The commitments are coming fast and furious from the seniors and juniors but this weekend it’s time to get “back to the future”.
Blue Star Basketball is excited to announce its first Rising Blue Star Evaluation Showcase of the fall season. Set to take place in this weekend (Sunday September 8th) at the RiverWinds Community Center in West Deptford N.J, the Mid-Atlantic Showcase will feature some of the top 2017, 2018 and 2019 prospects from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.
Modeled after the ultra-successful Nike Regional Skills Academies, Rising Blue Star Showcases are structured to offer intense skill development, breakdown application in 1 on 1, 3 on 3 and 5 on 5 competition as well as providing recruiting insight and perspective.
Evaluators from Blue Star Report and Blue Star Media will be on hand to assess the talented 7th through 9th grade participants. The information will in turn be distributed to college programs subscribing to Blue Star in the Rising Blue Star Report. Additionally, Blue Star Media will re-cap each event with coverage and photos of all the action.
This weekend’s Mid-Atlantic event’s skills coordinator is Hoops 365 Senior Trainer Jim Dillon, while recruiting lectures will be conducted by legendary Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Coach Theresa Grentz as well as Blue Star Senior Evaluator, Fran Burbidge. Aggie McCormick of the Fairfax Stars and Mary Coyle, fresh off a gold medal with USA Basketball, will lead the way on the floor in subsequent RBS events.
“Jimmy, Aggie and Mary will give the girls a work-out like they never had before” said, Joe Costa, Director of the Rising Blue Star Evaluation Showcases.
“From the beginning I thought the key to the program would be to localize the already solid national concept of RBS.” Costa continued. “Our ground game will rely on a great local skills coordinator, and strong local experts that know the talent in their area and can get the top players involved.”
The intent and goal of the Rising Blue Star program?
“The goal of the program is to identify, promote and develop players in grades 7 through 9 so that when it is their time in the spotlight, college coaches will already know where to find them and know a lot about them.”
And the future?
“Going forward I believe that with the combination of this concept and local enthusiasm this program’s potential is unlimited!”
Costa elaborated further.
“We are trying to change and create a whole new mindset with players, parents and coaches. (travel, high school and junior high)
“I would like them to be involved and I also want them to understand that with the ever changing NCAA recruiting rule changes, a program like this is not only necessary but essential to a players college basketball recruitment resume.”
There are currently three Rising Blue Star Evaluation Showcases scheduled for this fall, with others in the planning stages for later in October in the Northeast and Mid-West.
Upcoming Rising Blue Star Events
*Mid-Atlantic- Philadelphia Metro area / Sunday September 8 at RiverWinds Community Center in W. Deptford N.J. / Skills Coordinator: Jim Dillon (Hoops 365)
*Southeast- Washington D.C. Metro area / Saturday September 21 at Bishop O’Connell HS in Arlington Va. / Skills Coordinator: Aggie McCormick (Fairfax Stars)
*East- New York City Metro area / Saturday October 5 at Island Gardens in West Hempstead N.Y. / Skills Coordinator: Mary Coyle (USA Basketball)
*Event day registration is available; please contact Joe Costa (412-999-5299) to reserve your spot.
For more information on Rising Blue Star Evaluation Showcases visit: www.BlueStarBB.com or contact Joe Costa at: JCosta@BlueStarBB.com or call Hope Fuery at the Blue Star office: 215-638-7060
