Fulton Native Plays Among The Best on NYC Based Basketball Team, Ranked 8th in Nation

FULTON, NY – Having just turned 16 years old, Fulton native Ryan Michaels is playing among some of the best young basketball players in the nation with his role on the New York City based team, the NY Jayhawks.

With immense dedication, Michaels travels to NYC on a weekly basis and to several states across the country each weekend to play in tournaments with and against fellow basketball players headed to Division 1 colleges and even the NBA.

Run by executive director Jay David, the NY Jayhawks “aim to build future leaders who are college ready through mentoring, direct skill training and managing our students to high academic standards. As a whole, we are committed to our students and challenge them to strive for both academic and personal excellence.”

“I feel honored to be selected from this area to play with this team, just knowing the future is so big,” Ryan Michaels said.

Michaels is the only player from the Fulton area to be selected to play on the 15U NY Jayhawks team, ranked eighth in the nation.

His opportunity came when training with former Syracuse University basketball player, Billy Edelin who suggested Michaels put his talent to the test and try out for the Jayhawks.

The rest was history as Michaels is now finishing his second season with the team.

But his commitment doesn’t stop there. Michaels is transferring to a prep school in Massachusetts to allow him more opportunities for life after high school when he graduates in 2020.

His plans are big, but not just for basketball. Michaels hopes to earn a full scholarship to play basketball at a four-year college while pursuing an engineering degree.

While the traveling gets tiring, he said the end result to achieve his dreams and the experiences along the way are worth it all.

“I’ve met so many good people and made so many connections through the people I’ve met. I have made lifelong friends and been lucky enough to have some great coaches and trainers,” Michaels said.

His mother, Deana Michaels, supports his dreams and commitment with similar hopes for his future.

“For us, it takes a lot of time and resources but to see a kid Ryan’s age working so hard – he’s at the gym for hours a day, working with a trainer, doing strength training – all of it because he just wants to do it. When you see your child’s potential and passion, you have to support it,” Deanna said.

As a mother, she hopes that her son can fulfill his greatest dreams in life, but most importantly hopes he can continue his education alongside his passion for basketball.

“I know so many people started where I am now. The path is set for me, now it’s up to me to put in how much work I need to for where I want to go,” Ryan said.

The 15U NY Jayhawks will travel to South Carolina in mid July for the Adidas Gauntlet Finale and finish the season in Las Vegas for the Adidas Summer Championships. missing or outdated ad config

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