User:JoeEspo61

Joseph Vincent Esposito, Born 1961 in Brooklyn, NY grew up learning the game of basketball from his 2 older brothers. His passion for the sport didn't bloom until his Junior High School when he realized anything was possible if you worked hard enough at it. He spent 10 hours a day outside of school in parks such as: Midwood Field, Marine Park and Manhattan Beach Park practicing, and playing against older kids looking to make a name for himself. He knew this would be the only way to elevate his game. His desire and passion kept building the more time he spent practicing, often alone, and he started to see his game get better and better. When he got to Midwood High School, his skills and fundamentals really started to blossom and his talent was coming out. He went from sitting on the bench his freshman year to playing a little bite during his Sophmore and Junior years, to earning a spot on the starting five his senior year. He spent the whole summer prior to his senior year playing in as many basketball tournaments as possible looking for the best players to go up against knowing that this was the only way he would get his game better. His goal was to return his senior year as an impact player and receive a college scholarship. He accomplished this by playing in the toughest areas of Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx where he could find the games where people and coaches would remember him. He played against the very best players in NYC, many who went on to play for Major College programs and then onto the NBA, all while earning their respect. His game kept getting better and better, and his passion became an addition to the game. Before his senior year was over, he was the leading scorer on his High School team with 22ppg, and was fearless knowing he has and could go up against the best and hold his own and in many cases dominate. He could score from anywhere on the court and was known as a scorer prior to going to college. He never cared once who he was going up against and never backed down. Whether it was from the inside or out, he could knew how to get his points. Joe had a very successful senior year in High School landing him a full front page photo on the front page of the Kings Courrier Newspaper against Fort Hamilton High School. He also had many more photo's and articles featuring his game contributions throughout the course of his senior year. This improvement was attributed to his Dedication, Drive and Determination during his summer play prior to his senior year, he grew 5 inches to 6'5" and ultimately growing to 6'6" before he started his college career. The Midwood Hornets finished the year 17-5 and made it to the Brooklyn Semi-Finals against Boys & Girls High School where they lost a close game at the opponents home court in front of a capacity crowd. You couldn't even hear your coach the screams were so loud. After the season, Joe was selected by the New York Post 3rd Team All-Brooklyn. Was an All=American High School Athlete. Was selected to play in the prestigious Annual "Wheel Chair" Basketball Tournament which was by invitation only. This placed the best players from each borough against each other at Goldwater Hospital in NYC in front of hundreds of spectators and college scouts. The letters of interest started coming in for college scholarships, and Joe ultimately decided to take a Full-Scholarship at Dodge City Community College in Kansas, a 2-yr college which would enable him to improve his game even better to play at a Major Division 1 level school providing the most competitive level and a place he dreamed of playing. He earned a starting position his freshman year, was a leading scorer and kept getting better. with more photo's and articles following him in the Newspapers as he had while playing in High School. In Kansas, he made a name for himself, being selected to the Cowboy Capital Classic Game, All-Tournament Team in Dodge City,He made the Kansas Jayhawk Junior College All-Conference Team. This is when Major college scholarship offers started flying in, he was recruited by "Big-Time" Major Colleges such as: the University of Rhode Island, Wake Forrest University, University of Texas, University of Arizona, Indiana State University which Larry "The Legend" Bird one of the greatest NBA players of all time had just finished up playing, University of Conneticuit, Seaton hall University, Iowa State, University, North Carolina State University and Georgia Tech University to name a few. He wound up taking a Division 1 Full-Scholarship to the University of Rohde Island to be closer to home. He played against the Chinese National Team, equivalent in status to Team USA. When things had not worked out as expected for Joe, he transferred to St. Thomas Aquinas College located in Rockland County, New York. He also earned a starting position after arriving, and played on their Nationally Ranked Team which finished 38-3. and held a #1 Ranking, first in the schools history. Joe earned 2 Tournament MVP Awards his senior and earned the coachesnAward for his Dedication and Commitment to success. His play in the play-offs took his team to the "Elite Eight" of the NAIA Torunament in Kansas City. Joe earned a spot on the All-Conference Team, and had several NBA teams interested in him, mainly the Chicago Bulls, coupled with opportunities of playing Professional Basketball in Italy. He was selected and played in the New York "Empire State Games", which only the Elite College Players earn that distinction. He also was invited to an NBA try-out camp at St. Peters College in Jersey City, NJ. Joe continued playing after his college days, in semi-pro leagues such as the Harlem Pro Rucker Tournament and the West-4th St Leagues, the best you could play in. Joe played against such NBA pro's who came out of New York City such as Chris Mullen and Walter Berry (from St, John's) Vern Flemming (Georgia Tech University) who played for the Indiana Pacers of the NBA, Anthony Mason who played for the New York Knicks. htpp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JoseohVEsposito-(MVP)