BOYS GymRat CHALLENGE (Albany, NY)
In a ground-breaking event, GymRat LIVE will feature seven NIKE EYBL powerhouses and one of the nation’s most storied grassroots basketball programs competing head-to-head on May 29-30 in Albany, NY. BABC, the City Rocks, Expressions Elite, the NY Gauchos, NJ Legacy, the PSA Cardinals, NY RENS, and Team Final will compete ALPHA v. ALPHA in this GymRat RECRUITING Index event that will shine the brightest spotlight of the season on the grassroots basketball landscape. Included in the event field will be the consensus #1 and #2 players in the nation and projected 2022 NBA Lottery Picks, Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren, of Team Final as well as a host of other future NCAA and NBA stars. In the 30 years that national player rankings have been published, Team Final represents the first time that the consensus #1 and #2 players in that United States have been paired on the same grassroots basketball roster. THERE WILL BE TWO WAYS TO WATCH THIS HISTORIC EVENT….IN PERSON OR BY TUNING INTO TO THE PROFESSIONAL LIVE BROADCAST.
The Governor’s Office has approved GymRat LIVE to be the first full capacity sporting event since the beginning of the pandemic. As a part of the Governor’s Re-Open & Re-Imagine New York initiative, two premium games at GymRat LIVE will be played in front of 2,500 fans at Albany’s historic Washington Avenue Armory. Tickets will be available at the door only. ALL SPECTATORS MUST SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION (Excelsior Pass or paper vaccination card) and photo ID in order to purchase a ticket. No spectators without proof of vaccination will be allowed in the door. The $35 ticket is good for BOTH high-powered games at the Armory on Saturday. Children 16 years of age and younger are exempt from the vaccination requirement and WILL be allowed to attend the games provided that they are with a fully vaccinated adult.
That game will be preceded at 12:40 PM on Saturday the #16 ranked team in the country (and the ONLY team to have beaten #1 Team FInal) will match-up against grassroots basketball royalty BABC out of Boston. BABC is led by the legendary Leo Papile, a longtime executive and scout with the Boston Celtics.
