Strong Island Sound
09-14-2007, 11:10 PM
Rookie Free Agent Tryout Camp a Success; Vets to Return
Calverton, NY- The Strong Island Sound held their Rookie Free Agent Tryout Camp on Saturday, September 8 at the Southbay Sportsplex in Calverton. The team also announced the re-signing of seven players from last season’s roster: Raphael Edwards, Greg Cerillo, John ‘Mookie’ Thomas, Sean ‘Murder’ Simpson, Chris Grant, Caheem Broadus and Raheim Lowery.
The session took place over a five-hour period and participants were evaluated on endurance, skill and speed via drills through a timed course, free throw shooting, sprints, set shooting, movement shooting, 1-on-1, 2-on-2 and full court basketball.
Some of the participants who were invited to veteran’s camp, which begins on October 2, were Mike Mosby, Chris Way, John Winchester and John Foss.
“I feel that it went very well and was well organized,” said Sound co-owner Michele Wuestman.
Head coach Dytanya Mixson also viewed the day as an overall success. “This was a good way to grade the rookies,” he said. “We’re looking for one or two guys to come off the bench. We have high expectations and have a little more experience than last year. We can go deeper in the playoffs with the veteran leadership.”
Grant and Broadus gave the team a good combination in the backcourt a year ago and were excited to be brought back. “This should be a real good season and it feels good to be back with Coach Mixson,” said Grant.
“Having everybody stay together for the whole year – that’s what’s going to bring us to the championship,” said Broadus, who played under Mixson during the summer at the EBC Pro Rucker Park League. Mixson’s X-Men defeated Team Rucker, a squad that included Grant, for the championship.
Sound co-owner Darren Cioffi preferred the type of tryout that the team ran this year. “It was much more like a professional club this year,” he said. “The open ‘cattle calls’ that we did in the past did not do us justice.
“We had a group of invited players that were here to show that they were worthy of coming to veteran’s camp and fight for a job,” Cioffi continued. “We want to create stability and have the best players for the whole season.”
“We want the team to gel from beginning to end,” Wuestman said.
The co-owners also commented on the offseason promotions that the organization has done. “Suffolk County’s awareness of us has risen tremendously from our offseason appearances and community involvement,” said Cioffi. Wuestman added, “We have become more and more visible.”
Calverton, NY- The Strong Island Sound held their Rookie Free Agent Tryout Camp on Saturday, September 8 at the Southbay Sportsplex in Calverton. The team also announced the re-signing of seven players from last season’s roster: Raphael Edwards, Greg Cerillo, John ‘Mookie’ Thomas, Sean ‘Murder’ Simpson, Chris Grant, Caheem Broadus and Raheim Lowery.
The session took place over a five-hour period and participants were evaluated on endurance, skill and speed via drills through a timed course, free throw shooting, sprints, set shooting, movement shooting, 1-on-1, 2-on-2 and full court basketball.
Some of the participants who were invited to veteran’s camp, which begins on October 2, were Mike Mosby, Chris Way, John Winchester and John Foss.
“I feel that it went very well and was well organized,” said Sound co-owner Michele Wuestman.
Head coach Dytanya Mixson also viewed the day as an overall success. “This was a good way to grade the rookies,” he said. “We’re looking for one or two guys to come off the bench. We have high expectations and have a little more experience than last year. We can go deeper in the playoffs with the veteran leadership.”
Grant and Broadus gave the team a good combination in the backcourt a year ago and were excited to be brought back. “This should be a real good season and it feels good to be back with Coach Mixson,” said Grant.
“Having everybody stay together for the whole year – that’s what’s going to bring us to the championship,” said Broadus, who played under Mixson during the summer at the EBC Pro Rucker Park League. Mixson’s X-Men defeated Team Rucker, a squad that included Grant, for the championship.
Sound co-owner Darren Cioffi preferred the type of tryout that the team ran this year. “It was much more like a professional club this year,” he said. “The open ‘cattle calls’ that we did in the past did not do us justice.
“We had a group of invited players that were here to show that they were worthy of coming to veteran’s camp and fight for a job,” Cioffi continued. “We want to create stability and have the best players for the whole season.”
“We want the team to gel from beginning to end,” Wuestman said.
The co-owners also commented on the offseason promotions that the organization has done. “Suffolk County’s awareness of us has risen tremendously from our offseason appearances and community involvement,” said Cioffi. Wuestman added, “We have become more and more visible.”