On Sunday, March 27, 2016, MVP Basketball hosted its 8th Annual Boys All-Star Day at SAR High School in Riverdale, home of the SAR Sting. The daylong program featured over 200 players from yeshivas from all leagues throughout the New York and New Jersey Metro Area as selected by their respective coaches. There were five All-Star games on this fun-filled day: Grades 6, 7, 8, high school junior varsity and high school varsity. Each of the All-Stars received MVP All-Star Day 2016 t-shirts that featured the gold and royal blue colors of the defending NBA champions, Golden State Warriors. The teams were comprised of players from the following yeshivas whose coaches submitted their names: Yeshiva Har Torah; HALB; Magen David; HAFTR; HANC; North Shore; YCQ; Yeshiva of Flatbush; Derech Hatorah; Silverstein; Shaare Torah, Barkai; RYNJ; Ashar; Moriah; Ramaz; RPRY; Yavneh; DR; JEC; MTA; TABC; Heschel; Frisch; Kushner; and SAR. Coached by coaches from all the yeshiva leagues, the games were extremely competitive. The blend of all of the different colors of uniforms from players of so many teams was truly a colorful sight.

The camaraderie and interaction with friends amongst players, family and fans was truly memorable. In bringing together All-Star players from the “East” and the “West.” The event showed a great achdus amongst those that attended and they were able to share experiences both on and off the court. The sense of team chemistry was also apparent as evidenced by the high level of play and unselfish team work all day throughout the games.

In between the afternoon games, there was a break for Mincha.

SAR High School was the perfect venue for MVP All-Star Day as it is also directly across the street from Carlos and Gabby’s, Kosher Pizza Store and a Kosher Dunkin Donuts, as well as a Kosher Supermarket.

At halftime of each game, the MVP 3-Point Shootout took place, which featured “specialists” as selected by their respective coaches. Each 3-point champion received an MVP 3-Point Shootout Trophy. Some of the contests came down to the very last shot. This is one of the most exciting competitions that take place in MVP Basketball Camp. In addition, two MVP’s from each All-Star Game (one from each team) were awarded MVP trophies as well.

The games were attended by hundreds of spectators including family, friends, and teammates. At the end of the day, it was a basketball game in a competitive, yet friendly and warm atmosphere. Several attendees even expressed the sentiment that it so enjoyable that they are already looking forward to next year’s MVP All-Star Day. SAR and their Athletic Director Marty Berlin, all the parents, families, friends, players, refs and coaches all helped make this year’s MVP All-Star Day its best one yet.

This event is the kickoff for MVP BOYS Basketball Camp 2016. Now entering its eighth successful year, MVP BOYS Basketball Camp is the Premier Orthodox Jewish Basketball Camp taking place in the magnificent setting of Camp Seneca Lake at the end of August (8/21-8/25). For more information and to be part of MVP visit www.senecalake.com and click on the MVP link.

Congratulations to the 3-Point Champions:

6th Grade: Ari Chasman, Moriah

7th Grade: Dani Pfeiffer, RYNJ

8th Grade: Ezra Sicklick, HAFTR

High School Junior Varsity: Avi Proctor, TABC

High School Varsity: Jason Abraham, HAFTR

Congratulations to the MVP’s of each of the All-Star Games:

6th Grade: Morris Chaaya, Yeshiva Of Flatbush; Ben Haber, Moriah

7th Grade: Joseph Velenski, Derech Hatorah; Spencer Rubinstein, Ramaz

8th Grade: Oren Betesh, YCQ; Yitzi Weiss, JEC

High School Junior Varsity: Sammy Sokol, SAR; Gideon Velenski, DRS

High School Varsity: Abie Perlow, HAFTR; Tai Gerzberg, TABC

Congratulations to the coaches of the MVP All-Star teams:

6th Grade: Aaron Sasha, Barkai; Lenny Friedman

7th Grade: Scott Ferguson, HAFTR; Robert Spector, North Shore Hebrew Academy

8th Grade: David Tannenbaum, HANC; Barry Mael, Kushner; Steve Gutlove, RYNJ

High School Junior Varsity: Robert Hoenig, TABC; Yaakov Meyer, MTA

High School Varsity: Robert Hoenig, TABC; Michael Guerock, Yeshiva Of Flatbush