Empire State Games

I was just up in Buffalo from Tues night til last night to check out the beginning of the Empire State games because my brother is on the Hudson Valley Scholastic level basketball team.  This is a really cool event - Buffalo did a great job - opening ceremonies included a concert by Third Eye Blind, a visit by Steve Messler - Western NY native and gold medal winning bobsledder --- who my 13 yr old sister got to take her picture with AND wear his gold medeal, as well as a really really nice event for the 6,000 students participating in a whole hoard of sports.  Opening ceremonies were hosted by Steve Tasker of the Buffalo Bills and he did a great job.

I just was able to stay for the first Hudson Valley game on Thurs afternoon - they beat the New York City team 103-91.  AAU nationals certainly take away the most elite players - I would guess that 0 of the players from the NYC squad would have made it if everyone tried out --- however for the other regions, I would imagine they aren't missing too many players --- off the top of my head, Jabari Hinds was the only high D-1 caliebr player absent from the Hudson Valley team that I would have truly expected to be there.  HV actually has 2 D-1 caliber players ---- PJ Torres of New Rochelle who scored 44 points and played like an absolute stud --- I think he's perfect for a down high D-1 team, or a A-10 level team and will do well there eventually.  Shane Carter from Peekskill is extremely athletic but didn't have the best first game though he did score 11 --- he's probably a mid  D-1 prospect, but he might even be able to sneak on a down high major team (like if there are any teams like st johns in the norm years...I wouldn't compare him to Paris Horne quite yet coming out of HS, but he's also 2 years younger than Paris was when we first saw him for St Johns --- so this kid very well could match up to him at that point...prepping a year may be the best way to go if he wants a shot at high d1, otherwise he'll prob be a damn good maac player at some point.)  The rest of the team - including my brother - are definitely in the running for high D-3 level offers and it's great seeing the kids play.  Bunch of the D-3 coaches were there watching and its just really a great time, and there's obviously a lot of pride between the teams and the regions.  It's a great event which - due to the economy - did not happen last year and people wondered whether it would ever come back.  It came back in a big way this year and was a great experience as a fan ---- and I'm sure an even better one for the athletes who play in it.  I know we really focus more on the huge AAU tourneys and whatnot but this was a great pure tournament where high school level student-athletes play and compete at the highest levels without any outside "tarnishing" factors like agents or handlers or whaetever present.  It's just kids trying to win - and was great to watch.

Very cool.  Side question- did PJ Torres shoot from the outside?  Sounds like that kid is a scorer, but he plays like he should be 6'6.  Unfortunately, he's 6'3 and a gunner.  He'll be a really good MAAC player, it seems...

PJ didn't really take outside shots, but he didn't have to.  In warm ups his outside shot seemed fine, but I couldn't really give you much of an assessment on it.  He plays bigger than he is for sure, but handled the ball very well.  Basically I think he could come in and play a LOT right away in a MAAC level school, he could go to an A-10 school and be a role player for 1-2 years and then develop into a starter, or he can try and play at a Northwestern or DePaul type and hope his shot develops and whatnot.  From waht I heard, he's getting very good advice and has visited all different levels of schools so it will be interesting to see where he ends up.

In a personal note, my bro had a great game with 10 pts (on 4 for 4 shooting including 2 3s), 8 boards, 5 assists, and 2 blocks!  A bunch of the D3 coaches who he has been talking to were at the game, and outside of PJ, my bro was as noticeable or more noticeable than anyone in game 1 --- so I was psyched about that!

In a personal note, my bro had a great game with 10 pts (on 4 for 4 shooting including 2 3s), 8 boards, 5 assists, and 2 blocks!  A bunch of the D3 coaches who he has been talking to were at the game, and outside of PJ, my bro was as noticeable or more noticeable than anyone in game 1 --- so I was psyched about that!

Awesome.  DIII ball also includes some very good schools, so good luck to him - the UAA schools love their basketball (U Rochester, NYU, Carnegie Mullin, U Chicago, etc)!

DeVaughn Reid was the most noticeable player for the NYC team, I thought.  He plays for Rice.  He's certainly small but played very well - I imagine he'd be a good D3 player somewhere, but I have no idea if any D1 schools are lookin at him - I'd guess not off the top of my head, but I only saw him once.

Quote from: Tha Kid on July 23, 2010, 04:17:50 PM

In a personal note, my bro had a great game with 10 pts (on 4 for 4 shooting including 2 3s), 8 boards, 5 assists, and 2 blocks!  A bunch of the D3 coaches who he has been talking to were at the game, and outside of PJ, my bro was as noticeable or more noticeable than anyone in game 1 --- so I was psyched about that!

Awesome.  DIII ball also includes some very good schools, so good luck to him - the UAA schools love their basketball (U Rochester, NYU, Carnegie Mullin, U Chicago, etc)!

Yeah and those schools fly to a bunch of their games which is pretty damn cool if you're playing D-3! 

Good stuff kid!  What position does lil kid play? Is he looking to play hoops in college?

I saw PJ play with the Chos at the Rumble.  I liked his game.  Definitely a MAAC player but might be able to play on some A-10 team under the right coach and the right system.

Little kid can play anything 1-4, but he is probably a natural 2/3 - though he has been playing a lot of 4 at the empires.

He WILL be playing basketball in college - almost certainly high D3.  Played at the academic elite camp a few weekends ago at brandeis, been getting calls and emails from various uaa, nescac, and other D3 coaches from around the country.  Should be fun - the process is crazy, even for D3, can't imagine what D1 is like.

Lil Kid is not like his big brother - he is prob like 2 pct body fat and can dunk easily.

Hudson Valley won gold for first time since 1995!

Big win for my bro, PJ (who dropped 38) and the whole team. Don't understand why more kids don't play this - how could it hurt them to sacrificie points and minutes and demonstrate they can do diff roles and play for pride and their region?

Hudson Valley won gold for first time since 1995!

Big win for my bro, PJ (who dropped 38) and the whole team. Don't understand why more kids don't play this - how could it hurt them to sacrificie points and minutes and demonstrate they can do diff roles and play for pride and their region?

Great job! Who'd they beat?

I'll be curious to see if the ESG get any play in the papers this week

They beat central (syracuse, binghamton, etc.).  They were actually down 17 at one point but came back and won!