Long Island Basketball

CAA Preseason Honors

January 2nd, 2017

The CAA Season kicked off this morning with their Media Day Live in which Preseason Honors were dished out. Among players honored for our local Hofstra University Pride was iLuvBBall Alum Justin Wright-Foreman being named to the Preseason All-Conference First Team. He’s our pick for Preseason Player of the Year, but maybe we’re a little bias ? LoL. Preseason POY Honors went to Joe Chealey from the College of Charleston.

Justin comes off his sophomore campaign in which we followed his meteoric scoring rise from his freshman year to led Hofstra in scoring at 18.1 ppg and giving him the largest PPG jump from year-to-year in the NCAA last season. He increased his scoring average by 16.5 ppg. Although leading the league in scoring during league play and being a two-time CAA Player of the Week, Justin was only named a second team All-CAA selection last year (again we thought first team, but of course we may be biased). We say the in jest, but of course we at iLuvBBall.com are expecting even bigger things for one of our proud (no pun intended) #iLuvBBallAlum.

Other honorees from our Hofstra Pride includes senior Rokas “Rock” Gustys named to the Preseason All-Conference Second Team. The rebounding machine, posted averages of 12.1 rebounds and 9.2 ppg last year, a year in which the injury bug caught him just a bit. Despite the injuries, he ranked fourth in the NCAA in rebounding. A healthy Rock should average a double-double in his sleep. Sophomore Eli Pemberton received Honorable Mention after a freshman campaign averaging 12.8 ppg, 3.3 rebs and 2.0 apg and earning CAA All-Rookie Team honors.

As a team, the Pride was picked to finish fourth in the conference, but we want better than that, and hope Hofstra can surprise some and bring home the CAA crown! Hofstra’s 2017 official campaign kicks off at home Nov 10th Veterans Day (observed) fittingly against Army.

You can catch the whole Preseason All-Conference Announcement from the Media Day Show here below

If you want to catch the whole Media Day Show here you go.

THE ALZHEIMER’S ALL-STAR GAME LAST GIRLS TRYOUTS ARE TODAY!!! BOYS LAST TRYOUTS DATE ANNOUNCED

September 30th, 2016

TODAY ARE THE SUFFOLK GIRLS LAST TRYOUT’S AT SUSA.

Friday September  30th from 6:30pm-8:00pm @ SUSA – 114 Parkway Dr South Hauppauge, NY

THE LAST SUFFOLK BOYS TRYOUTS ARE:

Thursday, October 6, 2016 from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM @ Amityville Memorial High School 272 Merrick Rd, Amityville, NY 11701, United States

REGISTER ONLINE TO SAVE TIME!!

 

These tryouts are open to ALL Long Island basketball players (Girls and Boys) and this event is truly the best of the Island. Only restrictions are NO MORE THAN 3 players from 1 school can be selected and you must attend at least 1 tryout to be selected to the All-Star teams.

 

 

The 2016 Alzheimer’s  All- Stars classic  proudly  announces this year’s event will be sponsored by the Rising Stars Youth Foundation. Event founder Gordon Thomas sees the partnership between the two organization as the perfect fit saying,” Rising Stars is much more than basketball .We share a common bond  in putting importance on the values and life lessons taught on and off the court  ahead of wins and losses.”

Hope to see you there and good luck!

Come out and Ball for a cause. tell them that iLuvBBall sent you!

BE THERE 1 HOUR IN ADVANCE TO REGISTER FOR TRYOUTS! OR CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE THEN PRINT AND BRING COMPLETED FORM TO TRYOUTS WITH YOU.

 

 

 

GUESS WHO’S GOING TO THE AAU NATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME?

July 29th, 2016

Congrats to the AAU Long Island Lightning Wagner team on their great AAU season’s success so far, and even more for their 7-0 record in reaching the 2016 14U AAU Nationals Finals at Disney’s Wide world of Sports! All they do is win, win, win no matter what [DJ Khaled]! Lead by Brentwood’s 3 headed dragon, #14  Zed Key (6’6″), #7 Bryce Harris (6’2″), a man-child that makes his presense felt on both sides of the floor and game changer, and #2 Kenny Lazo (5’8″) their cool as ice point guard and floor general that remains steady through he whole game no matter who’s on the floor. But all this success wouldn’t be achievable without their great supporting cast: The 2nd big man #25 Brandon Pizzingrillo (6’5″), grabs boards and protects the paint. 3 point sniper #8 Brandon Weiss (5’5″). The gritty in your face defensive guard #23 Aaron Jaffee (5’9″). Don’t sleep on the 5’7″ 2 guard #12 Carleton (CJ) Parris who is also a 3point shooter / defensive specialist. 3 guard #32 Kieran Dorney (6’3″) another shooter with length and shooting skills to match. #21 is (5’8″) Bora Soybas crafty slasher, that can get to the basket at will. #15 Jagger Fernandez (5’9″), is another shooting specialist, and last but not least #33 Max Caspi (6’3″), a strong forward that can bang in the paint or shoot the 3, so pick your poison! This wouldn’t be possible if they weren’t lead by the lightning’s most successful head coach, which was inducted into the Lightning Hall of fame, Coach Warren Wagner who is a coach that pays attention to detail and stresses that his team is fundamentally sound and the “team” mentality. Tomorrow will be the biggest game he has ever coached as he takes his 14U team to the National Finals at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Main Court at 10:20 AM. Though not a small task we have faith that Coach Wagner and his boys won’t disappoint.  There you have it. This is our NY Lightning Wagner AAU finalist team representing Strong Island. Good luck gentlemen and hope you bring home the hardware. We’ll be watching and rooting from NY.

 

Lightning Wagner from left to right back row first:

#14 Zed Key,  #33 Max Caspi,  #25 Brandon Pizzingrillo, #32 Kieran Dorney, & #23 Aaron Jaffee

Front row: #21 Bora Soyas, #12 Carleton (CJ) Parris, #7 Bryce Harris, #15 Jagger Fernandez, #8 Brandon Weiss, & #2 Kenny Lazo

The game can be viewed in it’s entirety at 10:20Am eastern time online @ ESPN.com tomorrow.

Don’t forget to tell everyone where you hear about this first and don’t forget to register on the site for updates, news, and contest at iLuvBBall.com, and follow us on you favorite social media platforms @realiluvbball to

Be Heard | Be Seen | Be Recruited

 

WHO IS ZED KEY?

June 29th, 2016

This power forward from Brentwood Long Island, NY is on his way to being one of the best big men in the class of 2020! Yeah you heard me, the best all around big man in his class. Not just because of his athletic abilities or his size! This kid has footwork, work ethic, and if try and play him too close he will give you the “work” (pun intended). We’ve been following this guy from early 2014 when he was invited to participate in the tryouts for the Alzheimer’s all-star Basketball team which usuallyy consist of upper classmen and the best ones at that. We were alerted of this kid from the founder of the classic himself Gordon Thomas. He said “Hey you guys know about that young kid in Brentwood, about 6’4″ as an 8th grader?” No we didn’t because he was under the radar playing locally and he wasn’t playing in the big name AAU circuit games as yet due to his age. Well we went to watch this kid and we weren’t disappointed. Not only did he compete against the rising juniors and seniors, but he dominated the run and made it to the last cut! This kid is the real deal and then some! We did some research on him and here’s what we found on Zed Key of the Brentwood Indians.

Zed Key

14 years old,  class of 2020

6’5 and a half 190 lbs

AAU team: Long Island Lightning Wagner / NY Team United (Brentwood Jimenez)

Personal accomplishments:

  • Zed also received the President’s award for outstanding academic achievement

  • Zed Helped lead his AAU team to win the AAU basketball league,  beating the Ohio Rebels (LeBron James’ team) a Team that hadn’t lost a game in over a year on the way to winning the championship.

  • Zed also led his team to win the Rumble in the Bronx.  The first Long Island Lightning team to win the tournament at any age group!

You don’t believe the hype? Well check out this video.

Remember this kid is only 14 and is already taller that most of you will ever be! He’s a good kid, great athlete, and college recruiters dream in school! Remember where you saw him first! iLuvBBall.com. Sign up now for updates, news, special contest, and events! also follow us on all you favorite social media platforms @realiluvbball

Be Heard, Be Seen, Be Recruited!

Indiana Pacers’ Paul George Seeks LI’s BBall Guru for handle

November 2nd, 2012

Check out this story on Long Island’s own Jerry Powell of Basketball Results and how the pros seek the tutelage of the Ball Handling Guru of North Babylon, NY.

 

Pacers’ Paul George still trying to get a handle on his NBA game

Paul George wants to be a playmaker the Pacers can rely on and it all starts with taking care of the ball.

 

by Tom Lewis

“Paul George knew he could do more. He just wasn’t ready.

When the Miami Heat rallied to run past the Pacers in the playoffs last season, PG witnessed LeBron James and eventually Dwyane Wade play basketball at a level the second-year guard wasn’t prepared to match.

Watching LeBron and Wade destroy opponents on TV is one thing, but having to endure it on the court left George with his offseason motivation.

Pacers coach Frank Vogel wanted PG to work on his ball handling among other things, and to improve his ability to make plays as he prepared for the NBA season..

“I want him (George) to be extremely assertive with and without the basketball and to make the right play when he does have the ball,” Vogel said about George’s development.

When the pressure mounted the confidence in his handle and play-making ability waned. George didn’t like what he saw from #24 when it counted.

Enter Jerry Powell, one of New York City’s renowned ball handling experts. George’s agent Aaron Mintz set up PG to work with Powell for two weeks in California early in the offseason. According to Powell, George was a blast to work with and the two worked well together, so PG had Powell work him out for another two weeks in Indy prior to training camp.”

Powell also loves the Pacers and the depth they have to take on the Eastern Conference. But any further success fior the team goes back to Powell’s pupil this summer and his ability to attack and make plays when the Pacers need it most.”

 

See full story by clicking here