News and Announcements
PERSONAL SKILLS SPECIALISTS:
Strength and conditioning, foot speed and quickness, free throw and perimeter shooting and more. Individual workout sessions by appointment only. For more information please call or email coach Larry Jr. at 518-961-9144 or lsj71080@gmail.com
PAST RAPTOR STARS AND WHERE THEY ARE........
KAHLIL FREDRICKS:
ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL 08' - HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
JUSTIN BRIGNOLA:
SHENENDAHOWA HIGH SCHOOL 09' - SAGE COLLEGE OF ALBANY 2013
KENNY NORWOOD:
COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL 09' - BUFFALO UNIVERSITY 2013
GREG DISSINGUE:
SHENENDAHOWA HIGH SCHOOL 09' - UNION COLLEGE 2013
MASON HORNE:
LASALLE INSTITIUTE 08' - SAGE COLLEGE OF ALBANY 2012
DENZEL PASQUAL:
CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 08' - HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MICHAEL HAMMOND:
SHENENDAHOWA HIGH SCHOOL 07' - RENSSLEAR POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 2011
CODY DAIGLE:
STILLWATER HIGH SCHOOL 06' - COLLEGE OF SAINT ROSE 2010'
CONNOR GALLO:
LANSINGBURGH HIGH SCHOOL 08' - UNION COLLEGE 2011
GERARD JACQUES:
CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 09' - UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY 2013
IAN AUSTIN MICHAUD:
ICHABOD CRANE HIGHSCHOOL 06' - HERKIMER COLLEGE 2010
MATT HARTE:
LANSINGBURGH HIGH SCHOOL 08' - HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLGE
PAT LANOUE:
HOSSICK VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 08' - HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
PHIL LANOUE:
HOSSICK VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL 06' - COLLEGE OF SAINT ROSE 2010
TASHAN NEWSOME:
COLONIE HIGH SCHOOL 08' - MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY 2012
STEVEN KING:
COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL 09' - SAGE COLLEGES OF ALBANY 2013
RANDY JAGGERNAUTH:
SCHENECTADY HIGH SCHOOL 08' - NIAGARA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
STEVEN HUNT:
TAMARAC HIGH SCHOOL 09' - HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
NICK CRYNES:
LASALLE INSTITUTE 06' - SUNY GENESEO 2010
DAVID GALLATI:
LASALLE INSTITUTE 06' - SUNY GENESEO 2010
EARL CHASE:
GALWAY HIGH SCHOOL - SUNY CORTLAND
DeANDRE KENNEDY-EBRON:
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY - SOUTHERN VERMONT COLLEGE
ETHAN ESTABROOKS:
TAMARAC HIGH SCHOOL - SUNY GENESEO
KYLE STEVENS:
SARATOGA SPA CATHOLIC - ST JOHN'S FISHER & SUNY GENESEO
SEAN JACKSON:
LANSINGBURGH HIGH SCHOOL - UNITED STATES ARMY
LAMONT GARLAND:
COLONIE HIGH SCHOOL 06 - SAGE COLLEGE OF ALBANY
DAVID ALSTON:
STILLWATER HIGH SCHOOL 06' - HAMILITON COLLEGE 2010
MIKE WARREN:
AVERIL PARK HIGH SCHOOL 09 - TOMPKINS CORTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE
JUSTIN GALLO:
LANSINGBURGH HIGH 06' - UNION COLLEGE 2010
ANDRE FULLER:
LASALLE INSTITUTE 08' - EMMANUELLE COLLEGE 2012
SHAWN CHAPMAN:
TROY HIGH SCHOOL 09' - BUFFALLO STATE / HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
RAHEEM PRINGLE:
TROY HIGH SCHOOL 08 - HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNTIY COLLEGE
JOSH BROWN:
LASALLE INSTITUTE 08 - RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 2012
ALEX DRAKE:
LANSINGBURGH HIGH SCHOOL 2010 - HUDSON VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE 2012
BRANDON MERCADO:
FONDA FULTONVILLE 2010 - SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY 2014
SHIVA SENTHL:
CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 2010 - HARTWICK COLLEGE 2014
KEATON WOODS:
CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 2010 - LeMOYNE COLLEGE 2014
TYRONE "T.J" REID:
TROY HIGH SCHOOL 2010 - ALBANY UNIVERSITY 2014
DONALD COLUMBUS:
TROY HIGH SCHOOL 2010 - QUEENSBORO CUNY 2012
BENJAMIN HANNIABAL:
CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 2010 - GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY 2014
HUNTER STRATTON:
MT. ANTHONY UNION 2011 - SOUTHERN VERMONT 2015
CLAYTON PALMER:
MT. ANTHONY UNION 2011 - DOMINICAN COLLEGE 2015
CHAD PULVER:
MT. ANTHONY UNION 2011 - CASTLETON STATE COLLEGE
KAHLIL PAUL:
TROY HIGH SCHOOL 2012 - COLUMBIA GREEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE - 2014
***14U NATIONAL TRIP TO FLORIDA A SUCCESS IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE***
With over 3,000 miles traveled in seven days we actually got a chance to play some basketball, some very good basketball at that.
During the week in Florida each of the boys stayed at an exclusive private home in the suburbs of Orlando. Everyone that stayed in the house had a chore to do every night and rules to follow throughout the week but not without complaints of course.
The weather was HOT and the scenery was beautiful but this was no vacation. There was business to be done and a mission to be completed.
GAME #1 SUNDAY 2:30PM RAPTORS VS ANNADALE ROCKETS (MD)
The game started off on the wrong note when we had a uniform rules infraction that allowed AR to shoot 10 consecutive free throws before the clock even started. Of course they were an excellent free throw shooting team and hit 8 of 10.
Being behind the 8 ball isn’t anything that we haven’t dealt with before but they didn’t know that. It was just more fuel to an already burning blaze.
Those few points turned out to be the only points they would get in the first quarter after we came from behind to take the lead and keep it throughout the game.
But AR kept it close with their free throw shooting never letting us get anymore than 8 points ahead. In fact it turned into just a 2 point lead with under a minute to go in the 4th.
However, the stellar guard play and dominate interior presence we showed proved to be too much.
RAPTORS 58 ANNADALE ROCKETS 56
GAME# 2 MONDAY 11:30AM RAPTORS VS SOYSA HOOPSTERS (FL)
They came out quick and fast but they couldn’t hit a shot. So we capitalized on that with some shifty guard play and some big time shots.
We controlled most of the game for the first three quarters but the fourth turned out to be a shocker.
With just under a minute to go SOYSA managed to cut the 12 point lead to just two points. They were threatening to score again when we came up with a huge steal giving us the ball back with about 12 seconds to go. A dribbling miscue forced a turnover handing the ball back to SOYSA with about 4 seconds left on their end of the court.
The ball was to taken out around the right side baseline corner. We are up by two so it would take a prayer to win this one or at the very least overtime. The ball gets thrown cross court to their best player coming off a screen close to half court. He bobbles it then gains control with a defender in his face he heaves it up behind the 3 point line…..nothing but net. Time expires and SOYSA wins by 1.
That was the first three pointer that he had hit all game!
RAPTORS 47 SOYSA HOOPSTERS 48
GAME#3 TUESDAY 5:30PM RAPTORS VS SAN ANTONIO ROADRUNNERS (TX)
This one turned out to be a scrapper. Although San Antonio was small, they definitely were strong, battling all the way to the end of the game.
Our guards just proved to be way too much for them to handle. Excellent ball control and clock management allowed us to win the game and clinch first place in our bracket.
RAPTORS 45 SAN ANTONIO 38
BRACKET PLAY GAME #1 WEDNESDAY 7PM RAPTORS VS SIBO JAGUARS (AR)
Getting the first place bid in our pool allowed us to get a first round bye. After going and scouting the competition the coaching staff realized that we have a strong chance of getting to the third round. We matched up better than the Jaguars and clearly had the better talent.
Sometimes what is on paper doesn’t matter once the ball is in play. From the beginning we looked lethargic and slow. There were turnovers that weren’t seen all year and lay ups blown with no one around. In fact only one person scored the entire first quarter for the Raptors.
We ended up losing by seven but it wasn’t the end. With the National structure we could still get back into championship contention but it would take everything we had.
RAPTORS 37 SIBO JAGUARS 44
GAME # 2 THURSDAY 2:30PM RAPTORS VS NEWBURGH ZION LIONS (NY)
I told you we traveled over 3,000 miles but I forgot to mention that we had to play a team 50 miles away from our home base in upstate New York. But they were on the schedule and they were in the way of our destiny.
Both head coaches were familiar with each other and each others team having played at many of the same local tournaments. So this game was going to come down to which team wanted it more, us or them?
It turned out to be them. We had the height advantage across the board but they seemed to out jump us. We had the foot speed to run with them but they seemed to be sprinting past us. They simply had more fight than us at a time that we should have had more than them.
RAPTORS 55 NEWBURGH ZION LIONS 66
Friday and Saturday turned out to be reflection days on what had transpired during the week before we prepared for the flight back home. Many of the guys were in disgust of their individual play and some were still in shock of having been eliminated from the Nationals.
From a coaching stand point we were perplexed and proud all at the same time. We were proud of each and every one of the young men. We seen our guys play at levels that they didn’t even think they could play at. We showed the world of AAU that the Raptors can play with the best in the country. And, we learned that next time we come down here it won’t be the same result.
A lot was learned down there in Orlando and probably 70% of it had nothing to do with basketball at all.
Congratulations on a job well done fellas. See you in the spring!!!
Amateur Athletic Union, or AAU as it is more commonly referred to, was intended for young boys and girls of various ages to experience a level of play that they normally wouldn't. However, over the years AAU has grown to a level that has taken it away from it's purpose. AAU is suppose to give kids a chance to play against competition that most will never see just playing locally. It's suppose to give kids the opportunity to see parts of the country that most will be unlikely to see.
The Capital District Raptors bring it back to the old school with a new school flavor. Our motto is " We build a better ball player today for tomorrow's game". We believe strongly in creating a ball player instead of finding a ball player. We believe in testing ones character both on and off the basketball court. We believe in respect and dedication. We believe in family!! By playing with the Capital District Raptors you will not only learn more about the game...but more about yourself as an individual.
The Raptors have traveled up and down the east coast in their 19yr exsistance. From Maine all the way to Florida and everywhere in between. The level of competition will no doubt test your basketball skills like never before. The only question is can you handle it? We'll do everything we can to prepare you but in the end it will come down you!!!
2019 SCHEDULE
NAME DATE # OF GMS LOCATION
1. WAR ON THE FLOOR APRIL 13TH & 14TH 3+ LAKE GEORGE
2. ZgG 518 BRACKET CHALLENGE APRIL 20TH & 21ST 3+ LAKE GEORGE
3. HOOP SUMMIT MAY 3RD & 4TH 3+ LAKE GEORGE
4. ZG MOTHERS DAY SHOOTOUT MAY 11TH & 12TH 3+ SARATOGA, NY
5. ZG CAPITAL CHAMPIONSHIPS MAY 18TH & 19TH 3+ SARATOGA, NY
6. LAKE GEORGE CLASSIC JUNE 1ST & 2ND 3+ LAKE GEORGE
7. SELECT TRAVEL TOURNEY T.B.A
8. SELECT TRAVEL TOURNEY T.B.A
THERE WILL BE TWO ADDITIONAL TRAVEL TOURNAMENTS OF TWO TEAMS THAT WILL BE MADE UP OF SELECT INDIVIUALS DEPENDING ON THEIR PLAY AND PARTICIPATION DURING THE SEASON
***Changes are marked in red***
Please keep in mind that all tournaments are subject to cancellation or change (this includes times, dates and/or sites) by the Tournament Director or Club Administration. Some changes may be out of the control of the Raptors. Every effort to notify players and parents ASAP of any and all changes will be made. The Raptors will also find a replacement tournaments when possible.
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