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The 2025 EST Fall Showcase SERIES

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DATES & SITES (all Sundays)

How Many Sessions?
One of New York’s finest made the quick trip across the border to PA in the spring as Oregon State commit Maggie Warpus held down familiar territory at the inaugural Scranton Spring Showcase. For the 6th consecutive fall, EST will return to Riverfront Sports in Scranton for a stop in the Fall Showcase Series.

Last fall, which was the 10th year of Empire State Takeover operations, brought a seasonal showcase “series” for the first time with sessions based in various areas of the EST coverage region. That was followed up with a similar format in the spring, and going forward, call it the model.

Reintroducing the EST Fall Showcase Series. My goal remains to get eyes on more players from all corners of the extended coverage region in an evaluation-friendly environment while providing more convenient exposure & visibility opportunities. So in coming weeks, I’ll be traveling to host showcases in all three points of what’s become the EST event triangle – Western New York (with Rochester, the gateway to WNY, playing host again), Northeast Pennsylvania (the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area feels like a second home), and back to my home base of the Capital District.

First up is WNY, with Rochester Institute of Technology playing host to a multi-session showcase on September 21 (and yes, Western New Yorkers… the Bills play on THURSDAY this week!). Two weeks after, it’s familiar territory as Riverfront Sports in Scranton, PA – a home of the EST Fall Showcase since 2020 – holds down the fort on October 5. The Showcase Series finishes in my home area of the Capital District, closing out in the same building as last year with Impact Athletic Center – just north of Albany – holding a multi-session event on October 12.

Athletes can choose to attend one or multiple showcase events. Compete local for the convenience, hit the road to expand your horizons around different players and in front of different coaches, or do some of both. Registration for all sessions is taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Scranton day is a single-session event, running from 10:30 AM-1 PM; Rochester’s day features two sessions from 10 AM-12:30 PM and 12:30-3 PM; and the Impact finisher, which had over 100 players in attendance in 2024, is a three-session day with morning, midday, and afternoon options.

Event format includes various settings of play with minimal down time to provide athletes different opportunities to compete & show their abilities. 3v3 play allows participants to get into a rhythm, provide a different look, and maximize touches & “in-game reps”. There will also be a long stretch of traditional structured 5v5 run, with rosters geared to be competitive for all participants. In addition, all athletes will have the opportunity to get a dedicated skill session – always coordinated by current/former college basketball coaches or highly regarded development specialists.

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. Approximately 600 ‘ESTers’ have moved on to compete at the collegiate level, and several have taken it a step further by playing professionally overseas. With that, events are always well-attended by college coaches, with dozens often across the baselines or sidelines – even a few that played in EST events when they were in high school. In order to “showcase”, you need to be able to “show” someone. EST events provide that outlet in a major way, and this series will be no different!

Event days are some of my favorite days of the year, and I’m really looking forward to hitting everywhere with the Fall Showcase Series. 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 in the gym somewhere over the next few weeks!

A look at the baselines from recent EST events. The most recent EST showcase, the Summer Kickoff at Skidmore in June 2025, welcomed over 40 coaches with many scattered across this baseline.
A look at the baselines from recent EST events. Just a year ago, the Rochester area Fall Showcase session – held at SUNY Brockport in September 2024 – welcomed approximately 30 coaches with many scattered across this baseline.
A look at the baselines from recent EST events. Just a year ago, the Albany area Fall Showcase session – held at Impact Athletic Center in October 2024 – welcomed approximately 30 coaches with many scattered across this baseline.

REGISTERED PLAYER LISTS (updated as time allows)

Sep 21: Rochester Institute of Technology (*final participant list*)

Oct 5: Riverfront Sports (Scranton, PA) *final participant list*

Oct 12: Impact Athletic Center (Albany area, NY) (2026-2029 only)

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