News and Events

During the summer, two Beyond Basketball kids successfully participated in the Boys and Girls Harbor’s summer academic program. The Harbor was founded in 1937 and today, the Harbor is an outstanding organization providing education and character development for over 2,500 children coming from East Harlem, Harlem and the South Bronx each year. The Harbor was one of the first organizations to open a charter school in New York State, and in 2005 added the Emily N. Carey Harbor School to its educational core. Moving forward, it is our plan that Beyond Basketball kids will participate in the Upward Bound, Talent Search and after school tutoring program offered by Boys and Girls Harbor. Other Harbor programs include pre-school, after-school, literacy training, substance abuse prevention, college preparation, workforce readiness and a conservatory for the performing arts.

We are also busy finalizing our mentoring program. The plan is to pair our kids with mentors who have successfully combined sports and academics. We also developed relationships with a handful of prep schools that have expressed an interest in our kids.

In addition to the summer tournaments, players from the Harlem Kings attended three different camps this summer. Two kids attended the Governor Academy prep school camp outside of Boston; two more to the Eastern Invitational Basketball Camp in New Jersey and six kids attended the Five Star basketball camp in Pennsylvania. Dennis Green, a rising 8th grader (who is attending the Boys Harbor charter school) was one of only two 8th graders to be named to the all star team at the invitation only Eastern Camp. Dennis also made the 10th grade all star team at the prestigious Five Star camp in addition to winning the three point contest and being named the best playmaker. Dennis has been mentioned as one of the top 8th graders in the country. James Outlaw was selected to the all star team of the 9th grade team at Five Star.

At the Eastern States Basketball Association tournament, Terik Bridgeman was named the most valuable player. Dennis Green received the sportsmanship award at the Hoops in the Sun Tournament at Orchard Beach.

The Harlem Kings 9th grade team had a very successful September and October. First, they won a championship at the Hoop Group Fall Jam Fest. The Kings beat New Jersey's Sport Universtiy All Stars, the Ball Hawks from Pennsylavaina and New York's Metro Hawks and Abyssnian. In October, the Kings easily won the Best of the Fall Tournament, hosted by the Connecticut Elite basketball program. The Kings went 4 and 0 and handily beat teams from Connecticut and Maine.

The Kings are lead by top 8th grader Dennis Green and one of the top 9th grade prospects 6"6 swingman,Sadiki Johnson. Rob Soriano an allstar at the Hoop Group tournament is quickly becoming recognized as a top guard in the area. Timothy Taylor, Terik Bridgeman, and Geoffrey Tolentino are strong 6'3 front court players. Trivante Bloodsman and Khalid Vaughn are aggressive guards and Jevaun Dawson is extremely athletic on both ends of the court.

With the summer basketball season over, we will now focus on academics and school placement for our kids.

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