Father and son lead the team to championship – coach Hector “Hec” Almodóvar and Amare Almodovar inspire with combination of team spirit and hard work
Nationwide — The young basketball team, class of 2030 from New York’s Riverside Hawks Program, has brought home the 2024 AAU National Championship Trophy in their division for the second year in a row. This group of 12-year-olds were an unstoppable winning force to contend with, thanks to Coach Hector Almodóvar, who made this, three in a row having won a previous championship with the class of 2031. His amazing coaching style, his son Amare’s skills on the court, and a team that operates like a tight-knit family unit made the win possible.Coach “Hec”, as he is known to his young team members and Riverside staff, is a born and bred New Yorker who overcame significant hurdles in his youth, to become an inspirational figure to all who know him. He credits his son Amare’s persuasiveness with bringing him to the coaching staff at Riverside Hawks. “I was looking at coaching the Gauchos, but my son wanted to play on the Riverside Hawks team to be close to his friend,” he recalls.
Once a dominant young player in New York City’s youth basketball circuit, coach “Hec’s” total command and solid love of the game is exemplified in his no-nonsense approach to preparing and guiding his young players. In return he has built a strong sense of loyalty and deep affection among the members of this exquisite team, comprised of championship stock.
One of those champions is his son Amare Almodovar, who has inherited his father’s extreme love of the game. Amare stood out as this year’s most valuable player – handling himself in clutch situations and proving himself an exceptional team captain. His playing skills have even amazed adult commentators from ESPN covering the final game of the AAU National Championship, who marveled at his overall command on the court.
“This year felt like everything was working for us,” said the highly decorated 12-year-old. “My teammates trusted me (as captain) to make the right calls, and they trusted me to make the shots when it counted.”
In addition to his basketball creds, being a leading team scorer in back-to-back championships, and having the distinction of being ranked the #1 player in the nation, in his age category – he has also proven himself a serious student at Capital Prep Academy in Harlem, where he maintains a solid 3.0 GPA. “Being a part of Riverside is next level because they help you with your education. You can’t play if you are not doing good in school,” said Amare. For him that is a motivating factor to stay ahead academically.
Both he and his parents, credit Riverside Hawks’ emphasis on academic success in helping him to maintain his focus on studies and on the hoops. The organization offers its student athletes enormous academic support – providing tutoring programs, TACHS & SSAT prep workshops and high school placement support. For those looking at moving on to college there are SAT and ACT prep and writing classes. This is all to ensure that the young men and women who sign up to be a part of the Riverside Hawks program are set up for success both on and off the basketball court.
This year the 2030 team also walked away with the Under Armour 2024 The One Six Championships, proving their dominance and the indominable effects that bringing together the right coaching staff can have in shaping and inspiring greatness.
The Riverside Hawks is an organization that has created a lineage of success stretching some 63-years. They have a growing alumni list that boasts some of the best professional players in the NBA including Donovan Mitchell, Ty Jerome, Eric Paschal, Chris Mullin, Tiny Archibald, Kenny Smith, Kenny Anderson, Ed Pinckney, Metta World Peace, Elton Brand, and Malik Sealy.
Both their girls’ and boys’ programs have been an unstoppable force, but it’s not all about basketball with the 63-year-old Riverside Hawks program– what makes this program unique is the celebration of three main pillars of success – Academics, Basketball, and Community (the ABCs).
The Class of 2030 Champions will be celebrated in November 7th when the organization holds its annual Gala, themed this year, HEALTH HOPE & HOOPS, at the Mandarin Oriental, New York City.
For more information on the Riverside Haws program, and for gala tickets and tables, visit
RiversideHawks.org
About
The Riverside Hawks was founded by members of the Riverside Church in 1961, to help students
and families in the Harlem community, use basketball to pursue academic opportunities, promote
character development and to improve the life and career prospects of scores of young individuals.
The strength of the Riverside Hawks basketball program is legendary. Their elite-level girls and
boys’ basketball teams play in nationally recognized showcase tournaments and rank among the
top teams in the nation. Notable alums include Donovan Mitchell, Ty Jerome, Eric Paschal, Chris
Mullin, Kenny Smith, Kenny Anderson, Ed Pinckney, Metta World Peace, Lamar Odom, Rafer
Alston, Elton Brand and Malik Sealy. Today, the Hawks have over 600 girls and boys beginning
at kindergarten age through high school in their academic and basketball programs. Almost 70%
of their students come from the Washington Heights, Harlem, and Bronx neighborhoods.
For press inquiries, contact Sam Mattingly, SMC Solutions at (917) 331-9375 or sammattingly@optimum.net