New York Wizards Bringing Pro Basketball to Huntington
The New York Wizards professional basketball team is coming to Huntington High School for a game against the Virginia Fast Break on Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m. The game will feature an array of area professional players most Long Islanders never get to see.
Tickets for the Eastern Basketball Alliance game between the two teams are priced at $6 and a fun time is virtually assured for all. The event is being coordinated by Huntington senior Matt Duffy, who has been working for several months with the Wizards as part of the credit-bearing student internship program at the high school. It’s designed to provide juniors and seniors with opportunities beyond the traditional classroom experience.
Duffy said a portion of the proceeds from the contest will be donated back to the Huntington High School boys’ basketball program to defray costs associated with summer league fees and team development camps.
As part of Duffy’s internship, he has been spending time working with his Wizards’ mentor Greg Cerillo and with other members of the club’s management team, to understand the inner workings of a professional sports program from a business and marketing development standpoint. He’s hoping to raise enough funds to pay for all the fees associated with this coming summer’s basketball league as well as to allow Blue Devil coaches to get next year’s squad involved in more team camps.
Mr. Duffy is responsible for promoting the event, logistical arrangements with Huntington High School officials and organizing student volunteers who will assist during the game. He has a personal incentive to work hard and help make the night a success.
“The last two years the boy’s varsity players have attended a team camp at Hofstra University and many of the players have had to fund these costs out of their own pockets,” Mr. Duffy said. “The goal is to fund these costs from this event and also give the coaching staff the opportunity to look into additional camps that can benefit the program.”
According to promotional material from the team, the New York Wizards (www.newyorkwizards.com) are a professional basketball operation, utilizing local professional players, to assist in the basketball development and entertainment needs of the New York Metropolitan area. Many of the players have had very successful high school and college careers.
For more information about the March 7 game contact Matt Duffy at htonpg@yahoo.com.
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