“Right now, I think we’re putting too much pressure on these kids too early, and they’re not learning proper technique of how to shoot the ball, or proper technique of spacing,”. “It winds up eating away at their confidence. As teachers, we need to have patience to teach things piece by piece by piece. Over time, they’ll develop as basketball players, but you can’t just rush it all at once.”
Kobe Bryant
The MSU Skyliners were created in 1995 by Arthur Pierson as a non for profit 501c3 program. Coach Pierson decided to bring the Skyliners to life as an outlet for Plainfield, New Jersey, and surrounding area youth as a vehicle to gain student-athletes attention to urban issues as well as to continue to learn the game of basketball. Over the years, The Skyliners have grown to include at most points over 8 teams a year. The (M)iddlesex (S)omerset (U)nion Skyliners have expanded to include kids from all over New Jersey and even Pennsylvania at times. We are and will continue to be a developmental program. If you are looking to win a national title, then we are probably not the program for you. Skill development, in-game experience, and life lessons are at the top of our list. We stress education and family values more than basketball wins and losses. Our kids are mentored to want what's best out of life and to work hard to achieve it. Our program has an educational tutor that secures a classroom twice a week for those that need assistance, and all of the coaches phone numbers are available to them if they need to talk. Last but not least, our Motto since 1995 and continues to this day is...
"We are not trying to make money out of you"
"We are trying to make a Player and model citizen out of you!"
Hotel link for Albany, NY
(click on photo)
Hotel link for Manheim, PA
(click on photo)
Where does the money go?
MSU Registration fee's go directly to tournament cost, uniforms, equipment, gym time, insurance and games.
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When Does the Schedule come out?
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Tournament schedules come out the Wednesday or Thursday before it begins and its subject to change
MSU 9U
GOAT XPERIENCE TEAM
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
BBALL SHOOTOUT March 25th
BBALL SHOOTOUT April 15-16th
DOVER NJ, April 23rd
BBALL SHOOTOUT May 20-21st
BBall SHOOTOUT June 4th
FCP Hoops June 10th
MSU 10u
COACH PERNELL
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
HOOP GROUP April 22-23rd
BBALL SHOOOUT April 29-30th
FCP May 13-14th
FCP June 3rd/4th
A GAME SUMMER MADNESS (NJ) June 17-18th
A GAME (Manheim PA) June 24-25th
12U SKYLINERS (PARKER)
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
FCP HOOPS April 1-2nd
BBALL SHOOTOUT April 8th 2023
BBall Shootout 5/6/23
FCP HOOPS 5/13/23
TBA June 3rd
OR
FCP HOOPS June 10th
FCP OR BBALL SHOOTOUT June 17th-18th
BBALL SHOOTOUT June 24-25th
FCP HOOPS July 1st
FCP HOOPS July 15th
11U SKYLINERS (HUNT)
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
FCP HOOPS April 1st
BBALL SHOOTOUT April 8th 2023
BBALL SHOOTOUT 4/22/23
BBALL SHOOTOUT 4/29/23
MONROE SPORTS CENTER May 13th
FCP (Mountainside NJ) May 27th
BBall SHOOTOUT June 3rd
FCP HOOPS June 10th
FCP OR BBALL SHOOTOUT June 17th
FCP Hillsborough NJ June 24th
MIDDLE SCHOOL BLACK
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
(Coach Johnson and Vaughn)
FCP HOOPS April 1st
BBALL SHOOTOUT (North Jersey) April 8th 2023
BBALL SHOTOUT (North Jersey) April 22nd-23rd
TBA May 13th-14th
GYM RAT CHALLENGE (Albany NY) May 27-28th
FCP HOOPS (Central Jersey) June 10th
FCP OR BBALL SHOOTOUT (NJ) June 17th-18th
AGAME (Manheim PA) June 24-25th
MIDDLE SCHOOL RED
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
(Johnson and Vaughn)
FCP HOOPS (Central NJ)April 1st
HOOP GROUP (Neptune NJ) April 15-16th
TBA April 29-30th
ZERO GRAVITY or HOOP GROUP May 20-21st
GYM RAT CHALLENGE (Albany NY) May 27-28th
ADIDAS (Manalapan NJ) June 3-4th
FCP HOOPS June 10th
AGAME (Manheim PA) June 24-25th
14U TIGERS (SOUTH PLFD)
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
FCP HOOPS April 1st
FCP Rumble at Iron Peak April 15-16th
TBA April 29th-30th
TBA May 13th
GYM RAT CHALLENGE (Albany) May 27-28th
FCP HOOPS June 10th
FCP OR BBALL SHOOTOUT June 17th-18th
AGAME (Manheim PA) June 24-25th
14U MSU PANTHERS(RAHWAY)
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
A
HOOP GROUP April 15-16th
ADIDAS (King of Prussia) April 29-30th
TBA May 13-14th
ZERO GRAVITY or HOOP GROUP May 20-21st
GYM RAT CHALLENGE (Albany) May 27-28th
ADIDAS (Manalapan NJ) June 3-4th
FCP HOOPS June 10th
AGAME (Manheim PA) June 24-25th
14U MSU SKYLINERS (PERNELL)
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
NJ BULLDOGS EVENT (NJ) March 18-19th
AGAME SHOOTOUT (MANHEIM PA) March 24-25th
BBALL SHOOTOUT (NJ) (9th Grade) April 15th
HOOP GROUP (NJ) April 22-23rd
MONROE SPORTS CENTER (9th GRADE) May 13th
GYM RAT CHALLENGE (Albany) May 27-28th
AGAME SUMMER MADNESS (NJ) June 17-18th
EAST COAST NATIONALS (Agame)(Manheim PA) June 24-25th
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
FCP HOOPS April 2nd
Team Miller (Eliz NJ) April 16th
Team Miller (Eliz NJ) May 7th
Coaches Choice (Holmedel NJ) May 13th
HOOP GROUP PA JAMFEST (East Stroudsburg PA) June 2-4th
Gym Rat Challenge (Albany NY) June 10th-11th
AGAME (Manheim PA) June 24-25th
FCP July 8th
HOOP GROUP (Atlantic City NJ) July 21-24th (TBA)
MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
FCP HOOPS April 2nd
Team Miller (Eliz NJ) April 16th
Team Miller (Eliz NJ) May 7th
Coaches Choice (Holmedel NJ) May 13th
HOOP GROUP PA JAMFEST (East Stroudsburg PA) June 2-4th
Gym Rat Challenge (Albany NY) June 10th-11th
AGAME (Manheim PA) June 24-25th
FCP July 8th
16U DIFFERENT BREED
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
BBALL SHOOTOUT (NJ) April 15-16th
HOOP GROUP (Neptune NJ) April 22nd-23rd
I NEED THAT THRONE May 5th
FCP HOOPS May 20-21st
GYM RAT CHALLENGE (Albany NY) May 27-28th
(JUNE BREAK FOR HS TEAM FUNCTIONS)
Hoop Group Summer Warm Up (East Stroudsburg PA) July 1-2
HOOP GROUP (Atlantic City) July 5-7th
Hoop Group Summer Jam Fest (Manheim PA) July 8-9th
Big Foot Hoops (Kissimmee, FL) July 13-16th
15U DIFFERENT BREED
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
BBALL SHOOTOUT (NJ) April 15-16th
HOOP GROUP (Neptune NJ) April 22nd-23rd
I NEED THAT THRONE May 5th
FCP HOOPS May 20-21st
GYM RAT CHALLENGE (Albany NY) May 27-28th
(JUNE BREAK FOR HS TEAM FUNCTIONS)
Hoop Group Summer Warm Up (East Stroudsburg PA) July 1-2
HOOP GROUP (Atlantic City) July 5-7th
Hoop Group Summer Jam Fest (Manheim PA) July 8-9th
Big Foot Hoops (Kissimmee, FL) July 13-16th
17U SKYLINERS (MOGI)
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
FCP HOOPS (NJ) April 1st
BBALL SHOOTOUT (NJ) April 15-16th
HOOP GROUP (Neptune NJ) April 22nd-23rd
I NEED THAT THRONE May 5th
HOOP GROUP (Neptune NJ) May 20-21st
Citizens Going Fwd (Elizabeth NJ)June 3rd
(JUNE BREAK FOR HS TEAM FUNCTIONS)
FCP in NJ July 1-2
HOOP GROUP (Atlantic City) July 5-7th
Summer Jam Fest (Manheim PA) July 8-9th
17U TIGERS
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
FCP HOOPS (NJ) April 1st
FCP Rumble at Iron Peak April 15-16th
BballShootout April 29th-30th
I NEED THAT THRONE May 5th(TBA)
1 DAY EVENT (BBallShootout NJ) May 13th
HOOP GROUP (Neptune NJ) May 20-21st
FCP June 3-4th
FCP HOOPS June 10th
ALL HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS MUST REGISTER HERE TO BE INCLUDED ON THE ROSTERS FOR LIVE EVENTS!!!!
The following players played at least 2 tournaments with the MSU Skyliners during their AAU days
JR SMITH NBA
KYLE ANDERSON NBA
ERIC WILKINS U MIAMI
JAY WILLIAMS NBA.
JERRELL THOMPSON SACRED HEART
ANTHONY NELSON NIAGARA
STERLING GIBBS SETON HALL
PRESTON BEVERLEY VMI
MYLES DAVIS XAVIER
JAVON JACKSON CAMPBELLSVILE UNIVERSITY
JAHMAL LANE CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY
DIIJON ALLEN JORDAN CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY
SEKOU HARRIS FDU/CAMPBESVILLE UNIVERSITY
QUINTIN DECOSEY TEMPLE
MICHAEL GORDON BINGHAMPTON
ANDREW FEELEY UMBC
CHASE PLUMBER UMBC
ANDRE DABNEY BLOOMFIELD COLLEGE
GRIFFIN ROONEY LEHIGH (FOOTBALL)
BYRON SHIPMAN HOLY CROSS (FOOTBALL)
RYAN SZATKOWSKI Elizabethtown college
JELANI MASON MERRIMACK(FOOTBALL)
ANTHONY GOFFE UTICA (FOOTBALL)
JORDAN DERKACK MERRIMACK
Elite Team
MSU Skyliners teams that will compete at the highest possible level, recruit talented players and the goal every year is to Play in only the best events near and far. They will practice two days per week and play in between 8-10 tournaments plus a national tournament (if the team/coach chooses to travel) All Elite rosters will be finalized before the Red rosters will be made. The cost of this program is the same as the Red team plus an additional $50.00 per player.
Red Team
The Red Team is the most competitive team at each age level. (unless an elite team exists) Red teams will be playing in each tournament to win. It is necessary for players who play on the Gold Team to be highly committed. Teams will practice twice a week and practice participation will be expected (policy will vary depending on coach). Red teams are for developed players that are very serious and committed. All Red team coaches will have a previous coaching background. If a Red Team qualifies for Nationals the team will have a meeting with parents to determine appropriate travel plans for Nationals. The goal of the Red team is to achieve Elite status.
Black Team
The Black Team is a competitive AAU team. Black Teams will find a balance between being extremely competitive in tournaments and developing players through practice and game play. Black Teams will typically travel somewhat locally to off site tournaments (travel will vary depending on coach). Teams will practice twice a week and practice participation will be expected. If a Black Team qualifies for Nationals the team will have a meeting with parents to determine appropriate travel plans for Nationals.