*** THIS EVENT IS AT CAPACITY AS OF 8 PM ON JUNE 1. ALL SUBMITTED REGISTRATION NOW SECURES YOUR SPOT ON THE WAIT LIST. DO NOT PAY AFTER SUBMITTING WAIT LIST REGISTRATION. I’LL BE IN TOUCH WITH FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS. ***
- Site: Poole Athletic Center @ The Albany Academies (Albany, NY)
- Date: Fri, June 16, 2023
- Time: 5-7 & 7-9 PM (TWO SESSIONS) (5-7 AT CAPACITY as of 5/31, registration goes to wait list; spots available for 7-9 session)
- For: Classes of 2024-2026 (9th-11th grade)
- Cost: $75
- Registration (done/submitted online): https://jeffmlinar.wufoo.com/forms/q3zv1z60urqvbs/
- Payment: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=ZWKSRTXBV8A2U
The WNY Warm-Up featured a full house of 81 participants and baselines filled end to end with college coaches… now it’s time to get it jumping in Albany.
The Summer Kickoff was the first EST one-day event that proved to grow to a larger scale two-session showcase, and that started right from its inaugural edition in 2017. More of the same is expected in Year 6. The 6th Annual EST Summer Kickoff will take place at the Poole Athletic Center at The Albany Academies on Friday, June 16. As always, this will be a TWO SESSION EVENT, with sessions running from approximately 5-7 & 7-9 PM. Session placement is athlete’s choice and will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each session can take no greater than 50 athletes.
Competition runs the show at the Summer Kickoff. The format includes a period of 3v3 play to not only allow participants to get into a rhythm & provide a different look, but also to maximize touches & “in-game reps” for all. There will also be a long stretch of traditional structured 5v5 run, with rosters geared to be competitive for all participants. On top of that, all athletes will have the opportunity to get skill work in during the event with the renowned Mark Williams and his Team Footprintz organization, one of the premier skill development specialists in the Northeast.
Since the inception of Empire State Takeover – beginning with the inaugural Summer League in 2015 – EST events have grown into one of the premier opportunities in the Northeast to gain visibility & exposure to collegiate programs and other valuable outlets on a player’s journey, including evaluators/scouting services and basketball-specific media outlets. The Summer Kickoff has historically been the most well-attended by college coaches, with dozens usually across the baselines or sidelines. EST aims to provide meaningful exposure in a competitive environment – in order to “showcase”, you need to be able to “show” someone. They have provided that in a major way, and June 16 will be no different!
Event days are some of my favorite days of the year, and I’m looking forward to running the Summer Kickoff back in Albany in 2023. Registration & payment links are at the top of the page, and a registered player list (updated daily or as time allows) is directly below. Hope to see you at Academy on June 16!
REGISTERED PLAYER LIST (updated as time allows)
- Kendall Abraham (5’6″, 2024)
- Logan Allen (5’6″, 2024)
- Ava Anastasi (5’8″, 2024)
- Karissa Antoine (6’0″, 2024)
- Sophia Bonnell (5’6″, 2024)
- Katie Boyd (5’7″, 2024)
- Sierra Carter (5’7″, 2024)
- Kieonna Christmas (6’0″, 2024)
- Kelli Cieplicki (5’10”, 2024)
- Teagan Clancy (5’6″, 2024)
- Grace Cozzens (5’11”, 2024)
- Katie Cunningham (5’5″, 2024)
- Sydney Delisle (5’4″, 2024)
- Alex Dembinsky (5’9″, 2024)
- Sam Dembinsky (5’9″, 2024)
- Desiree DuBois (5’11”, 2024)
- Adriana Fontana (5’7″, 2024)
- Ella Gennoy (5’11”, 2024)
- Tianna Gonzalez (5’6″, 2024)
- Taylor Holohan (6’1″, 2024)
- Madison Lent (5’7″, 2024)
- Elyse MacDonough (5’8″, 2024)
- Gabrielle Mazzotte (5’7″, 2024)
- Kathleen McRobbie-Taru (5’11”, 2024)
- Alex Moses (5’10”, 2024)
- Tori Russo (5’7″, 2024)
- Audrey Shields (6’1″, 2024)
- Chloe Smith (5’1″, 2024)
- Abby Stuart (5’7″, 2024)
- Gabby Stuart (5’6″, 2024)
- Natalie Tucker (5’4″, 2024)
- Bella Vincent (5’9″, 2024)
- Aliza Whitehead (5’10”, 2024)
- Ella Baker (5’11”, 2025)
- Kayla Beaudoin (5’9″, 2025)
- Charli Bennett (5’9″, 2025)
- Jessica Bowens (5’7″, 2025)
- Morgan Brewer (5’10”, 2025)
- Shea Canavan (5’6″, 2025)
- Olivia Cook (5’7″, 2025)
- Mia Corazzini (5’9″, 2025)
- Kayden Cornell (5’7″, 2025)
- Alexis Gasparini (6’3″, 2025)
- Ava Gaspie (5’8″, 2025)
- Jordyn Gross (6’0″, 2025)
- Lizzie Hansen (5’1″, 2025)
- Finley Harwood (5’3″, 2025)
- Ava Howie (5’10”, 2025)
- Emilie Kent (6’0″, 2025)
- Calie Klassen (5’4″, 2025)
- Alexis Kress (5’8″, 2025)
- Sophia Lee (5’6″, 2025)
- Madison Marusic (5’8″, 2025)
- Ashlyn Moore (5’7″, 2025)
- Madisyn Moore (5’3″, 2025)
- Kira Ostovar (5’9″, 2025)
- Sydney Pleat (5’10”, 2025)
- Caitlyn Richmond (5’7″, 2025)
- Kaitlyn Robbins (5’11”, 2025)
- Mackenzie Sherburne (5’4″, 2025)
- Olivia Simser (5’7″, 2025)
- Kailyn Sterling (5’8″, 2025)
- Izzy Terzioski (5’11”, 2025)
- Emily Thornton (5’10”, 2025)
- Grace Villnave (5’10”, 2025)
- Kelsey vonWedel (5’9″, 2025)
- Ella Wilson (6’0″, 2025)
- Lily Wohlleber (5’10”, 2025)
- Addison Alvey (5’10”, 2026)
- Allison Bell (5’6″, 2026)
- Arianna Brandon (5’7″, 2026)
- Baileigh Briski (5’10”, 2026)
- Addison Bukowski (5’6″, 2026)
- Mia Carmody (5’8″, 2026)
- Maddie Clements (5’4″, 2026)
- Olivia Davis (5’11”, 2026)
- Ella DiBacco (5’2″, 2026)
- Molly DiSiena (5’5″, 2026)
- Ciarra Gonzalez (5’8″, 2026)
- Bella Haldeman (5’6″, 2026)
- Peyton Hoblock (6’1″, 2026)
- Olivia Hoffman (5’8″, 2026)
- McKenna Hoyt (6’0″, 2026)
- Michaela Katz (5’6″, 2026)
- Shea Kelly (5’8″, 2026)
- Nina Kortbus (5’9″, 2026)
- Aubrey Kramer (5’8″, 2026)
- Brooke Kuzmich (5’6″, 2026)
- Alex Leonard (5’8″, 2026)
- Raegan McArdle (5’6″, 2026)
- Rachel McOmber (5’7″, 2026)
- Kaitlyn Milham (5’9″, 2026)
- Antonia Monico (5’4″, 2026)
- Piper Morris (5’3″, 2026)
- Anna Moser (5’8″, 2026)
- Shannon Priest (5’7″, 2026)
- Morgan Vien (5’8″, 2026)
- Maggie Warpus (6’0″, 2026)
- Liana Williams (5’3″, 2026)
- Gianna Winter (5’10”, 2026)
- Bailee Wolfe (5’9″, 2026)
- Jordan Wolfe (5’9″, 2026)