On Sunday, April 2, MVP Basketball hosted its ninth annual Boys All-Star Day at SAR High School in Riverdale. The daylong program featured over 150 players from yeshivas from all leagues throughout the New York and New Jersey metro area, including Bergen County, as selected by their respective coaches. There were five all star games on this fun filled day—sixth, seventh and eighth grades, high school junior varsity and high school varsity. Each of the all stars received an MVP All Star Day 2017 t-shirt. The teams were comprised of players from the following yeshiva day schools: Yeshiva Har Torah, Brandeis, JEC, MBYA, YDE, Hillel, HALB, Magen David Yeshiva, HAFTR, HANC, North Shore Hebrew Academy, ASHAR, Yeshiva of Flatbush, Silverstein, Barkai, Moriah, Ramaz, Yavneh Academy, Heschel, Frisch, Kushner, Westchester, YCQ, Shaare Torah, Park East, Yeshiva Derech Hatorah, YDE, Rambam Mesivta, MTA, SAR, TABC and Maor. Coached by coaches from all the yeshiva leagues, the games were extremely competitive, with some buzzer beaters. 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 amongst players, friends and family members was truly memorable. In bringing together all star players from the “east” and the “west,” the event showed a great achdut among all those who attended and all 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 teamwork all day throughout all of the games. SAR High School was the perfect venue for MVP All Star Day as it is also convenient to Carlos and Gabby’s, a kosher pizza store and a kosher Dunkin Donuts, as well as a kosher supermarket—all right across the street.
At halftime of each game, the MVP three point shootout (sixth grade foul shooting) took place which featured “specialists” as selected by their respective coaches. Some of the contests came down to the very last shot. This is one of the most exciting competitions that takes place in MVP Basketball Camp. Each three point champion received a trophy. An MVP, chosen from each team from each all star game, was awarded an MVP trophy as well. In addition, a lucky raffle winner at halftime of each game received a beautiful MVP Klipped Kippah.
Congratulations to the Three Point/ Foul Shooting Champions:
Sixth grade—Ariel Blitz, Yeshiva Har Torah
Seventh grade—Zachy Meltzer, Yavneh Academy
High School Junior Varsity—Jackie Haber, Shaare Torah
High School Varsity— Raanan Kimmel, TABC
Congratulations to the MVP’s of each of the All Star Games:
Sixth grade— Jesse Cohen, MBYA; Isaac Solomon, HALB
Seventh grade—Gabe Shine, Moriah; Joey Lati, MDY
Eighth grade—Moshe Kaheni, HANC; Steven Levian, North Shore Hebrew Academy
High School Junior Varsity—Matthew Jedwab, HAFTR; Eitan Pfeiffer, MTA
High School Varsity—Jack Sayegh, YDE; Moe Proctor, TABC
Special thanks to the coaches of the MVP All Star teams:
Sixth grade- Dan Marciano, HALB; Yehuda Sitt, YDE
Seventh grade- Robert Spector, North Shore Hebrew Academy, and Lenny Friedman
Eighth grade—Robert Spector, North Shore Hebrew Academy, and Jack Velenski
High School Junior Varsity—Michael Courtney, SAR; David Wolf, North Shore Hebrew Academy
High School Varsity—Robert Hoenig, TABC; Jan Sandusky, Shaare Torah
The games were attended by hundreds of spectators including family, friends and teammates. Prior to the JV game, there was a mincha minyan for all the attendees. MVP All-Star Day provides an opportunity for basketball players from all yeshiva day schools in NY and NJ to participate in a basketball game which is competitive, in a friendly and warm atmosphere. Several attendees even expressed the sentiment that it was so enjoyable, they are already looking forward to next year’s MVP All Star Day. Special thanks to SAR, and their Athletic Director Marty Berlin, for its hospitality, and to all the parents, families, friends, players, refs and coaches for helping make this year’s MVP All Star Day its best one yet.
This event is the kickoff for MVP Boys Basketball Camp 2017. Now entering its ninth successful year, MVP Boys Basketball Camp is the premier Orthodox Jewish basketball camp taking place in the magnificent setting in Camp Seneca Lake at the end of August (8/20-8/24). For more information and to be part of MVP, please contact Judah Rhine at 516-707-2638 or [email protected], or Irv Bader at 718-261-2267) or [email protected], or visit www.senecalake.com and click on the MVP link to register online.
