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STAMFORD, Conn. Many of the area's high school and prep school boys varsity basketball players are battling again this fall at the Stamford YMCA. It annually hosts a tune-up-for-winter league that involves most of the FCIAC and FAA teams in the area. (See a partial schedule below.)
Check out a brief video clip of recent game action at this St. Luke's vs. Greens Farms Academy highlight weblink.
The players, many of whom have spent the spring and summer playing for AAU teams and attending college prep camps, enjoy getting back together for a run with their school teammates.
Program Director Pierre Jasmine said the Stamford YMCA is happy to be involved. "This league is a great exposure for young players to refine their skills. Players can work on fixing their weaknesses before the winter season arrives."
The FCIAC and FAA league rules prohibit their schools' coaches from coaching their teams during the fall, so an experienced friend or family member usually coaches the kids. The team's school coaches are generally somewhere among the spectators, usually squirming over their inability to influence the play on the court.
Whenever high school players don their school colors to face another local school's team, their sense of pride kicks in, and the intensity of play picks up significantly. The YMCA has to go with a "no spectators allowed" policy when rivals such as Westhill High and Stamford High square off. This is done both because the YMCA seating could not accommodate a large number of interested fans and also to keep everyone's emotions at a manageable level.
NCAA recruiting rules are quirky, in that Division II and Division III college scouts can observe basketball games in the fall, but Division l coaches cannot. Accordingly, some D ll and D lll college coaches will drop by and watch one or more prospects at these YMCA games. It's easier to get out and see a player in the fall than it is during the busy winters.
Monday, Sept. 12
6:30 p.m. St. Luke's School vs. Greens Farms Academy
7:30 p.m. Darien High vs. Greenwich High
8:30 p.m. Stamford High vs. Norwalk High
Wednesday, Sept. 14
6:30 p.m. King School vs. Westhill High
7:30 p.m. Greens Farms vs. Greenwich
8:30 p.m. St. Luke's vs. Stamford
Monday, Sept. 19
6:30 p.m. Westhill vs. Greenwich
7:30 p.m. Darien vs. Norwalk
8:30 p.m. Stamford vs. King
Wednesday, Sept. 21
6:30 p.m. King vs. Darien
7:30 p.m. Norwalk vs. St. Luke's
8:30 p.m. Westhill vs. Greens Farms
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