Coaching & Leadership Experience
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Founder of Marston Athletics — 2010
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Co-Founder of Marston Select
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20+ years coaching, training, and scouting
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1,000+ athletes coached and mentored
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Former Head Coach — Team Jordan AAU (2005–2008)
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Head Coach — NJ Got Game AAU (2009–2014)
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Instructor — Kevin Boyle Hoop Group Summer Camps
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Founder of Marston Elite AAU
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Began coaching at Old Bridge High School in 1997
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Ranked #84 All-Time among Middlesex County players with 100+ career three-pointers
PETER MARSTON
Founder of Marston Athletics | Co-Founder & Director of Player Development, Marston Select
Coach Pete is the Founder of Marston Athletics and Co-Founder of Marston Select, bringing more than 20 years of coaching, training, and scouting experience. Throughout his career, he has coached and mentored more than 1,000 athletes, from young developing players to collegiate and professional talent.
Notable Players Trained
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Kyrie Irving
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Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
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RJ Barrett
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Scottie Barnes
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Ben Simmons
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Dariq Whitehead
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Mark Armstrong
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Madison St. Rose
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Destiny Adams
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Skye Owen
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Aaron Bradshaw
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Mackenzie Mgbako
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Corey Fisher
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And many more
Coaching Mission:
Coach Pete’s mission goes beyond basketball, focusing on developing athletes’ skills while building character, compassion, discipline, and a commitment to giving back.
“Being compassionate, caring and generous is important… My goal is to not just raise these young adults to be athletes, but to grow in character as they perfect their game — raise them to be part of the village that lends a hand.”
Notable Players Coached
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Peter Gorman — Ramapo College
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Justin Sears — Yale University
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Will Zatorski — IMG
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Olivia Miles — Notre Dame / TCU / Minnesota Lynx
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Tara Daye — Rutgers University
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Chloe Escanillas — Marist
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Michai White — Prolific Prep
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Zach Benmorits — Union College
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Yaw Ansong — The Citadel
Roman Hernandez
Professional Basketball & Player Development Coach
Coach Roman Hernandez has been around basketball for as long as he can remember and brings extensive playing, training, and coaching experience to Marston Select.
Playing Experience
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Played at Perth Amboy Vo-Tech
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Served as team captain
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Helped lead the team to a GMC Gold Division championship
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Selected to play in the Middlesex County All-Star Game
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Played professional basketball in the Dominican Republic
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Played for the Harlem Wizards for 5 years
Coaching Philosophy:
“Be the best you. In life and on the basketball court, always be the best version of yourself.”
Coaching & Training Experience
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10+ years training high school and college players at Hoops America
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Pass Tha Ball & Gurlz Got Game
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Together Basketball
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Dragon Army
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NJ Raptors
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North Star Academy
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4+ years working with Coach Pete at clinics throughout New Jersey
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Assistant Coach with Marston Elite AAU
Coach Nichols brings valuable knowledge of player development, recruiting, and what athletes need to continue advancing their basketball careers.
Dave Nichols
College Recruiting & Player Development Coach
Coach Dave Nichols brings collegiate recruiting, coaching, leadership, and player-development experience to Marston Select. A Newark native with deep community ties, he has helped identify, develop, and advance talented athletes at both the high school and collegiate levels.
College Coaching & Recruiting
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Recruiting Coordinator — Felician University Men’s Basketball
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Brings proven leadership, high-level recruiting ability, and a strong player-development background
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Helped Felician win the CACC Conference Championship
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Helped Felician win the CACC Tournament Championship
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Recruited the Defensive Player of the Year
High School Coaching
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Spent 4 years at Arts High School
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Served as Associate Head Coach under Prophet Kates
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Helped guide the program to a city championship
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Division championship
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State sectional championship
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Helped numerous athletes advance to scholarship-level basketball
When Coach Mike isn’t coaching, he enjoys attending and supporting his children’s games.
Mike Junod
USA Basketball Certified Coach & Player Development Coach
Coach Mike Junod is a USA Basketball-certified coach with experience developing athletes from middle school through high school across AAU and school programs.
Professional & Personal Background
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Grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania
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Currently works as a teacher
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Previous professional experience in banking and financial services
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Has two children with his wife, Trina
COACHING EXPERIENCE
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Marston Elite AAU
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Wardlaw-Hartridge School
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Fall basketball at Union Catholic High School
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Coaches multiple age groups and skill levels
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Experience with 6th- and 7th-grade teams through high school seniors
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USA Basketball certified
Jahmal Garraway
Basketball Development Coach & Youth Mentor
Coach Jahmal Garraway has been a passionate freelance basketball coach with Marston Elite for nearly nine years. He has worked with athletes ranging from age five through high school seniors and is committed to helping players improve both on and off the court.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
COACHING EXPERIENCE
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Nearly 9 years coaching with Marston Elite
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Has trained athletes from age 5 through high school seniors
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5+ years supporting Marston AAU teams as a team manager
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Assists with drills and game preparation
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Player motivation and mentoring
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Leadership development
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Focuses on fundamentals, confidence, basketball IQ, teamwork, and leadership
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Former point guard
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Led in assists
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3 years of varsity basketball at St. John’s
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1 year of varsity basketball at Matawan Regional High School
As a former point guard, Coach Jahmal understands the importance of communication, teamwork, and making the players around you better. His passion for coaching comes from seeing athletes grow, compete with confidence, and reach their full potential.
“Keep pushing yourself, and you may surprise yourself.”
Coaching Motto:
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Started with the academy in the Dominican Republic in 2022
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Helped move the program to Perth Amboy in 2023
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Program has fielded 17U, 15U, and 12U teams over the past three years
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Assists with the team’s annual combine at NJCU
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Coached 7th & 8th grade
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2022–2023
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Two seasons
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Head Varsity Coach — 2024–2025 season
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Took the position as an opportunity to grow, learn, and coach against high-level competition
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Led the team to the Final Four
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Finished the season with a 15–12 record
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AAU — May–July 2025
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Fall Ball — September–November 2025
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AAU — May–June 2026
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
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7 years playing overseas
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4 years in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
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3 years in Tarragona, Spain
victor Verdecia
International Basketball & Player Development Coach
Coach Victor Verdecia brings seven years of international playing experience along with coaching experience at the academy, travel, AAU, and varsity levels. His goal is to continue growing as a coach while giving back to young athletes in his community.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Coach Victor wants to help the youth in his town and use basketball as an opportunity to give back to his community.
Coaching Mission:
Boomerang Basketball Academy
Dominican National Team
Perth Amboy Travel Basketball
St. Thomas Aquanis
Ben Badeen Basketball
Boomerang Basketball Academy
Dominican National Team
Perth Amboy Travel Basketball
St. Thomas Aquinas
Ben Badeen Basketball
Coaching Accomplishments
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16U Silver Adidas Gauntlet Division Champion — May 2019
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16U Hoop Group Division Champions — April 2019
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15U Marquee Hoops Division Champions — April 2021
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17U Hoop Group Jamfest Division Runner-Up — May 2021
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14U Hoop Group Headquarters Division Champions — October 2021
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14U FunSport Basketball Champions — May 2023
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14U Isaiah Whitehead Tournament Runner-Up — August 2023
Coach Cress believes success extends far beyond the basketball court and works to develop confident, disciplined, and well rounded student-athletes.
Calvin Cress
Senior Basketball Coach & Athletic Development Leader
Coach Calvin Cress is a dedicated basketball coach, athletic leader, and youth mentor with more than 18 years of experience developing student athletes on and off the court.
Coaching & Leadership Experience
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Experience at the middle school, high school, and competitive travel basketball levels
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Middle School Athletic Director
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Head Boys Basketball Coach — Berta Dreyfus Intermediate School in Staten Island
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Emphasizes skill development and academic accountability
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Focuses on leadership, teamwork, and social-emotional growth
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Coaching philosophy centers on discipline, accountability, teamwork, and leadership
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Passionate about using basketball for youth development and community empowerment
Players Developed & Advanced
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Isaiah Wilkerson — N.J.I.T.
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Max Butler — College of Staten Island
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Erik Jarekic — OSL National Prep Team
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Masiah Gilyard — Temple University
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Vanessa McManus — Monmouth University
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Oladele Oladitan — Florida Memorial University
Coach Cress continues to use his experience and passion for the game to prepare student-athletes to compete successfully both on the court and in life.
Sandy Perry
Former Division I Player & Player Development Coach
Coach Sandy Perry is a former Division I basketball player, U.S. Navy veteran, cybersecurity professional, and experienced basketball coach. His approach to coaching centers on discipline, education, leadership, and personal growth.
Playing Experience
COACHING EXPERIENCE
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Standout player at Matawan Regional High School
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Barton County Community College
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Georgia Southern University
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Competed at the Division I level in the Southern Conference
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Played power forward and center
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New Jersey Trailblazers AAU
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St. Nicholas School in Jersey City
Education & Professional Background
Coach Sandy believes education is every bit as important as athletic achievement. He emphasizes discipline, accountability, teamwork, and academic excellence while helping athletes understand that the habits they build through basketball can impact their success in school, their careers, and throughout life.
His goal is to inspire young athletes to maximize their potential and become leaders both on and off the court.
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Degree in Business
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Degree in Information Technology
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Degree in Cybersecurity
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U.S. Navy veteran
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Cybersecurity professional
Coaching Philosophy:
“Basketball can open doors, but education keeps them open. Through discipline, hard work, and commitment to learning, young athletes can achieve success both on the court and long after the final buzzer sounds.”
Ziare Williams
Collegiate Athlete & Player Development Coach
Coach Ziare Williams brings high school and collegiate athletic experience to Marston Select. He is passionate about helping players develop their game, prepare for high school basketball, and build toward future basketball opportunities.
Playing Experience
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4 years of college varsity athletic experience
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3 years of varsity basketball at Matawan High School
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Began training with Marston after competing in sports at the collegiate level
Player development, high school preparation, and helping athletes prepare for their future careers in basketball.
Coaching Focus:
Coach Ziare enjoys being around the coaches and players within the Marston program and is excited to share the knowledge and experience he has gained throughout his athletic career.
Kenneth Medina
Basketball Skills & Player Development Coach
Coach Kenneth “Kenny” Medina has been playing basketball since the age of five and developed his game through years of training, recreational basketball, and AAU competition throughout the Jersey Shore.
Basketball Background
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Began playing basketball at age 5
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Spent countless hours at local and state parks developing his ball-handling and shooting
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His basketball ability was recognized by players and coaches around him
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Competed in organized recreational basketball
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Played with different AAU programs throughout the Jersey Shore
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Began taking his training more seriously at age 17 through Hoops America
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Trained within a program that included Thomas Flaherty — Seton Hall — and Nephtaly Cardona — University of Maine at Fort Kent
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• • Continued developing into a complete, well-rounded player and taking his skills to the next level
“Hard work will always pay off.”
Coaching Motto:
Coach Kenny now uses the knowledge and experience he gained throughout his own basketball journey to train the next generation and help young athletes become better players and individuals.
Coach Jhan uses his experience to connect with youth, give back to Marston, and help players through their basketball journeys.
Jhan Acosta
Player Development Coach & Marston Elite Alumni
Coach Jhan Acosta brings a unique perspective to Marston Select as a former player within the Marston program. Having spent several years developing with Marston Elite, he understands the program and the experience of being a young athlete working toward the next level.
PLAYING EXPERIENCE
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Played for Marston Elite for 4 years
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Played basketball at Union Catholic
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Looking forward to continuing his basketball career in college
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Aspires to eventually play basketball overseas