2024 MHC Program Year in Review: Kips Bay

September 13, 2024 by Brian Flinn

Resuming the MHC Program Year in review series, we take a look at how a program’s season fared and who helped lead their teams up until Summer Finale? Assuming players stay within a program, what players are poised for a star making season in year three of the league? Today we take a look back at the year that was for Kips Bay. 

After a slow start, the 17U team performed well late Spring and into the Summer and climbed up the standings to go into Summer Finale as the #6 seed. The backcourt of Carlos Rodriguez and Eric Fagin took turns carrying the offensive load and forward Elvis Asare battled down low admirably all spring and summer long. The addition of guards Anderson Diaz and Nowah Hargrow for the first July live period was huge, as it gave the Mustangs more depth and another big time scorer and playmaker in Diaz. The now Lawrence Woodmere Academy guard looked comfortable being a primary scorer despite playing up two years. Anderson would drop back down to his age group for Summer Finale, then they drew a York Baller team in the second round who ultimately went on to win the 17U Championship. 

The 15U team had already captured the #2 seed in their Summer Finale bracket before the addition of Diaz. Wing Josh Rivera also joined a talented Kips Bay group that was headlined by PG Kenny Moore and big man Robert Gilmore for most of the Spring and Summer. The addition of two of the top sophomores in the country to an already tough and talented group out of the Bronx. The end result was a number of lopsided victories before getting into a dog fight with Rens United for the first half. That’s when Diaz hit takeover mode, dazzling with his playmaking and knocking down three big threes in the second half to open a gap that Rens United could never close. 

It will be interesting to see what this group looks like next year. Moore and Gilmore look like potential scholarship players. Gilmore in particular has already grown both physically and skill wise since the Summer has ended. Will Diaz and or Rivera decide to join them again next Summer or even join them earlier this year? With NYC great Kenny Satterfield manning things, this group is in a great position to contend at the 16U level next MHC season.