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The 2026 EST Spring Showcase SERIES

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DATES & SITES (all Friday nights)

How Many Sessions?
The name may have “Empire State” in it, but over the last several years, I’ve treated the 570 area code of Pennsylvania as a second home. Riverfront Sports, a host of EST events since 2020, hosts the Scranton Spring Showcase for the second straight year on May 29. Chrissy Jacklinski (black) and Quinlan Blake (red), leaders in the region with D1 futures, were alphas at last year’s inaugural event.

Scholastic season in the books, AAU season underway – and that means it’s EST event season. Back at it for Year 12!

2026 brings another edition of the EST Spring Showcase Series. My goal remains to get eyes on more players from all corners of the extended coverage region while providing more convenient exposure & visibility opportunities. So this spring, I’ll be traveling to host showcases in all three points of the EST event triangle to provide those convenient settings for all.

First up is Western New York, as SUNY Brockport plays host to the 4th Annual WNY Warm-Up on April 24. Northeast Pennsylvania & surrounding regions take center stage in May with Riverfront Sports in Scranton, PA – a home of EST events each year since 2020 – hosting the 2nd Annual Scranton Spring Showcase on May 29. The Showcase Series finishes in my home area of the Capital District, with Impact Athletic Center just north of Albany hosting the 9th Annual EST Summer Kickoff on June 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.

Event format includes various settings of play with minimal down time to provide athletes different opportunities to compete & show their abilities in front of a large collection of college coaches & evaluators. 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 take part in a focused 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, including regional/national evaluators and media. Well over 600 ‘ESTers’ have moved on to compete at the collegiate level or are committed to do so in the fall, and over a dozen 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 (as many as 45 at a single event last year, at the Summer Kickoff) – 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 Spring 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 this spring!

Even the alphas have fun with it. Molly Mescall (Canisius), Mallory Heise (St. Bonaventure), and Emily McDonald (Kentucky signee & McDonald’s All-American) went for a post-event pic… star 2027 Loren Green said ‘ME TOO!’. The 4 Western New York standouts led the charge at many EST events, including this WNY Warm-Up back in ’24. SUNY Brockport hosts the 2026 edition on April 24.

REGISTERED PLAYER LISTS (updated as time allows)

5th Annual WNY Warm-Up @ SUNY Brockport (4/24)

2nd Annual Scranton Spring Showcase @ Riverfront Sports (5/29)

9th Annual Summer Kickoff @ Impact Athletic Center (6/12)

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