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WOODSTOCK — The 2019-20 version of the Woodstock Academy post-graduate basketball program will be introduced to the community and the school at 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Alumni Fieldhouse on the North campus.
“The players are extremely excited,” said first-year Woodstock Academy head coach Jacque Rivera. “I think it’s always fun. It’s my first year and the guys’ first year but they have heard about it from the past. There’s so much excitement that surrounds Moonlight Madness and just the season. It’s a great time.”
The event includes the introduction of the team, an intra-squad scrimmage and a dunk contest as well as a few other surprises. It will be broadcast live on woodstockacademy.org/live.
“It’s a really fun group. We can play a lot of different ways. Historically, Woodstock Academy has been known for its pressure defense. I think we can add to that pressure by having success, fullcourt, three-quarter court and halfcourt, offensively as well as defensively. I think we have a lot of length and really tough kids who are resilient not only on the playing surface but in the classroom,” Rivera said.
Of the 29 players on the team, 11 are taking advanced placement classes; two recently went on a visit to Dartmouth College.
“You should see their involvement in the community. They’re attending residential life events (at the school), staying for extra help in the classroom. It’s a really unique group. Let’s hope that it translates to the court,” Rivera said.
More than 75 college coaches have already visited the campus to check out the new edition of the Centaurs.
One player, Cairo McCroy from Hartford has committed to play for UMass next year but Rivera said a “bunch of guys” have offers and may make their decision in the next couple of weeks.
Ronnie Degray is the only holdover from last year’s team. Chase Anderson is a homegrown product, having graduated from Woodstock Academy in the spring.
The Centaurs Gold team finished 38-2 last season and made it as far as the National Prep Championship Tournament quarterfinals.
The Blue team finished with a 30-8 record and won the Power 5 Conference AA tournament championship.
The roster (name, position, height, hometown):
Hakan West, G, 5-10, Boston; Dyondre Dominguez, W/F, 6-8, Providence; Joseph Moon, G, 6-2, Detroit; Noel Scott, G/W, 6-3, LA; Trevor Green, G/W, 6-3, Albany, N.Y.; Jordan Mitchell, W/F, 6-8, Columbus, Ohio; Jaylin Palmer, G, 6-1, Hartford; Montreal Pena, W/F, 6-10, Fort Worth, Texas; Vondre Chase, W/F, 6-5, Boston; Eshete Calvo, G, 6-2, Madrid, Spain; David Jones, W/F, 6-7, Sacramento, Calif.; Lawrence Foreman, F/C, 6-9, Kingston, Jamaica; Joshua Davis, G, 6-2, Dallas; Quinton McElroy, G, 6-2, Powder Springs, Ga.; Michael Eurquhart, F, 6-5, Pittsfield, Mass.; Darryl MacKey, G/W, 6-0, Alexandria, Va.; Cairo McCroy, G/W, 6-5, Hartford; Walter Defritas, W, 6-4, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Benjamin Fort, W, 6-5, Columbus, Ohio; Elijah Blackman, W, 6-3, Queens, N.Y.; Chase Anderson, W, 6-3, Woodstock; Jamon Kemp, G/W, 6-5, Seattle, Wash.; Amani Gottlieb, G, 6-0, Arlington, Mass.; Nashon Battle, G/W, 6-3, New Jersey; Paul Hosey, F/C, 6-9, Atlanta; Michael Jefferson, W/F, 6-6, Waco, Texas; Chad Venning, F/C, 6-10, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Greyvon Goodman, G, 5-10, Bahamas; Ronnie Degray, W/F, 6-7, Parker, Colo.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
.