Friday, September 10, 2021

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.


Thursday, September 9, 2021

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/



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)