HOLIDAY OFFENSIVE SKILLS and SHOOTING DEVELOPMENT CLINIC

BBC WINTER SEASON MANDATORY MEETING

Attention Parents of Blaze Basketball Club AAU Players for the Winter Season: There will be a MANDATORY MEETING for all participants of the Blaze AAU tryout THIS SUNDAY December 16th.  Grades 1st - 6th 5:00 pm - 6:15pm 7th-12th 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm.  Please bring total AAU fee to St. Anthonys in Hawthorne 276 Diamond Bridge Rd. Hawthorne, NJ. If you are unable to attend or can not have someone there to represent you and pay your fee please text Kent Culuko 201-787-3004. Also, you will be able to choose 4 skills workouts out of the 8 dates listed below starting with this Sunday Dec 16th. Please come down, pay your fee and enjoy your 1st. skills workout at the corresponding time thank you.

SESSIONS:

1. Sunday December 16th
2. Sunday December 30th
3. Sunday January 6th
4. Sunday January 13th
5. Sunday January 20th
6. Sunday February 3rd
7. Sunday February 10th
8. Sunday February 17th

Kent Culuko

President

Blaze Basketball Club

WINTER OFFENSIVE SKILLS CLINICS

IYB FALL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS CROWNED

2012 IYB Basketball Fall League 5/6th Division Champions, Ridgefield Park Gazelles! 
Ridgefield Park is coached by Karissa Depena and Coach Mendez

2012 IYB Basketball Fall League Champions 7th-9th Boys Division, 
Blaze Basketball Club 8th Grade Yellow Team!  
Pictured (L-R) Mark Trudeau of Franklin Lakes , Chris Decotiis of Northvale, Jason Foreman of Ringwood, Boris Beric of Ringwood, Nick Coleburn of Franklin Lakes , James Alchas of Franklin Lakes. Not pictured Owen McKinney of Glen Ridge, Ibn Ingram of Clifton
Congratulations Blaze Yellow Squad!

 





















2012 IYB Basketball Fall League Girls 7th-9th Division Champions, 
Blaze Basketball Club! BBC defeated St. Margaret's Rockland Co. NY in the Championship game! 
Pictured (L/R) Brittany Taupier of Clifton, Erin Nicholson of Oakland, Jane Beirmeister of Towaco, Lauren Minardi of Towaco, Calais Cronin of Kinnelon, Amy Weisse of Oakland 
BBC Pro-Skills Trainer and Coach Ben Allen
Not Pictured Nicole Polanco of N. Bergen, Emma Weiss of Upper Saddle River. 
Congrats Blaze Girls! You Earned It!

Karson with # 1 Ranked Indiana Hoosiers

Karson pictured with Indiana Hoosier super star Cody Zeller at the Barclay's Center!
Cody Zeller is projected to be a lottery pick in the 2013 NBA Draft!

Karson pictured with Indiana Hoosier Sharp Shooter Jordan Hulls! Karson wanted to
challenge Jordan, one of the best shooters in the country to a shoot out! Indiana Hoosiers
are currently the #1 Ranked Team in the Nation! Let's Goooooo IU!

BBC WNTER AAU TRYOUT DATES POSTED!

CONGRATULATIONS TO IYB FALL LEAGUE WINNERS and RUNNER-UPS

CONGRATULATIONS TO RAMAPO / CLARKSTOWN HS NY, THE 2012 IYB FALL LEAGUE BOY'S HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS. GREAT JOB GUYS!

 CONGRATULATIONS TO RAMAPO HS NY, THE 2012 IYB FALL LEAGUE GIRL'S HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS. GREAT JOB LADIES!

CONGRATULATIONS TO IYB BLAZE, THE 2012 IYB FALL LEAGUE GIRL'S HIGH SCHOOL RUNNER-UPS. GREAT JOB LADIES!
 

KENT and KARSON with DICK VITALE.

Dickie V says IYB BASKETBALL ALL THE WAY BABY!  Let's Gooooooo!!!
Kent stopped by to chat with Dick Vitale after the UCLA vs GEORGETOWN Game!

KENT and KARSON at BARCLAY'S CENTER BROOKLYN

IYB representing at the brand new Barclay's Center Brooklyn NY USA watching Kyle Anderson and UCLA take on  Georgetown!  Let's Gooooooo!

BLACK FRIDAY 1 DAY MEDICINE BALL CAMP

All Fall AAU Blaze Players Only $75 For 6 Hours of Training!
Black Friday November 23 Offensive Skills Camp Using 3lb Medicine Balls! 
This brand new innovative approach to basketball training will get you ready and polished for your upcoming Winter Season! You Don't Want To Miss This Oppurtunity! Trust Me!
 Let's Gooooooo!  Players Are Made In The Fall and Winter! Get In To Train With IYB Pro Skills Trainers Today and Throughout Your Winter Season! It Will Be Your Best Move Yet!  Like us on FB IYB Basketball and follow us on Twitter @iybasketball

WEEKEND TOURNAMENT UPDATES

Congrats Blaze Basketball Club Fall Purple Team for a great run in the Basketball Shootout Tournament! (L-R) Stephen Sanders,Mike Breeman, Dylan Vazquez, Jack Capasso, Dwight Thomas, Joe Brunner, Joe Mariani, Rich Lanza Not Pictured: Brian Kerin, Myles Wilmoth

 

Blaze Basketball Club 8th gr Fall Yellow Teams Brings Home The Title @ Last Weekends Basketball Shootout Tourney! Congrats To The Boys! Let's Gooooooo! Pictured (L-R) Coach Mark Trudeau, Boris Beric, Mark Trudeau, Nick Coleburn, James Alchas, Jason Foreman, Coach Ben Allen, below Chris  Decotiis Not Pictured: Owen McKinney 

WEEKEND TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE POSTED

The schedule for this coming weekend's tournament has been posted under the GAMES SCHEDULE PAGE.

BEST OF LUCK TO ALL BLAZE TEAMS PARTICIPATING!

*** CANCELLATIONS ***

North Boulevard School is still without power. Thus, skills practice for Blaze Orange and White has been cancelled and will be rescheduled. As of now their games are still on for Sunday 11/11 @ Hoop Heaven Waldwick. (see schedule).
Please notify Kent by text ASAP if you can not make the game. 201-787-3004

Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience. 

Kent Culuko and Blaze Basketball Club

*** CANCELLATIONS ***

Due to the winter storm headed our way this evening, ALL SCHEDULED GAMES HAVE BEEN CANCELED!

We apologize for this inconvenience and late notice.

Kent Culuko and Blaze Basketball Club

CURRENT SCHEDULE UPDATE

PARENTS / PLAYERS,

Blaze Basketball Club hopes all of our team members and their families are doing well and getting back to some sense of normalcy after this terrible storm! We know everyone is going through their own challenging issues dealing with the aftermath of hurricane Sandy, but with basketball season rapidly approaching, it's time to get back on our feet and make basketball a part of our lives  once again!

This week, November 5th activities for Blaze teams are as follows:

*Orange and White Teams will have their final skills workout on Thursday November 8th at 6:45 pm at North Boulevard School, Pequannock.

*All Other Blaze Teams please check website by Tuesday November 6th and we will have posted a portion of our rescheduled  make-up games, our playoff schedule for next week and our tournament dates!  

Most of our teams will be playing in a tournament either November 10th-11th or November 17th-18th.  We are trying to work out the details and coordinate schedules with venues and organizers immediately.

Thanks for your patience and understanding during this difficult time! 

Kent Culuko and Blaze Basketball Club

SUNDAY SKILLS STILL ON!!

The Sunday evening OFFENSIVE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WORKOUT at St. Anthony's in Hawthorne, NJ is STILL ON for SUNDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2012.

IF YOU HAVEN'T TOUCHED A BALL ALL WEEK DUE TO HURRICANE SANDY, YOU NEED TO GET IN HERE AND SHARPEN UP!

5:00 pm - 6:15 pm 1st - 6th GRADES
6:15 pm - 7:30 pm 7th - 12th GRADES

ALL BLAZE PLAYERS CAN ATTEND FOR ONLY $25.00!

COME AND GET A GREAT WORKOUT!  
THE HIGH SCHOOL SEASON IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!
LETS GO! THERE IS NO OFF-SEASON!

CANCELLATIONS!!!!

Due to the damage caused by hurricane Sandy all games have been cancelled for Saturday / Sunday November 3rd and 4th

Thank you for understanding and we all hope you and your families are well during these difficult times. 

IYB / BLAZE BASKETBALL CLUB

Kent's Innovative Ball Handling Drills

IYB Pro Skills Training: Innovative ball handling drill with pound dribble and 3lb medicine ball, incorporating CONDITIONING, STRENGTH WORK, COORDINATION and HAND SPEED!  GREAT WORKOUT!  
Try 10 reps on each hand and do 3 sets! LET'S GO!

KENT, KARSON and DR. MONTGOMERY

New York Jets Team Doctor, Dr. Ken Montgomery w/ Kent & Karson after Karson's knee exam.  Dr. Montgomery's son Dylan has been in the IYB and Blaze Basketball Club programs for the last 3 years!

Offensive Skills Development Clinics!

IYB Basketball Medicine Ball Skills Camp on Columbus Day was a HUGE SUCCESS!  All campers used a pair of 3 lb. weighted balls to perform many speed enhancing skills and strength building exercises throughout the day.  Look for more of these camps during school breaks throughout the year!  LET'S GO!

Kent Trains Overseas Pro Player Tony Murphy

Kent trains overseas professional player and Paterson NJ native Tony Murphy.  Tony is one of the most complete offensive players to come from this area, be it scoring in the paint, from the perimeter, or getting to the foul line, he can do it all.  Tony frequently looks to Kent for shooting instruction and conditioning work.

Kent after his workout with NJ's top 7th grader Justin Winston! Justin trains with Kent weekly and also plays for Blaze Basketball Club! IYB Pro-Skills trainers are working with the best players New Jersey has to offer at every level!

Passaic Valley HS Girls Team gettin' some IYB preseason hardcore workouts in! Let's Gooooo!

Columbus Day Medicine Ball Training Camp

Kent Trains the Top-Ranked Players in the Country

IYB Basketball Pro Skills Trainer Kent Culuko with #1 Ranked Point Guard and UCLA freshmen phenom Kyle Anderson and #5 ranked 7th grade Point Guard in the nation Atiba Taylor after their shooting workout! 

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE NEW VIDEO CLIPS PAGE TO SEE SOME OF KYLE'S WORKOUT WITH KENT!

IYB Basketball pro skills trainer Kent Culuko and Ben Allen with Top Point Guards In The Land Kyle Anderson UCLA and Atiba Taylor # 5 ranked 7th grader in country after their workout!

UCLA's Kyle Anderson Home in NJ to Train with Kent

UCLA superstar Kyle Anderson after a hard workout today with IYB Basketball Pro-Skills trainer; Kent Culuko . Kyle flew home during his break to get some workouts in with Kent before his first college season starts!  Happy 19th Birthday Kyle! Great work Today!

IYB Pro Skills Trainers Kent Culuko and Ben Allen with UCLA superstar Kyle Anderson after today's hard workout with Kent! Kyle just returned home from a team tour with his UCLA teammates playing vs Pro teams in China!  

 UCLA super star Kyle Anderson after a hard workout with Kent today poses for a picture with Blaze Basketball Club AAU members Takaris Seales and Cedric Gaston.  Beside being a great player, Kyle is also a fine young man who always makes time to speak with and interact other member of the IYB family.

Kyle also signed and presented an autographed UCLA basketball to Kent in appreciation for all the that Kent has done through out the years, helping Kyle improve his shot and become a top level national high school player. 

Let's Go Kyle! Everyone in NJ and especially EVERYONE at IYB will be rooting for you this coming season! BEST OF LUCK!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? KENT CULUKO

Where are they now? Basketball player Kent Culuko of Mahwah

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

BY STEVE POPPER

STAFF WRITER

The Record

For Kent Culuko, most days go like this: basketball in the morning, basketball in the afternoon and a little more basketball at night.
"My wife said to me, ‘You teach basketball all day long, coach it, play in a men’s league, and then come home and put on a basketball game to watch on TV,’ " Culuko said. "She doesn’t understand. She said, ‘How do you not get tired of it?’ ’’
While his wife, Jill, may not understand, she has gotten used to the fact that their life is accompanied by the sound of a bouncing ball. Their 7-year-old son, Karson, already has put in time on the court. Jill, 8 1/2 months pregnant with the family’s second son, expects the next son to be a basketball lifer, too.
It’s how it always has been for Culuko. His father, Cliff, was a standout player, starring for Long Island University before coaching at Bergenfield High School. Kent and his younger brother, Craig, were the next in line.
"Me and my brother grew up in the gym," Kent Culuko said. "That’s what we knew."
It’s what he knew and what he’s passing on to others. Culuko starred at Mahwah High School, amassing 2,780 points — the second-highest total in Bergen County history — then moved on to James Madison University, where he etched his way into the record book. He’s still ranked among the leaders in points and three-point field goals.
He provided one of the most storied moments in school history, one that’s easily found on YouTube. He swished a last-second three-pointer to send JMU into the 1994 NCAA tournament, the school’s first berth in 11 years.
From there, his career took a bumpy road — facing the same obstacles that so many players on the fringe of the NBA also face, and then some. His dream of playing in the league was so close, but never quite in his grasp.
"I tried out with the Nets in ’96 and ’98," he recalled, having also been invited to try out for the Cleveland Cavaliers. "I knew I could play at that level, and when I didn’t make it it was a real big disappointment.
"I had veteran players on the Nets, Kevin Edwards and Michael Cage, telling me, ‘You’re going to play at this level.’ … Not that I’d be a starter, but I could have been an 11th, 12th man, a guy who could help a team."
He played professionally in Bulgaria, Germany, Finland and Argentina, clinging to his dream of making the NBA. Those dreams fell apart when he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, at Jayson Williams’ home, when the former Nets star shot and killed his limousine driver. Williams was convicted of aggravated assault.
But basketball didn’t disappear. Culuko always had worked with younger kids when he was in college and on his stops home between stints around the globe.
"I started training kids when I’d come home, local kids from Mahwah, in my driveway," he said. "It started then, and when I got out of college and played overseas, it grew and grew.
"I had to make a decision — am I going to play or do this? It started rolling and I still wanted to play. I wanted to play pro ball. I loved training the kids, but my heart was with playing. … But I grew passionate and it grew on me."
Those one-on-one lessons have expanded. He still gives lessons and trains elite players such as St. Anthony’s UCLA-bound Kyle Anderson. But he also runs camps and clinics that over the course of a year, he estimates, attract 2,000 to 3,000 kids. While he runs camps through his IYBasketball.com flagship, he also has a non-profit project (blazebasketballclub.com) that runs AAU teams. Now living with his family in Pequannock, he is searching for a permanent home for the programs.
"I rent out about five different facilities now," Culuko said. " … We need people to know where we are and they want a schedule of what’s going on for the next three months. We think the business can grow when we do that."

Kent Culuko Trains Alex Thomas, Top Ranked HS Junior.

Our very own BLAZE AAU player, Alex Thomas who also trains with Kent weekly is the #4 ranked player in state and is already receiveing scholarship offers from several Division 1 colleges.   CONGRATS ALEX!

BBC FALL ROSTERS POSTED

Rosters have been set and posted at the BBC FALL ROSTER tab located in the top menu bar.
If your name appears misspelled or if it does not appear at all please contact our blog administrator at IYBmarketing@gmail.com

Thank You

Kent

BBC ELITE AAU TRYOUTS IN ACTION!

IYB Basketball/Blaze Basketball Club President Kent Culuko with 18 year NBA veteran Clifford Robinson at Blaze Basketball Club Tryouts ! Cliff has both his sons playing in the Blaze BC Program!

IYB Basketball / Blaze Basketball Club Coaches and Pro Skills trainers; Kent Culuko and Ben Allen with event sponsor Sports Authority at Blaze Basketball Club FALL AAU Tryouts! Please support the sponsors that support our program.  Sports Authority has granted many discount programs to our team members for the upcoming season. Check your e-mail for discount coupons monthly.

JUSTIN WINSTON at JOHN LUCUS CAMP!

BLAZE BASKETBALL ELITE stand-out player and soon to be 7th grader Justin Winston recently attended the JOHN LUCUS FUTURE STARS CAMP in Virginia and was selected one of the Top Ten East Coast Middle School Players in the country.  Justin trains weekly with IYB's Pro-Trainers, Kent Culuko and Ben Allen.

BBC FALL AAU TRYOUTS @ WAYNE PAL

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE WHILE WE SECURED A NEW LOCATION FOR OUR BBC FALL AAU TRYOUTS!  THEY WILL BE HELD AT WAYNE PAL. 
** SAME DATES AND TIMES. 

Please Note: Due to a flood at the St. Anthony's gym in Hawthorne, AAU tryouts will be held at an alternative location.  Please check back for updated location in the next few days.
We apologize for the inconvenience.

Thank you,

Kent

PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Monday 8/20
Court 2
6:00 pm Blaze vs IYB Camp Team 7/8th

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME  7/8th
7:00 pm Winner of 6pm game vs Ridgefield Park

8:00 pm Panthers vs Blaze 5/6th
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 5/6th
9:00 pm Winner of 8pm gm vs RidgefieldPark 

Court 3
6:00 pm Blaze White vs Ridgefield Park 1 HS
7:00 pm Blaze Black vs Ridgefeild Park 2 HS
8:00 pm HS Boys Championship Game

Kent training PLAYAZ AAU!

Kent after he worked out top ranked players in the nation from top AAU program in nation Playaz!

(Pictured L-R) Jimmy Salmon, Michael Young, Kent Culuko, Vaughn Gray (George Mason U), Kevon Stewart, Elijah Cain.

IYB Basketball Pro Skills Trainers Exclusive Trainers for top ranked AAU program in Nation Playaz Basketball Club!

Summer League and AAU Schedule Week # 6

Thursday August 16, 2012

Court 2

6:00 pm IYB Camp Team vs  Blaze 7/8th

7:00 pm IYB Camp Team vs Ridgefield Park 7/8th

8:00 pm Blaze vs Ridgefield Park 7/8th

9:00 pm Panthers vs Ridgefield Park 5/6th

Court 3

7:00 pm Ridgefield Pk 1 vs Blaze White HS

8:00 pm Ridgefield Pk 1 vs Blaze Black HS

9:00 pm Ridgefield Pk vs Blaze Black HS

Games for Friday August 17, 2012

Court 2

7:00 pm Blaze vs Ridgefield Park 5/6th

8:00 pm Blaze vs Ridgefield Park 7/8th 

9:00 pm Blaze vs IYB Camp Team 7/8th

Court 3

7:00 pm Blaze White vs Ridgefield Park 2 HS

8:00 pm Ridgefield Park 1 vs Ridgefield Park 2 HS

9:00 pm Ridgefield Park 1 vs Blaze Black HS

Cancellation of Games 6/10/12

Due to circumstances beyond our control, all games tonight 6/10 at Wayne PAL have been cancelled and will be rescheduled.  Please check back Sunday evening for next week's schedule of games.

My sincere apologies.

Kent

Kent and Rashad Bishop

Kent after working out University of Cincinnati Bear Cats superstar Rashad Bishop! Rashad played professional ball in Brazil last season and is currently trying to make the jump with an NBA team!

Troy Bendian BLAZE Elite Player wins MVP

16u IYB Elite Blaze Basketball Club member Troy Bendian with Boston Celtic great Paul Pierce! Troy won MVP at Paul Pierce's basketball camp in Boston! Congrats to Troy! Blaze Bball Club representing in bean town! Let's Gooooo!

Kent Culuko with Marcus Gomes & Corey Raji

Kent after working out Marcus Gomes Morgan State U and Corey Raji Boston College.  Corey played Pro in Denmark this year and is the brother of BJ Raji of the World Champion Green Bay Packers! Corey is 3rd All Time on Bergen County scoring list behind Kent!  Combined both Corey and Kent have over 5000 career HS points!

Summer League and AAU Schedule Week #5

DATE: Tuesday August 7, 2012 at Wayne PAL 

6:30 pm 5/6th Blaze Elite vs. Panthers
COURT: #2

DATE: Thursday August 9, 2012 at Wayne PAL 

6:00 pm Blaze Black vs. Blaze White HS  

7:00 pm Panthers vs. RP 5/6th  

8:00 pm Blaze vs. RP 5/6th 

9:00 pm Camp vs. RP 7/8th
COURT: #1 

DATE: Friday August 10, 2012 at Wayne PAL 

7:00 pm Rp1 vs. Blaze White HS

8:00 pm Rp1 vs. Blaze Black HS  

9:00 pm Rp2 vs. Blaze Black HS
COURT: #2

8:00 pm IYB CAMP vs. Rp 7/8  

9:00 pm Blaze vs. Rp 7/8
COURT: #3

Summer Leage and AAU Schedule Week #4

DATE: Thursday August 2, 2012 at Wayne PAL 

TEAM: 5/6th Blaze Elite vs. Panthers 

TIME: 6:00 pm 

COURT: #1 

DATE: Thursday August 2, 2012 at Wayne PAL 

TEAM: 7/8th Blaze Elite vs. RP 9th 

TIME: 7:00 pm 

COURT: #1 DATE: 

Thursday August 2, 2012 at Wayne PAL 

TEAM: HS Blaze Elite Black vs. RP 9th 

TIME: 8:00 pm 

COURT: #1 

DATE: Thursday August 2, 2012 at Wayne PAL 

TEAM: HS Blaze Elite WHITE vs. RP 2 

TIME: 9:00 pm 

COURT: #1

Summer League and AAU Schedule Week #3

DATE: Friday July 27, 2012 at Wayne PAL
TEAM: 5/6th Blaze Elite
TIME: 7:00 pm
COURT: #2

DATE: Friday July 27, 2012 at Wayne PAL
TEAM: 7/8th Blaze Elite
TIME: 9:00 pm