By TONY BELLISSIMO
The 53,000 square foot facility, built and managed by Jim Fox, turns 10 years old in October and features three full-sized courts that hardly get a break from the action. It is perhaps best known as the home to the Long Island Lightning AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Club that has 80 boys’ and girls’ teams, as well as the Super League with approximately 330 teams combined.
“Our motto is ‘take your game to the next level’,” said Fox, who remembers the original Island Garden arena, torn down in 1973, that once stood adjacent to the current building on Cherry Valley Avenue, 100 yards north of Hempstead Turnpike. “This whole thing has exceeded expectations.”
Coaches at every level agree the summer is a time for players to improve their individual skills. Having them do so with their high school teammates is even better according to Hewlett boys’ varsity coach Bill Dubin, who has the Bulldogs in the Island Garden summer league for the first time. “We usually don’t have a ton of kids around during the summer, but we should have seven or eight per game,” Dubin said. “Keeping kids in basketball shape is the main thing. We also get to face strong competition, which will be good since we’re looking to challenge for a county championship this winter.”
In its ninth year, the boys’ varsity summer league consists of 17 teams, with Hewlett, South Side, St. Mary’s and St. John The Baptist rating among the most competitive. Each team plays a 10-game schedule, and playoffs are set to begin around the third week of August.
Hewlett played its first game of the summer on July 3 and defeated the Red Barons, 81-58. The Bulldogs came back five days later and topped St. Catherine’s, 62-54.
South Side boys’ varsity coach Jerry D’Angelo is a strong supporter of the summer league and this year placed both varsity and JV teams in the top division. The varsity won its first two games at Island Garden over Lightning-Cotumaccio and St. John The Baptist. “Summer is a time for kids to enjoy themselves,” D’Angelo said. “I expect them to sacrifice just a little bit of their time to work on their game. If each of them show up for one summer league game a week or at open gym at the high school, I’m happy.”
Basketball camps underway
Island Garden summer camp participants get to work with Tim Cluess, Bob Paul and Tim Capstraw — three of the most knowledgeable and successful hoops coaches in the New York Metropolitan area. Cluess is the men’s head coach at C.W. Post, Paul is one of Cluess’ assistants as well as the boys’ varsity coach at Chaminade High School, and Capstraw is the former head coach at Wagner. Open to players from 8-14 years, some camps last one week (30 hours of instruction) and others go two weeks (60 hours). For more information call (516) 292-4956.
College exposure event
On July 22, Island Garden will host the New York Summer Classic, a one day mini-camp for players looking to showcase their basketball talents. This Division-l NCAA certified event will allow players a chance to play in front of college coaches and editors of top scouting publications. It is operated by the highly respected Greg Kristof of Hoop Mountain Basketball. This camp will also feature a one-hour seminar on how to become an NCAA qualifier and how to be a recruitable player.
The camp is for players entering 10th grade through recent (2008) high school graduates. All players must have varsity basketball experience to attend. Coaches from Division-l, ll and lll colleges will attend. “It’s a quality event,” Fox said. “It gives players the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of many college coaches.”
The fee is $110. Registration can be done at www.hoopmountain.com or by contacting Kristof at (978) 922-3350 or Island Garden.
Comments about this story? tbellissimo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.
