2024-25 New York Military Academy Season Preview
New York Military Academy (NYMA) is a very small school with under 40 total students. It is located in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY which is about an hour from NYC. NYMA has a 147 acre campus and a gym that was built by the Knicks in the late 60s/early 70s and used as a practice facility. NYMA is also known for legendary summer camps which were called Camp All-America and led by Coaching Legend Clair Bee who is in the Naismith Hall of Fame. At these camps he had former Knicks and Celtics players and coaches like Willis Reed and Red Auerbach. He also had Press Maravich and his son Pistol Pete Maravich attend the camps. Other coaches included Bobby Knight, the General, who at that time was the head coach at West Point (USMA) and he brought over Mike Krzyzewski who at that time was just getting into coaching. Coach Clair Bee also invented the concept of the 24 second shot clock as well as the 1-3-1 defense.
For 32 years the NYMA Athletic and Basketball program was led by New England and Hudson Valley legend Coach Les McMillan. In 2017 Coach Bob Rahn came in and took over the program leading the Knights to their first ever NEPSAC title. They would go on to win four out of five NEPSAC Class D championships and have had multiple 20 win seasons. In that seven year period the NYMA basketball program has helped almost 50 student athletes move on to the collegiate level and pursue both academic and athletic careers.
Last year, 2023-2024, the Knights made the decision to jump not one but two classifications with-in the NEPSAC. They are coming off their first season in the extremely competitive NEPSAC Class B division and the Knights hope to continue to build on their success. They finished with an overall record of 17-11 and just missed out on the playoffs, finishing computer ranked as the #8 out of 32 teams, from across five states. In their first season of Class B hoops the Knights had nine of their 11 losses were decided by 1-2 possessions. They finished as one of the top 65 teams in all of New England.
The goal is to compete for a seed in the 8 team post season championship tournament and continue to grow the program while at the same time placing their players in good situations where they can continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.
The program is running an Open Gym schedule this Fall for college scouts to attend.
The 2024-25 New York Military Academy players are as profiled below.
Shemar Sookdar (2025) 5’10 point guard - A tremendous leader and very high character person. Sookdar is a knockdown shooter with a smooth jumper who can pull up from anywhere on the court. A 3-point microwave; once hot, he needs to be guarded closely, making consecutive three pointers in a few different games. He is extremely Quick off the dribble leading to blow-byes on late closeouts. He is shifty and bouncy which makes him very hard to contain. Along with that he has quick hands defensively, causing turnovers in a full court press. Sookdar has aspirations of studying aviation and becoming a pilot. 4.0 gpa
Channer Duke (2025) 6’0 guard - A skilled guard from Brooklyn New York, Duke is a true leader and a quick and athletic guard. He can play both on and off the ball, as a one or a two. He has a great IQ and loves the midrange shot and running in transition. He is a relentless and bothersome defender who causes turnovers and creates easy layups for him and his teammates. Duke is very solid in a half-court game as well, making the right plays coming off screens and getting downhill. 3.4 gpa
Shawn Nherisson (2025) 6’4 wing - A strong and athletic wing who finishes well around the basket and in transition. He has a developing jump shot. He is very active on defense and can guard 1-4 with ease. Nherisson has a college-ready frame and athleticism to go along with a great motor/energy.
Aly Kante (2025) 6’6 small forward - A Queens,NY native who can play inside and out. He can guard multiple positions on the floor and uses his versatility, length and athleticism to contribute on both ends. Kante is very good at finishing around the basket and has a nice mid-range game as well. He takes a lot of pride in his rebounding and shot blocking as well.
Marcus Conde (2025) 6’3 guard - A strong shooting guard who is very athletic, with the ability to play above the rim. He can play both ends of the floor and has a reputation of being a very aggressive defender and extremely coachable young man. Conde can shoot the ball and excels with his 3point shooting and his ability to slash and attack the rim. 3.0 gpa
Donovan Davis (2025) 6’7 forward - From Montgomery, NY, Davis is a strong and athletic forward who runs the floor well and plays hard. He does a great job rebounding, blocking and altering shots. He is a lob threat around the rim and can knock down a 15ft jumper. Davis has only been playing basketball for a couple of years so his best basketball is ahead of him. He hopes to play at the D1 level, but all levels should take a look at him.
Lawrence Tolbert (2025) 6’0 guard - From Middletown, NY, Tolbert excels on the court. A hard nose defender who can pick up full court and disrupt offenses. He can play both on and off the ball using his speed and quickness to create and finish shots. He is very shifty with the ball and likes to get in the paint and attack, making easy shot attempts for himself and his teammates. 3.0 gpa
Mikey Ekenyere (2026) 6’6 small forward - A long athletic player from Emmaus, PA who can play on the perimeter or in the paint and has a high upside on the court. Ekenyere can create for himself and his teammates. He has the ability to shoot both the midrange shot and the three ball. He displays finesse and accuracy with his shots. His enthusiastic energy allows him to streak often taking shots that he’s comfortable with. He has a knack for finishing at the basket which makes him a versatile threat. Utilizing his impressive length and athleticism, he excels in swatting away shots on defense and finishing strongly around the rim on offense. His ability to rebound the ball and block shots at a high level adds a special edge to his game. Ekenyere is a true talent to keep an eye on and with two years of growing and maturing left his best basketball is to come. Teammates always love to look to run with him on fast breaks as he is reliable in downhill mode. 3.5 gpa
Antonis Kalvros (2025) 6’0 point guard - A son of a coach, this pass-first point guard takes pride in sharing the ball and making the game easier for his teammates. He can be a real threat in transition with his ability to hit a head and see the floor. Kalvros, who is from Greece, is a gym rat who loves working out and improving his game. He is a very solid on the ball defender and loves to pick up full court and cause havoc on opposing guards. His attitude and work ethic make him the perfect teammate that others gravitate too. He is soft spoken but leads by example and is an absolute pleasure to coach. Kalvros is a culture guy who will do whatever is asked of him without any issues. He has a high ceiling and could end up an NE-10/Patriot level player. 3.5 gpa
Jayden Ogbeide (2025) 6’7 small forward - Built like a truck, this strong and athletic wing has a college-ready frame. He sets the tone down low, finishes well around the basket and in transition. Ogbeide can pick and pop or shoot off the catch. He is most comfortable on the midrange and corners. A true Windex man he is very active on the glass and does a great job of protecting the rim. He uses his versatility to guard positions 2-5. 2.8 gpa
Rodrigo “Rigo” Dos Santos (2025) 6’8 power forward - A transfer from national power Vermont Academy who played a huge part in their overall success last year while winning the NEPSAC Class AAA title. Dos Santos is an intriguing prospect to watch who can affect the game in multiple ways and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. He uses soft hands and touch to finish around the rim and out of the post. He’s able to step out and knock down shots from the perimeter. He’s a dynamic forward that is skilled and so fun to coach. He’s a great teammate and has an unbelievable upside. Dos Santos is a fluid post player who shows off the ability to make crafty passes using his court vision. He’s versatile for his size and possess a smooth handle. He is a menace on the glass and can really be an anchor on the defensive end of the floor. He is as skilled as any forward in New England and has the potential to gravitate to the wing as he continues to transform his body.