Metro Boston Basketball Club: Program Outlook
Dear Readers/Supporters/Fans,
Since the first day we officially started the program in 1997, we have provided assistance and support to all our members both academically and athletically. In 1996 the program was merely a vision. Today the program is coming of age.
In 2000, the program and the participants took a major step forward and participated at events on the National level; a year before we, the founders, expected on our initial plans. A change in the plans that was structured after participating at the Charlie Weber Invitational in the fall of 1999. A change we supported because the kids deserved to reap the benefits of their hard work.
Academically, in 1998 Billy Allan (South Boston, MA) was awarded an opportunity to attend Trinity-Pawling Prep School in New York. In 1999, Mary Lewis (Roxbury, MA) was awarded an opportunity to attend Tabor Academy. In 2000 and beyond, we are working to provide more members of the program with the same opportunities or better. Today, members of our program are receiving interest from various colleges and universities throughout the United States because of us participating at the major events. A fact I am very proud of.
Athletically, in 1997 we layed the ground work for the program to ensure we had a solid foundation. We began building the program from the ground level and started to advertise the program. In 1998, we won the Nate Hurwitz tournament (Charlestown, Mass.) and the All-Dorchester Sports Basketball League. In 1999, we won the Gold (Boys) and Silver (Girls) medals in the annual Bay State Games (Boston, MA). In 2000, we won the Kips Bay Hoop Challenge (Bronx, NY) and the Thunder in the Valley V (Lowell, MA) tournament.
Since day one, one of our main goals and objectives is to provide college exposure and award the members of the program with a trip outside of Boston and Eastern Massachusetts so that they can have an opportunity to explore other parts of the state and/or region. This year we were fortunate to have participated in over 25 tournaments throughout the New England, Tri-states and Southern region of the United States in various different age divisions.
We have participated in national events such as the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Nationals, the Charlie Weber Invitational, the Adidas Hoop Challenge and the Converse Jamfest in various states. We have faired well as a team (often playing in the older divisions to build name recognition for the program and our personal beliefs) and have presented our selves with the utmost dignity. I'm very proud of the fact that our youngest team (middle school division) participated in at least 4 tournaments outside of Massachusetts (NY, ME, PA, NH).
At this time I want to thank all of the volunteers involved in the program, they mean so much not only to myself and the program but the kids as well. I also want to thank the community center and their staff for being so gratious and involved in the program. I can't forget the parents; having you attend the events mean so much to your child and to us as a program and staff.
I especially want to thank all the members of the program, without each other we couldn't make this happen. I thank you all and God bless.
In the near future I will be posting an outlook for the 2001 campaign, therefore I ask you to stay tune.
Sincerely,
Mauricio "Mo" Vasquez
Program Co-Founder/Coordinator
P.S. Special thanks to the original Wolverines. You set this thing in motion back in 1990.
