Rising Stars Brings Back a Cornerstone Event

August 2025 heralds the return of a Rising Stars cornerstone event. On August 25, Rising Stars will bring back one of the foundation's most popular and enduring events, a cornerstone for 30 years: the end-of-summer four-day camp. This event has not been a part of the Rising Stars calendar since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

We asked Rising Stars founder Paul Savramis about the long hiatus and why this event is so special.

Q: We see on the website and in your newsletters that you're bringing back the end-of-summer camp. Why now, and why have you waited so long?

Paul Savramis: COVID-19 was a terrible time for everyone and very hard for children. It made all activities a challenge even after full restrictions were lifted. It was especially challenging not having a facility of our own and having to navigate around restrictions set by various other sites.

The World of Difference: From Travel to Education

For Paul Savramis, founder of Rising Stars, "Making a World of Difference" has always been a personal mission. When asked about what the organization meant to him, Savramis would often reply about the life lessons that travel taught him and his team. A man of Greek heritage, born in Athens, Paul Savramis knows firsthand the life-changing experience of coming to America, a lesson he believes is just as relevant for today's international and American players. He has led Rising Stars teams and clinics to Greece, Switzerland, Italy, the Bahamas, and France for cultural and social activities, where players have met and competed against foreign teams.

Rising Stars: A Mission Beyond Simple

One of the most challenging questions Rising Stars' founder, Paul Savramis, is asked is to describe the mission of his foundation. Paul Savramis fields this question at every Foundation event, usually accompanied by the request for a "simple, abridged elevator version." For Paul Savramis, that question remains difficult to answer because the mission is anything but simple.

The Rising Stars website states the mission very simply: "To Promote Education." However, an additional description continues, "Utilizes the power of teams to introduce the important values children will need to make correct decisions during their formative years." Then there's the foundation's staple: "To offer children opportunities to Play; Learn; and Grow."

March Madness Continues in May as Rising Stars Teams Led by Executive Director Dan Gimpel Bring in the Championships

Following the wins, we asked Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis why Gimpel’s championships stood out for him from the others.

Q: What made Dan Gimpel’s championships stand out for you this month? 

Paul Savramis: To answer that, I need to stress that every win by any Rising Stars team is a special one for all of us, but what Danny has done with his team has a backstory that makes his wins stand out for me.

Q: Considering how many highlight tournaments there have been this year, that's something we'd want to hear. 

Paul Savramis: To start, Dan is much more than a coach for Rising Stars. As the Executive Director of Rising Stars, he lived through 30 years of championships as a Rising Stars player before taking on his role as a Rising Stars coach. Dan’s wins, and also his losses as a player, definitely contributed to how he approaches the game as a coach. This team's success, and its wins, are special because Dan has built on it from the third grade.

Looking Back Over Rising Stars' 30-Year History, The Topic Of "What Stands Out Most" Always Comes Up For Founder Paul Savramis

Today, we look back at a topic we brought to light again this April as Rising Stars celebrated the start of a new program that has roots in Rising Stars' past. We discuss with Paul Savramis how this promises to have a tremendous impact on its future.

Q: What exactly is the new program that has everyone so excited at Rising Stars, and why is it so special for you, Paul Savramis?

Paul Savramis: The new program addresses today's performance expectations among parents and young athletes and the excess pressure placed on them to meet those expectations. That issue has to be part of what we deal with in the future.

March Madness Adds New Highlights and Brings Back Great Memories for Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis

2025 Madness came early for Rising Stars founder Paul Savramis, as three RS alumni celebrated two NCAA Division III National Championships.

The first national championship was on the women's side, with NYU freshman and RS alumna Caitlin Kenny sharing the national stage with an NYU team that now boasts two consecutive national championships, a 65-game winning streak, and a #1 ranking.

"Caitlin has been a Rising Star since she could walk," said Paul Savramis. "Her mother, Sue Kenny, a former St. John's University player, coaches our national Nike EYBL team with Jill Cook, a former USA Olympics coach."

Paul Savramis usually can never say enough about his girls' teams, but this time it's Caitlin Kenny doing all the talking.

On the men's side, Savramis points to Paul Jordan and Tristan Davis playing for Trinity College, which secured the team's first-ever national championship win against top-ranked NYU. Adding to the madness for Savramis was that NYU coach David Klatzky played for Rising Stars!

Paul Savramis said that both Jordan and Davis chose Trinity over Division I opportunities for the education program it offered, in addition to the athletic side, and both boys couldn't be happier.

March Madness has always been a very special time for both Savramis and Rising Stars. Savramis recalls that last year, two Rising Stars alumni took center stage in the Final Four. "That was a big deal for our kids," said Paul Savramis. "Seeing players that they knew on the national stage made watching the games more exciting and extra special."

Savramis also points to Joakim Noah on the Rising Stars Athletic Complex wall and to the Championship Jersey presented to him from back-to-back championships at Florida.

That jersey is one of many from RS alumni who have been to the dance.

"NCAA Championships have been a part of Rising Stars history for 30 years," said Paul Savramis, "but two stand out for me with an extra special meaning."

The first was the 1985 national championship Villanova team.

Savramis recalled how special that team was for him and how, on the 20th anniversary of that win, Villanova coach Rollie Massimino brought his entire team to the New York Athletic Club to help celebrate the Rising Stars annual Gala.

Paul Savramis likes to emphasize that basketball is more than just a game and has a greater meaning than the number of wins or losses a team has.

His focus remains on grassroots community programs and teaching the game the right way to his K-3 program.

For Paul Savramis and Rising Stars, what's more important than a national championship is any lesson you can learn, winning or losing, from the game. For Savramis, one such lesson came with the 2001 championship win by Duke over Arizona and from consensus All-American Jay Williams. The game ball from that game, signed by both teams and given to Savramis, sits in the Rising Stars office, and when asked why that one win warranted a special description, Savramis is quick to reply.

"That ball was given by Rising Stars alumnus and ambassador Jay Williams, along with a lesson for a future generation." After winning the national championship that year, Jay was informed he was going to be the #1 draft pick in the lottery if he left.

Jay and his family placed a greater value on his education and returned to Duke to graduate and get his degree. It's a decision Jay Williams never regrets and still talks about to Rising Stars kids today. It's also a lesson that reflects the mission of Rising Stars.

Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis Advocates for International Travel

Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis has long been a strong advocate for expanding the national Rising Stars footprint to include international travel.

Paul Savramis attributes a significant portion of his program's success to the numerous opportunities his teams have had to compete both across the United States and around the world.

Paul Savramis readily acknowledges the profound impact of being part of Van Coleman's Future Stars network in Iowa on his personal development. He also considers the eight years he spent working with the late Charlie McCormick in Switzerland to be among the highlights of Rising Stars' history.

Paul Savramis recalls that travel provided him with the ability to use basketball as a "passport" into various languages and cultures.

"That," says Paul Savramis, "really impressed upon me what basketball can do to connect with others, transcending language barriers through a shared love of the game."

Rising Stars has shared that love in Israel, the Bahamas, and, most recently, in Greece this month.

"Basketball Around The World Founder James McCullough has been a coach with the Rising Stars program for more than a decade and was instrumental in bringing our teams to Greece last year," said Paul Savramis.

Currently, James McCullough is providing individual and group training, as well as program creation, in Costa Rica. He has expressed interest in expanding his international footprint beyond Greece and Costa Rica.

James McCullough's 2025 trip to Greece will be his eighth, conducted in coordination with the Super League Athletic Academy (SLAA).

SLAA organizes 8-10 day tours of Greece for youth teams, featuring games against local teams, training sessions through the Hellenic Basketball Federation, and sightseeing, meals, transportation, and accommodations. "Basketball is a passion that is not limited by international borders, cultures, or languages," Paul Savramis continued.

With 10 years of coaching experience at the NCAA level, Basketball Around The World's goal is to combine that experience with Rising Stars' 30-year history to spread the love of the game worldwide.

"My passion has always been to bring our special brand of instructional basketball to new places and meet new people," Paul Savramis continued. "I will personally always consider our Maui camp at the Lahaina Center among the best times of my life."

"Basketball is a great way to open doors and to offer what you can to others. One thing I can say without hesitation is that what you get back in return is always a great deal more than you put in."

New Year, New Hope, New Memories To Come, Says Paul Savramis

 

January 2025 brings more than a new year for Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis.

As Savramis put it, "The New Year brings back a Rising Stars classic event that, although far from new, will be featured for the first time at the new Rising Stars Athletic Complex."

The classic event Paul Savramis is referring to is the return of the Rising Stars four-day end-of-summer camp.

"The format of our four-day camps has been a focal point of our yearly programs for thirty years," he explains.

A Circle of Support: Mentorship at the Heart of Rising Stars

When recognized for any Rising Stars accomplishment, founder Paul Savramis is quick to share the wealth.

As Paul Savramis looks over the walls of the new Rising Stars Athletic Complex and the faces that smile back at him from those walls, he thinks back to 1996 and points out that many of the original Rising Stars directors are gone. Any credit for what Rising Stars has become today, Savramis will tell you, should include a long list of others whom he felt now rightfully belong on that first group, or as he likes to put it, the "village of original pioneers" that helped make a vision into a reality.

Founder Paul Savramis is proud to say that today's village pays great homage to the original foundation upon which Rising Stars was built. So much so, Savramis continues, that most of today's group was a product of the Rising Stars program. The group Savramis credits today is a "who's who" of Rising Stars and are the ones who have come and stayed.

November 2024 Brings Rising Stars Basketball Clinics Back Home

When Rising Stars founder Paul Savramis is asked what has significantly impacted Rising Stars' evolution over the past 28 years, one word immediately comes to mind: clinics.

Talking further with Paul Savramis, he emphasizes that clinics weren't just a part of Rising Stars; they defined its beginnings and recognition.

As Paul Savramis explains, Rising Stars started as a series of one-day and weekend instructional basketball clinics sponsored by Nike and Wilson Sports in the 90’s. These clinics evolved into yearly programs featuring camps, travel teams, and overall training.

"Rising Stars was originally referred to as the 'Rising Stars Basketball Clinics,'" continued Paul Savramis. "They were unique in that the concept of one clinician with one ball talking to a group was replaced by everyone in that group having a ball and learning by doing along with the clinicians. Multiple coaches would move throughout the group during the clinics, demonstrating skills rather than just explaining them."

At the time, Paul Savramis points out, this simple concept was truly innovative and gained traction. This clinic model and teaching style helped Rising Stars develop a reputation as a basketball school rather than just a camp.

And that, Paul Savramis continued, was something that caught on so much so that European programs brought Savramis and his staff to showcase this style for their players.

One Year Anniversary Of The New Rising Stars Athletic Complex Comes With A Very Special Meaning For Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis

It's been one year since the ribbon-cutting ceremony that signaled the grand opening of Rising Stars’ new athletic complex and we asked Founder Paul Savramis what that meant to him.

Q. It's been one year since the ribbon-cutting ceremony. What are you feeling and how has this year been different from the ones before?

Paul Savramis: After 28 years, this one year stands alone in a very significant way: we now have something to call home. The ribbon-cutting was a ceremony to celebrate that but it took a year for it to really sink in.

Q: October has always been a huge month for Rising Stars; how has this October been different with your having that home?

Paul Savramis: In every way possible. October is the beginning of Rising Stars’ fall season and that means fall tryouts. This year we were able to host those ourselves and families got to see the future. In addition to that, we hosted our middle school showcase at the complex and we were able to schedule our training and other activities all under one roof.

Q: How important was having that option as opposed to what you needed to do in the past?

Paul Savramis: Aside from always waiting for other sites to confirm availability and not having the ability to really promote our fall programs, knowing this was all set was a huge lift for all our coaches and administrators after all those years struggling to put things together on someone else's timeline.

Q: You have been quoted using the statement "It takes a village to raise a child." Does that reference your definition of Rising Stars’ expanding role in the community?

Paul Savramis: Absolutely! Rising Stars has always used community service requirements as one of the pillars of its scholar-athlete programs. Having the ability to now bring together those community programs under our roof enabled us to become a hub for others and allowed us to give back.

Q: How did you capitalize on that?

Paul Savramis: We began by offering one of our partners, the Long Island Alzheimer’s and Dementia Foundation, space to hold tryouts for their fundraising events. But we now have so much more to offer than a gymnasium. The complex has a separate community meeting room and classroom, which holds financial literacy sessions offered by another partnership with Jovia Bank.

Q: You mention Jovia Bank. That's a new addition to the Rising Stars programs. Has the athletic complex helped bring in other community partners?

Paul Savramis: The athletic complex certainly helped, but our partner organizations have become involved with Rising Stars through our yearly academic and community programs and being able to connect with those families. That said, having everything under one roof makes it all a great deal more attractive.

Q: What other partnerships have come about over the past years as a result of having a home?

Paul Savramis: Orlin and Cohen have been a great addition for us. They have offered concussion awareness programs, free injury assessment, recovery sites, and so much more to help our families. This one program has been an incredible experience for our athletes and greatly appreciated by parents.

Q: Year one sounds like it could be the beginning of many more for Rising Stars and signal a new purpose for the foundation.

Paul Savramis: Without a doubt. Rising Stars has always tried to keep true to its original mission statement which remains “To Promote Education.” With the addition of financial literacy, injury prevention, concussion awareness and so many other updates, we are using the complex to develop both mind and body. This is something we have always tried to do.

Q: One last question. As October ends are there any new partnerships or activities in the mix?

Paul Savramis: We are excited to be in a position where we have organizations looking to come in to help us do more. Both existing ones, like Wilson Basketball, that now helps support our new Little Stars for K-3 and newly added for October, GOAT brand Active Wear which will be the fall apparel line for our families.

Paul Savramis: Summer 2024 Heats Up for Rising Stars Girls Programs

Rising Stars founder Paul Savramis says the Rising Stars girls’ program has a fever, which is a really good thing.

"This summer has seen a huge uptick in interest from our younger girls looking to play basketball, and some part of that has to be because of Caitlin Clark and the Fever team this year," Paul Savramis explained. "Caitlin has transformed girls' basketball and sports in general, beginning at Iowa and ending as WNBA's 2024 Rookie of the Year."

Paul Savramis has long been a strong advocate for his foundation's girls programs, and his advocacy has only gotten stronger this year. "Our girls have taken center stage this summer in both national and local competition, and that has a great deal to do with the program's leadership," said Paul Savramis.

Basketball Legend Dave Hopla's Magic Inspires Rising Stars Families

Tuesday, August 20th, was a very special day for over 100 Rising Stars players, families, and guests at the new Rising Stars Athletic Complex. Basketball Legend Dave Hopla returned to thrill everyone in the room with a timeless show that has inspired and amazed his audience for decades.

One person in the audience knew exactly what to expect and was Dave's greatest fan: Rising Stars founder Paul Savramis. Having known Hopla since their days on the summer clinic circuit, Savramis had developed a strong friendship and mutual respect for what each does to convey a positive message about basketball and life.

For Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis, Basketball Remains a Language Everyone Understands

June 2024 marked two significant events for the Rising Stars Youth Foundation, reports founder Paul Savramis. The first was the foundation's hosting of five visiting teams, grades 5-12, from Ireland's National Youth Programs. The teams made a stop to scrimmage against Rising Stars teams at the Rising Stars Athletic Complex in Freeport. 

 

This event was particularly special for Paul Savramis. Savramis has been a strong advocate for continuing the Rising Stars Foundation travel programs across the country and around the world since he first began the program 28 years ago. 

 

"I can't think of a single thing Rising Stars has offered that impacts coaches, players, and families more than traveling together as a team," stated Paul Savramis. "We have been blessed with opportunities to see the world, and every trip has been a game-changer for our players." 

Rising Stars College Signing Day Reinforces the Foundation's Emphasis on Education

Isiah Dickens, signed for Williams College

Isiah Dickens, signed for Williams College
Wednesday, June 5, 2024, was a special day for Rising Stars founder Paul Savramis. It was the day Rising Stars hosted its student-athletes at the new Rising Stars Athletic Complex to celebrate their official signing with the colleges they will be attending in the fall. 

 

For Paul Savramis, the date was a fond reminder of the Rising Stars mission established 28 years ago when the program began. "It was a simple mission then, and it remains a simple mission today," Paul Savramis said. "To promote education!" 

 

"You can read all about how we expected to do that," Paul Savramis continued. "Our pillars of Play, Learn, and Grow, utilizing the power of teams to bring our players to the path they need to follow, and so on, but," Savramis concluded, "it still all comes down to promoting education." 

Rising Star Material: Carter Wilson and a Family Legacy

Carter Wilson

Paul Savramis, founder of Rising Stars, knew Carter Wilson was special from the moment he saw him play. Two things struck him: Carter's talent and his natural point guard instincts. Years later, those early impressions proved true. Carter, named Suffolk Player of the Year in 2024, has led his Rising Stars teams to numerous victories. 

 

"Carter has always been a special player and person, both on and off the court," said Paul Savramis. "Even as a 4th grader, he wasn't your typical point guard. He was bigger and stronger, playing all over the court. But he had that point guard vision and court sense, something truly rare at that age." 

 

Carter Wilson and Coach Jamaal Wilson

The Wilson family history with Rising Stars is equally unique. Carter's father, Jamaal Wilson, was a prominent figure in the Long Island basketball scene. Paul Savramis remembers Jamaal's strong desire to be part of Rising Stars. Eight years later, adding Jamaal as a coach became one of Savramis' proudest achievements. 

 

"Jamaal has done wonders for Rising Stars," said a thrilled Paul Savramis. "Of course, his son Carter brought attention to the program. But Carter and Jamaal also attracted other standout players who wanted to play with him. This has built one of the best teams in New York State." 

Beyond Carter, Jamaal brought outstanding coaches and trainers to Rising Stars. These included A.J. Price, a UConn standout and NBA veteran who played with LeBron James, along with Nick Carter and Prentice Small, two of Long Island's finest and former European professionals. This influx of talent created a buzz at Rising Stars, especially with the opening of their new Athletic Complex in Freeport. 

 

"I've always believed in offering exceptional talent with exceptional opportunities," explained Paul Savramis. "This has been the cornerstone of how I present our programs, and how I presented it to Jamaal when we first met." 

 

Kingsley Rogers

With his junior season complete, Carter will soon choose from several Division 1 offers. Both Jamaal and Savramis are incredibly proud. Savramis emphasizes that the opportunity he presented all those years ago has lived up to his promises. 

 

Jamaal's commitment extends beyond coaching. He has made Rising Stars his extended family, bringing his sister, Baylor All-American and Olympic standout Danielle Wilson, into the program. Paul Savramis admires the entire Wilson family. He points out that Danielle's son, H.S. freshman Kingsley Rogers, will be the next star for both the Wilsons and Rising Stars. 

 

"Kingsley keeps growing like a weed!" exclaimed Paul Savramis. Similar to Carter, Kingsley is a versatile guard. With his cousin Carter pushing him and coaches Price and Small demanding excellence, the next Wilson at Rising Stars is poised for greatness."

Paul Savramis | Rising Stars Works With Dementia Centers

Rising Stars and its founder, Paul Savramis, proudly continue to support the Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia center. Rising Stars has been a proud sponsor of the Long Island Alzheimer's and Dementia center for the past decade. This cause is dear to the heart of founder Paul Savramis, and he wants more people to get behind it. 

 

"Alzheimer's and dementia should be something we are all very much concerned with," begins Paul Savramis. "I personally have gotten more involved as a result of a direct connection with Gordon Thomas," continued Savramis. 

 

Savramis explained that his connection began when Gordon introduced him to the Bayshore YMCA and other community programs that helped to build Rising Stars' outreach and grassroots presence in the Great South Bay areas of Long Island. It was then that Paul Savramis learned about Gordon's passion for creating awareness for Alzheimer's and that he and Thomas shared a common vehicle that could help with that awareness. 

 

That vehicle for Thomas was the Alzheimer's All-Star Classic and the annual Slam Dunk and 3-point contest. The second event is coming this May, and Savramis was first in line to offer his and Rising Stars' continued support. 

Jovia Bank Deposits Financial Literacy for Rising Stars Student-Athletes

Recent articles and news clips have applauded the direction Rising Stars Youth Foundation has taken with its sponsor partners in March. We asked Rising Stars Founder Paul Savramis to explain the whys and hows of it all. 

 

Q: News 12 and Pix 11 showed the grand opening and ribbon cutting at the new Rising Stars Athletic Complex this past March. A segment of the ceremony involved Jovia Bank introducing its financial literacy program and describing its hopes for impact. What can you add to that? 

 

Paul Savramis: The ceremony was incredible for all of us at Rising Stars. It recognized that we built this complex to offer more than just a basketball program. The Jovia Bank literacy program is one of those offerings. 

 

Rising Stars: It Takes a Village to Raise a Child

Rising Stars and the YMCA

                 

Rising Stars embodies the concept that it takes a village to raise a child. Founder Paul Savramis has always believed in the power of community support for a child's success. For the past 27 years, he has focused on building partnerships that make Rising Stars' mission realistic and sustainable. This vision has resulted in collaborations with over 35 partner organizations. 

  

Q: You've been quoted as saying "It takes a Village to Raise a Child." How does that relate to Rising Stars and its work? 

  

Paul Savramis: Rising Stars' mission is simple: to promote education. However, the programs that fulfill this mission have become anything but simple. They have benefited greatly from partnering with community organizations that share the common goal of making a positive difference in children's lives. 

Rising Stars Sixth Grade Elite Continues To Amaze In January As The Rising Stars Athletic Complex Opens For Business

January 2024 saw great excitement and events that added meaning to the term "New" in the New Year. Topping that list was the grand opening of the new Rising Stars Athletic Complex. 

 

Talking to Rising Stars founder Paul Savramis, we asked what specific changes were created for Rising Stars in January and what remained the same after 27 years. 

 

Q: January 2024 saw the opening of your new and long-awaited Rising Stars Athletic Complex. What were some changes and events that the New Year rang in? 

 

Paul Savramis: The Complex already hosted its first Holiday Camp event in January and began a new training program every Saturday run by Executive Director Dan Gimpel. The Complex is now the new home for Rising Stars "Little Stars" and was the site for the Rising Stars team tryouts for the Spring season. The Athletic Complex runs 24/7 and is a hub for many other area programs. 

 

Q: Was that the original plan for the Athletic Complex? 

 

Paul Savramis: It was not, but the new plan we now have begun to develop that way organically. It was like inviting neighbors over to see your new house. It's really been a great way for Rising Stars to get more in tune with the community, make new friends, and bring in new areas where we had never been before. 

 

Q: With all the buzz about the Complex, you keep talking about the Rising Stars 6th grade Elite Team. What singles them out with everything else happening this January? 

 

Paul Savramis: It is rare that you will hear me or any other coach from Rising Stars single out any group, as every group is special for us. But this team is beyond unique. First, it has been together since the second grade, which is very unusual for the level of basketball this group maintains. The team also has competed in and won championships in just about every major event in the tri-state area. 

 

Q: What was the most recent event that everyone is excited about this January? 

 

Paul Savramis: On January 30th, 2024, the team got to play at the halftime of the New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. This was all possible by an earlier championship they won in the prestigious City Is Mine tournament. 

 

A special shout out to these boys, and an equal one to coach Sidney Barrington, the Rising Stars Grassroots director, for keeping the faith and this team together.