session preference is "athlete's choice" on a first-come, first-serve basis.

As usual with the Friday night Summer Kickoff, sessions are focused solely on the competition aspect of the showcase. It'll start with an extended stretch of 3v3 play to not only allow participants to get into a rhythm & provide a different look, but also to maximize "in-game reps" for all players. Many attending college coaches have noted the 3v3 play to start as very beneficial in the evaluation process. The even will then break into more traditional 5v5 run for the duration of the session, with rosters geared to be competitive for all participants.

This has traditionally been as well-attended by college coaches as any EST event, if not the most attended event. The last time around with the Summer Kickoff - pre-pandemic, back in 2019 - 57 coaches walked through the door. 57 coaches, approximately 120 players... a player-to-coach ration of approximately 2:1, and more like 1:1 if you just count the 60 players in each session. This is the sort of meaningful exposure that EST aims to provide and what everyone aims to receive when putting money into a showcase. In order to "showcase", you need to be able to "show" someone. The Summer Kickoff has provided that in a major way, and this year will be no different!

Everything will also be accessible to college coaches via game film in days directly following, as all 3v3 & 5v5 play gets recorded - so in this case, the entire event. This has proven to be particularly valuable since the COVID emergence & paid dividends from an exposure standpoint at the last high school event, the Fall Showcase in November. Although the event wasn't heavily attended in person due to travel restrictions/freezes on college campuses, 58 collegiate programs subscribed to game film & information. That included all NCAA levels from Division I to Division III (including Big East, Atlantic 10, America East, MAAC, & NEC programs at the D1 ranks) along with NJCAA (junior college) D2 & D3 schools. Events have also traditionally been well-covered by other basketball media besides just myself, another valuable resource in the process.

The usual COVID restrictions will be in place for this event. That includes sterilizing basketballs, utilizing a separate walkway in the multi-use Accelerate facility, structuring the event to limit unnecessary back-and-forth foot traffic, and mask-wearing for all participants. Also, there will be a facility-imposed restriction of one spectator per player in attendance.

In its relatively short history, approximately 140 EST Summer Kickoff participants have moved on to play at the collegiate level, including 29 that are playing or currently committed to Division I programs & another 31 at the D2 ranks. Those participants, along with the several dozen that moved on to play at D3 programs, are at schools stretching from New York to California. The total number of EST "alumni" that have moved on to play college basketball is now approaching 300. Strong, recruitable talent & college coach attendance go hand in hand. Not only is the event an opportunity for exposure, it's a great barometer & chance to compete with & against some of the extended region's premier talent.

The Summer Kickoff sold out in both 2018 & 2019, and last year's only EST event, the Fall Showcase, sold out two sessions in UNDER A WEEK. I FULLY ANTICIPATE THIS EVENT SELLING OUT! Event days are some of my favorite days of the year, and I'm really looking forward to the return of this one. Registration & payment links are at the top of the page, and a registered player list (updated daily, or at least as often as I can get to it) will be posted directly below. Hope to see you at Accelerate on June 4!

REGISTERED PLAYER LIST (updated as time allows)

Carly Atty (5'5", 2022)

Kate Baylor (6'0", 2022)

Taylor Benjamin (5'8", 2022)

Tamia Brown (5'9", 2022)

Kayleigh Bryant (5'10", 2022)

Kayla Campbell (5'10", 2022)

Marissa Campbell (5'10", 2022)

Kaelah Carter (5'7", 2022)

Emma Cohen (5'8", 2022)

Rachel Cohen (5'6", 2022)

Eleonore Collins (5'11", 2022)

Stasia Epler (5'8", 2022)

Emily Evans (5'7", 2022)

Ella Fadale (5'6", 2022)

Sage Fanelli (5'7", 2022)

Hannah Ferguson (5'9", 2022)

Lauren Filien (6'1", 2022)

Gracie Gardner (6'1", 2022)

Morgan Giancaterino (5'9", 2022)

Kaia Goode (5'3", 2022)

Brenna Graber (5'9", 2022)

Kaia Henderson (5'6", 2022)

Mackenzie Hess (5'3", 2022)

Madison Hoy (5'11", 2022)

Cecelia Lapertosa (6'1", 2022)

Ashlyn Marron (6'0", 2022)

Karlee Nims (5'11", 2022)

Hannah Pcola (5'6", 2022)

Gretchen Perine (5'3", 2022)

Jackie Piddock (5'9", 2022)

Tanner Poissant (5'6", 2022)

Tessa Schuey (5'5", 2022)

Carly Scott (5'2", 2022)

Kyla Smith (5'5", 2022)

Danielle Strauf (5'10", 2022)

Morgan Tompkins (5'11", 2022)

Macie Trimarchi (5'10", 2022)

Jalea Abrams (5'9", 2023)

Grace Alexander (5'3", 2023)

Kavashia Archie (5'7", 2023)

Sophie Auer (5'8", 2023)

Quinn Benchley (5'9", 2023)

Kathleen Birmingham (5'10", 2023)

Sophie Bissaillon (5'10", 2023)

Molly Boek (6'0", 2023)

Janay Brantley (5'11", 2023)

Ella Chandler (6'0", 2023)

Jaidyn Chest (5'4", 2023)

Natasha Chudy (6'2", 2023)

Natalee Collins (5'11", 2023)

Aislynn Dixon (5'7", 2023)

Alyssa Dobson (5'5", 2023)

Meghan Ellis (5'10", 2023)

Caroline Entwistle (5'6", 2023)

Kassidy Flayter (5'10", 2023)

Isabella Franchi (5'8", 2023)

Lily Funk (5'11", 2023)

Armanie Gordon (5'8", 2023)

Caydence Hadley (6'1", 2023)

Sydney Hart (5'9", 2023)

Sara Hotaling (5'6", 2023)

Rachel Kamrowski (5'4", 2023)

Kaylee Krysztof (5'8", 2023)

Lauren LaFountain (5'4", 2023)

Mia Little (5'2", 2023)

Jazlynn Logan (5'7", 2023)

Trista Lukaszewski (5'10", 2023)

Joleen Lusk (6'1", 2023)

Paige Manchester (6'1", 2023)

Kate McDonough (6'2", 2023)

Amya McLeod (5'6", 2023)

Schuylar Nolan (5'4", 2023)

Kaelynn O'Brien (5'5", 2023)

Lauren Patnode (6'0", 2023)

Ava Pearson (5'5", 2023)

Megan Perrine (6'0", 2023)

Sydney Postell (5'10", 2023)

Bella Pucci (5'7", 2023)

Meagan Schuermann (5'9", 2023)

Isabella Seeberger (5'6", 2023)

Kaia Singleton (5'6", 2023)

Clara Strack (6'4", 2023)

Amarah Streiff (5'10", 2023)

Meghan Trapper (5'11", 2023)

Jayla Tyler (5'9", 2023)

Hannah VanDerzee (5'9", 2023)

Alaejah Wallace (5'5", 2023)

Kennedy Westbrook (5'5", 2023)

Helena Willis (5'6", 2023)

Carlie Young (5'9", 2023)

Kendall Abraham (5'6", 2024)

Mia Ada (5'8", 2024)

Brianna Barr (6'1", 2024)

Sophia Bonnell (5'5", 2024)

Katie Boyd (5'6", 2024)

Natalie Bush (5'7", 2024)

Sierra Carter (5'7", 2024)

Kieonna Christmas (6'0", 2024)

Ellie Clearwater (5'6", 2024)

Sydney Delisle (5'2", 2024)

Cloey Dopp (5'8", 2024)

Desiree DuBois (5'10", 2024)

Sophia Escalante (5'4", 2024)

Adriana Fontana (5'7", 2024)

Ava Gallup (5'11", 2024)

Makana Gardner (6'3", 2024)

Madison Hart (5'4", 2024)

Taylor Holohan (5'10", 2024)

Allison Kehoe (5'9", 2024)

Lena Lipani (5'11", 2024)

Gabrielle Martin (5'10", 2024)

Kaylee Marvin (6'0", 2024)

Alex Moses (5'8", 2024)

Emily Mountain (5'8", 2024)

Mackenzie Owens (5'8", 2024)

Alyssa Romano (5'5", 2024)

Aniya Rowe (5'8", 2024)

Hailey Shalor (5'6", 2024)

Marisa Smith (6'1", 2024)

Abby Stuart (5'6", 2024)

Gabby Stuart (5'6", 2024)

Leah Thompson (5'10", 2024)

Jade Wallace (6'0", 2024)

Mariah Watkins (6'0", 2024)

Julia Whelan (5'10", 2024)

Klarissa Goode (5'6")

Mallory Heise (5'7")

Amaia Jackson (5'8")

Emma Phelan (5'6")

3RD ANNUAL EST MIDDLE SCHOOL COMBINE: Full Info W/ Registration Links

3RD ANNUAL EST MIDDLE SCHOOL COMBINE

Site: Riverfront Sports Complex (AKA Backcourt Hoops); Scranton, PA

Date: Friday, May 21, 2021

Time: 6:30-9:00 PM

Cost: $75

For: Classes of 2025-26 (current 7th/8th graders)

Registration Form (completed & submitted online): https://jeffmlinar.wufoo.com/forms/mboq59l1ha2jl9/

PayPal payment link ($78 if PayPal due to service charge): https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=APUWRTHCWEVC8

Last year may have pretty much been a wash, but 2021 is a different story... back at it!

With 2020 being what it was, there unfortunately wasn't an opportunity to put on an increasingly popular EST middle school event. It was almost a complete wipeout until, thanks to the crew at Riverfront Sports Complex, the Fall Showcase was a go in November. With their continued cooperation, EST will be back in Scranton numerous times in 2021, starting with the return of the MS Combine.

The 3rd Annual EST Middle School Combine will take place on the evening of Friday, May 21 at Riverfront, just off the highway entering Scranton, PA. The one-session event, which will only include a maximum of 60 participants, will take place from 6:30-9:00 PM, and it's open to girls in the 2025-26 classes (current 7th/8th graders).

The session includes a heavy dose of structured & competitive 3v3/5v5 play. All players will also go through an individual skill session of skills/drills & individual breakdowns. The skill work session, like the previous event in Scranton (the EST Fall Showcase), will be coordinated by Mark Williams & the TEAM FOOTPRINTZ crew, a very highly regarded basketball training based organization out of NYC. The format has been constructed in the effort to not only allow players to show their ability in a variety of outlets, but also to foster an environment of learning & growing through both competition and training. With the combination of these pieces, it provides an opportunity to not just compete with & against other high-level players among this similar age group, but also to get better by receiving the maximum amount of reps. Along with that, it provides the opportunity to be tested at a young age in a combine/showcase style environment among many new faces, an experience that has already proven to come in handy in future years!

In usual EST fashion, all 3v3/5v5 game play will be recorded to provide the greatest opportunity to be evaluated at this early stage. Scouting services & basketball-specific media outlets, many of which that pay attention to high-level middle schoolers, will be invited to attend. EST events have always been geared toward providing the most positive & beneficial experience for participants on all fronts, and this will be no different.

The usual COVID restrictions will be in place for this event. That includes screening upon entry, mask-wearing for all spectators & participants (Lackawanna County in PA, like New York, has a mask mandate for indoor close-contact competition), sterilizing basketballs, utilizing separate entry/exit doors, and structuring the event to limit unnecessary back & forth foot traffic.

Many of the extended region's current standouts in the 2022-24 classes put in work at EST middle school events in years past. The initial MS Combine, which had players now in the 2022 class, has seen players make early commitments to Marist & Niagara, and several others that participated in the event currently hold D1 offers. EST events as a whole have brought an increasing amount of the region's talent through the doors, with the collegiate alumni list since the inaugural class of 2016 now approaching 300.

The last MS Combine, held in May 2019, sold out weeks in advance. I expect this to do the same! There has been strong representation from all corners of New York in recent EST events with six states in total being represented. I also anticipate a growing representation from Pennsylvania given the event's location & increased attention given to local players. A registered player list is below, and I attempt to update it daily. If there are any questions, feel free to contact me directly. Hope to see you in Scranton on May 21!

REGISTERED PLAYER LIST (updated daily)

Kayleigh Ahern (5'6", 2025)

Ava Amorese (5'7", 2025)

Kayla Beaudoin (5'8", 2025)

Sophia Bologna (5'4", 2025)

Calleigh Boord (5'2", 2025)

Morgan Brewer (5'7", 2025)

Olivia Chairmonte (5'9", 2025)

Sophia Chemotti (5'3", 2025)

Maggie Coleman (5'6", 2025)

Anne Dodge (5'5", 2025)

Brenna Ducatte (5'7", 2025)

Taylor Fall (5'4", 2025)

Bronnie Foulke (5'6", 2025)

Maria Fumerelle (5'8", 2025)

Sarah Gaetano (5'3", 2025)

Elizabeth Gaughan (5'6", 2025)

Klarissa Goode (5'6", 2025)

Mady Hamilton (5'4", 2025)

Kyla Hayes (6'0", 2025)

Mallory Heise (5'7", 2025)

Amaia Jackson (5'8", 2025)

Emma Kamas (5'2", 2025)

Emilie Kent (5'10", 2025)

Hannah Lauenstein (5'2", 2025)

Lila Lovgren (5'7", 2025)

Ava Mamone (5'10", 2025)

Payton Morrison (5'9", 2025)

Makayla Mueller (5'9", 2025)

Hazell Nickerson (5'11", 2025)

Kira Ostovar (5'7", 2025)

Halee Pasinella (5'4", 2025)

Layla Pellerin (5'3", 2025)

Aleah Petre (5'7", 2025)

Emma Phelan (5'5", 2025)

Abigail Reynolds (5'8", 2025)

Kaitlyn Robbins (5'10", 2025)

Ava Sandroni (5'8", 2025)

Ava Scaturro (5'4", 2025)

Emily Thornton (5'9", 2025)

Mia Tyler (5'7", 2025)

Arianna Verardi (5'7", 2025)

Grace Villnave (5'8", 2025)

Kelsey vonWedel (5'8", 2025)

Ashaya Wallace (5'6", 2025)

Addyson Wheeler (5'7", 2025)

Ella Wilson (5'11", 2025)

Hannah Wist (5'5", 2025)

Marianna Alarcon (5'7", 2026)

Harly Birdsall (5'8")

Ava Carpenter (5'2", 2026)

Julia Clarke (5'4", 2026)

Makayla Evans (5'4", 2026)

Kavya Gonuguntla (5'11", 2026)

Hailey Guerin (5'0", 2026)

McKenna Hoyt (5'10", 2026)

Michaela Katz (5'2", 2026)

Cara Macaluso (5'3", 2026)

Ava Noel (5'2", 2026)

Imani Porter (5'8", 2026)

Graceanne Sleeth (5'3", 2026)

Liana Williams (5'2", 2026)