(CMEK) The reigning two-time AAU Travel League champions were invited to play on the court at Madison Square Garden before the Knicks took the court against the Charlotte Hornets. The night was extra special as just after playing, Knicks legend, John Wallace, posed for photos.

The elite team features a collection of many of the top sixth graders in the county and all-star point guard from Kushner, in Livingston, Ethan Lefkovitz. “We’ve trained players that made it to the NBA. I can’t recall in my 24 years of coaching ever having a sixth grader with the offensive skills-set Ethan has. He electrified the Garden crowd with eight points in just eight minutes,” said Chad Mekles, CMEK program director.

Mikey Malka and Liam Groveman, both of BPY, are dynamic players on the roster. “These two have been in our program since pre-k. BPY has never had a relevant boys team in the school league; that will change this year. Mikey and Liam are both phenomenal two-way players,” said Mekles.

Mekles continued, “Benny Isak (Moriah) is also a key player on the team. He’s our glue guy. He does everything well on the court and has also been in the program since pre-k.”

Hunter Michelson (Tenafly) and Austin Goldstein (Demarest), both members of Temple Emanuel, are strong contributors to the team. Hunter has been the team’s starting center and leading rebounder in nearly every game. Austin gives the team a tremendous spark off the bench. Ben Reggev (Closter), is a member of Chabad. He’s a multi-skilled big man who does it all on the court.

Other players include: Dean Baker, Justin Miller Owen Lee, Hudson Machuca and Sasha Link.

CMEK is a proud partner of the Jr. Knicks. For more information on an upcoming free clinic with Knicks coaches, and/or for more information on CMEK programs (pre-k through high school), please contact Mekles at [email protected].