UPDATE AS OF MAY 15 AT 1:30 PM:  WE STILL HAVE TWO SPOTS IN THE 5TH GRADE DIVISION lll AND ONE SPOT IN THE 11TH GRADE Dll DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS. ALSO, WE HAVE MADE CHANGES TO THE 10TH AND 11TH GRADE PLAYOFF BRACKETS FOR SUNDAY. WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WATCH YOUR SCHEDULE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

 ANYONE INTERESTED IN FILLING THE OPENINGS MUST CALL JIM FOX AT 516-351-6642. 

The final weekend of the District Championships will take place from May18-20. We will be hosting the Boys Division ll 10th and 11th Grades  as well as the Division lll 4th and 5th Grades.

.ONE ADDITIONAL NOTE: DO NOT USE YOUR GPS TO FIND SUNY OLD WESTBURY. IT LEADS YOU TO A STRANGE LOCATION! RELY ON OUR DIRECTIONS WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON THIS SITE.

For full schedules, click here.

A portion of our AAU TOURNAMENT GAMES are played at sites other than Island Garden.

The directions to those sites are as follows:

The Men's Spring League will begin playoffs this coming Tuesday when the first seed Thundercats take on Elite. The Thundercats have four previous Island Garden Championships on their resume. In the other semi-final, Team Glen Cove faces off against the Island Garden team. The Finals will be held on Thursday.

For schedule and results click here.

Since 1999, the Island Garden and Lightning have operated the summer league based at Island Garden and other surrounding facilities. We have been very fortunate in having attracted over 100 teams each year ranging in age from 4th grade through high school for boys and girls. This summer, we will continue that tradition but with a new name.

QFIVE is an exciting new idea in the world of sports. It is a social platform that connects players, coaches, experts and administrators of all levels so that information can flow freely among everyone involved in the great game of basketball. We here at Island Garden and Lightning believe strongly in this new concept and want to do whatever we can to promote QFIVE in its introductory stage. We therefore are not only making it the name sponsor of our summer league but we will also be publicizing the highlights and announcements on the QFIVE platform so that the many people involved in our summer league can also be introduced to QFIVE. Full information as to how to sign on to this tremendous free offering appears below. In fact, we are offering a $25.00 discount to any team that is registered with QFIVE!

The QFIVE Summer League invites all high school, Super League, AAU, CYO and independent teams to participate. It will consist of a ten game schedule with playoff eligibility (win 50% of your games and you are in). Games will be played at Island Garden, St. Dominic HS and Fundamental Sports. We are also planning a  NYC Division that will be played at Queens College.

For more information.....

UPDATE AS OF MAY 15: We are forced to cancel the Girls Training Sessions that were being held on Tuesdays due to poor turnout. Any girls who are still interested can join the boys groups on Fridays.

ALSO ----- there will be no boys session this coming Friday, May 18. That training will resume on May 25.

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We as the leaders of Lightning and FE Hoops recognize that one of our primary responsibilities is to provide the best possible training for our players. In our efforts to reach that goal, we are initiating an exciting and what we believe will be a unique and highly effective program that will reach and teach every player who wants to improve his/her game.

 UPDATE AS OF APRIL 18: THE SCHEDULES ARE NOW FINAL.

For schedules and game results, click here

Two members of the 18U Lightning Rothman squad have committed to play basketball at the college level.

 Pat Farrell, a Rockville Centre resident and student at Chaminade High School in Mineola, has committed to play for Villanova University under Coach Jay Wright.  Farrell, 6’5, was selected in the 2006 Lightning AAU Draft and played for coaches David Rothman and Paul Valenti for the past 7 years.  Coach Rothman said: “When we drafted Pat, he was a thin, unassuming 5’5 6th grader who was just beginning to develop a passion for the game.  He worked hard every year to improve his skills and toughness to become the dominant player he is today.  We’re confident he’ll continue his strong play for Villanova under Coach Wright.  Pat’s parents are big supporters of the Lightning program and have always been fixtures around Island Garden.” 

 Billy Heenan, a 6’3 post player out of Amityville Memorial HS has committed to SUNY New Paltz to play for Coach Mike Rejniak.  Billy has played for Lightning Rothman since 6th grade.  At Amityville, under Coach Jack Agostino, he led the Warriors to the Suffolk County Class A Finals the past two years.  Billy was on track to be a 12 season athlete until he suffered a devastating leg injury this fall in a Warriors soccer game.  He underwent an aggressive rehab schedule and was able to rejoin his school squad in late December.  “No one was more dedicated to our Superleague and AAU team than Billy and his family.  He was always the first to arrive to every practice and to every game, and was always one of the toughest workers on the court.  Usually outsized around the basket, he still managed to average over 20 points/game throughout his AAU career.  He was the leader of our squad from the day he joined us and continues to lead and inspire his teammates today” added Coach Rothman.

Lightning Developmental program is back for the spring season. Coach Harkins and Coach Capstraw once again lead this very popular program. There are set times for boys and girls, grades 3-9. Click here to register. Click below for more information.

THERE IS STILL ROOM IN ALL GROUPS.

The Long Island Lightning and Island Garden have the opportunity to be early users of the new online athletic community, QFive.com. We're excited about this platform and will be using it to share information, videos, photos, and news about our programs.

This week the Island Garden welcomes a brand sponsor that will have a profound impact on our kids and our community: TUTOR DOCTOR. Tutor Doctor helps people from 3 to 88 achieve and exceed their educational goals. You can find them at www.tutordoctor.com or click on the Read More tab...

Island Garden is an excellent place to hold your son's or daughter's next birthday party. We provide the entire package so that all that mom and dad have to do is watch, enjoy and take pictures!