MVP, the premier Jewish Orthodox boys basketball camp at Camp Seneca Lake, under the direction of Irv Bader and Judah and Carol Rhine, celebrated its ninth consecutive season of record breaking registration and enrollment. The camp is comprised of five divisions, divided into 28 teams, who played over 125 games over the course of the five day camp! The games were competitive and exciting with many last minute buzzer beater endings.
This year’s MVP featured players with all levels of playing ability. Players ranged from fourth through twelfth grade, representing many schools throughout the Tri-State area including: Yavneh, Noam, ASHAR, Barkai, TABC, Frisch, JEC, HAFTR, HALB, HANC, North Shore Hebrew Academy, YCQ, Har Torah, SAR, Ramaz, Derech HaTorah, MTA, Rambam, MAY, DRS, Kushner, Magen David Yeshivah, Manhattan Day School, Solomon Schechter of Queens, Shefa, Westchester Day School, Yeshivah of Flatbush, Hillel Yeshiva and others. Some of the counselors/coaches were former MVP players and were able to give over their experiences to this year’s MVP players from their years at MVP.
Upon arrival, each MVP player received his very own reversible MVP jersey featuring the new MVP logo. Each day at MVP was filled with a jam packed schedule starting with Shacharit, followed by breakfast, and then a series of activities including swim, featuring the Seneca giant slide, league games, after-lunch visits to Seneca Sprinkles ice cream parlor, three on three, two on two and one on one competitions and much, much more. After dinner, all MVP players went to the shul for Mincha and Maariv. Following the night games, and the nightly individual skills contests for each grade, plus a movie for juniors, the late night barbeques gave all the MVP players, across all the divisions and schools, the opportunity to interact and meet up with each other. Special events that took place included the annual spectacular MVP challenge endurance competition for the seniors.
This year, the solar eclipse did not deter MVP from carrying out their activities, as all campers were kept indoors at the gym facilities for safety purposes. All campers continued to play their games and competitions. On the final day of MVP 2017, the championship games for each division were played at the beautiful brand new Seneca Center complex as well as Seneca Park, featuring stadium seating. The JV championship game was a thriller that went into double overtime to decide the winning team. The games were followed by lunch and the annual closing awards ceremonies, where over 100 trophies were distributed to champions from all the many competitions that took place during the course of the week, including the MVP awards to the MVP’s of each of the leagues. Following the awards ceremony, every MVP player was so excited to receive his very own, new for 2017, Klipped Kippah and MVP cinch sack, and was already looking forward to MVP 2018.
In reviewing this year’s MVP experience, Co-Director Judah Rhine stated,“This was by far our best season ever. There is something here for everyone. Every camper is truly an MVP.”
This year, MVP was privileged to have, legendary head coach at Yeshiva University, Johnny Halpert. Coach Halpert gave clinics to the campers and stated, “This is by far the best basketball program for Jewish basketball players.”
In addition, MVP had their resident staff including Barry Neuberger, associate athletic director at Columbia University; Andy Weitzen, head coach of Ramaz middle school varsity, as well as others, who gave multiple clinics to all the MVP players.
MVP has already started planning for MVP 2018, their tenth season, which promises to be bigger and better! Once again, this past season, registration was sold out, which resulted in a waiting list. Please make sure to register early so you don’t get closed out. For more information please email [email protected].
