8TH ANNUAL EST MIDDLE SCHOOL COMBINE

*** THIS EVENT IS CURRENTLY AT CAPACITY! Any submitted registration forms going forward will ensure a spot on the wait list, which often gets tapped into with backouts leading up to the event. (as of 5/19) ***

Site: Impact Athletic Center (Albany area, NY)
Date: Fri, May 22, 2026
Time: 6:30-9 PM (one session)
For: Girls in Classes of 2030-2031 (*current* 7th-8th grade)
Registration (done/submitted online): https://jeffmlinar.wufoo.com/forms/mboq59l1ha2jl9/
Payment: Venmo, CashApp, PayPal, cash & check are all options; inquire directly for further info (payment links have been pulled due to event being at capacity)
Cost: $95

Before the 2024 class became leaders as one of Upstate New York’s best classes in recent memory, they were energetic up & comers with potential. Here, 8th grade versions of Karissa Antoine (*Fordham*/*Siena*) & Natalie Fox (*William & Mary*) meet at the rim. On defense in the background is Avery Mills, who was just a Conference USA 1st teamer at *Liberty* & has since transferred to *Tennessee*.

Since its inception in 2018, the Middle School Combine quickly grew into being one of my favorite days of the year. Many of today’s high school standouts & current collegiate players at all levels have competed & introduced themselves through the only annual EST event solely dedicated to rising middle school talent. The event got its first legs in the Capital District before hitting the road to places like Scranton & Utica. Now back in the 518, Year 8 is set to build off what may have been the best one yet.

The 8th Annual EST Middle School Combine will be held at Impact Athletic Center in Clifton Park, just north of Albany, on Friday, May 22. This will be a ONE SESSION EVENT with a cap of approximately 80 participants – to put in perspective, last year’s MS Combine sold out two weeks in advance & had a wait list of nearly 20 athletes by event day. The event will run from approximately 6:30-9 PM.

Players will receive the opportunity to compete in various outlets while also getting focused reps through individual skill development. The competition piece includes an extended stretch 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 plenty of traditional 5v5 run, with rosters geared to be competitive for all participants. All athletes will also go through a comprehensive individual skill work session during the event, coordinated by renowned skill development specialist Mark Williams (Team Footprintz).

While EST high school events have become a prime opportunity to gain exposure to collegiate programs and other valuable outlets on a prospect’s journey, EST middle school events have also proven to “break” up & coming players on a greater scale. The MS Combine serves as a trusted early barometer of the extended region’s talent while providing a fun, competitive environment, and it’s a primary way to get on my radar & the radars of other evaluators throughout the Northeast. Many MS Combine participants are now standouts at the high school level, and others that have moved onto the collegiate level dot rosters at all levels from the Big 10 to the Empire 8.

There’s nothing quite like ‘event day’ to me, and the MS Combine has grown into one of my favorites. Looking forward to Year 8! Registration & payment links are at the top of the page, and a registered player list (updated daily, or at least as often as I can get to it) will be posted directly below. Hope to see you at Impact on May 22!

Some Notable EST Middle School Event Alumni (in photo form)

Kyla Hayes (Cardinal O’Hara/St. John’s)
Karissa Antoine (Schalmont/Siena) defended by Natalie Fox (Millbrook/William & Mary)
Mallory Heise (Hilton/St. Bonaventure)
Shay Ciezki (St. Mary’s-Lancaster/Indiana, Phoenix Mercury)
Anna Moser (2027, Power 4 D1 offered)
McKenna Hoyt (2026, Longwood signee)
Amaia Jackson (Montverde (FL)/Clemson)
Carolina Williams (Hoosac/New Hampshire)
Natalie Fox (Millbrook/William & Mary)
Klarissa Goode (Bishop Kearney/Binghamton)
Jalea Abrams (Elmira/Daemen)
Jackie Piddock (South Jefferson/Marist)
Kaitlyn Robbins (Bethlehem/Bentley)
Amarah Streiff (Bishop Ludden/Colgate)
Avery Mills (Liberty Christian (VA)/Liberty to Tennessee)
Kaia Goode (Bishop Kearney/Binghamton)
Taylor Holohan (Averill Park/Northeastern)
Theresa Hagans (Bishop Ireton (VA)/Pittsburgh to SMU)
Ella Trimarchi (Colonie 2027)
Annabelle Day (2026, Buffalo signee)
Ella Wilson (Lake-Lehman (PA)/Mercy)
El’Dior Dobere (2028, D1 offered)
Ke’iara Odume (Loomis Chaffee (CT)/Yale)
Marisa Smith (Johnson City/Bucknell)
Lauren Patnode (Perkiomen (PA)/LaSalle)
Amya McLeod (Rome Free Academy/Le Moyne)
Audrey Shields (Emma Willard/Providence)
Ava Sandroni (Jamesville-DeWitt/Rochester)
Kaelah Carter (Shaker/Holy Family)
Grace Villnave (Cicero-North Syracuse/SUNY Canton)
Caydence Hadley (Bishop Kearney/Siena)
Alex Moses (Duanesburg/Canisius)
Peyton Hoblock (2026, Dartmouth signee)
Jayla Geter (2027)