Next Block · Dates Announced Soon · Herkimer College
Basketball Skills Training
Updated August 24, 2026
Saturday skills training for Mohawk Valley players in grades 6–12, led by former Utica University players. The summer 2026 block is finished. Next dates will be posted here — register for 2027 tryouts in the meantime, or ask to be notified.
What It Is
Skill Work That Actually Transfers
Every Saturday, in one gym, split into two age groups — because a 6th grader and a varsity guard do not need the same hour.
MVE skills training is open to any player in the Mohawk Valley, whether or not they play on an MVE spring travel team. Sessions are run by former Utica University players who coach in the program year-round, so the teaching language is the same one our travel teams hear in March. Groups are kept small enough that every player gets corrected by name.
The format is deliberate: a skill block built around ball-handling, footwork, finishing and shooting off the catch and off the dribble, then live play so the reps get tested under pressure. High school players add a 45-minute strength and conditioning block run by a college strength coach — the part of development most travel programs skip entirely.
Two Groups, One Saturday
Middle school and high school run back to back at Herkimer College, so families with two players can do one trip.
Middle School · Grades 6–8
- Time: Saturdays, 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
- Format: 1 hour 15 minutes of basketball skills training
- Led by: three former Utica University players
- Location: Herkimer College
High School · Grades 9–12
- Time: Saturdays, 9:30 – 11:00 AM
- Part 1: 45 minutes of basketball skills — skill work, drills & live play
- Part 2: 45 minutes of strength & conditioning led by Devon Flynn
- Location: Herkimer College
Dates & Cost
Next Block Coming
The summer 2026 block ran June 20 through August 8 at Herkimer College. That block is finished. The next block's dates, times and prices will be posted on this page and emailed to our list the day they are set.
Last-Block Pricing (Summer 2026)
What families paid for the block that just ended — next-block pricing is posted with the dates.
Middle School · Grades 6–8
- $15 per Saturday
High School · Grades 9–12
- $20 per Saturday
High school costs a little more because it is a longer morning — 45 minutes of skills plus a 45-minute strength and conditioning block run by a college strength coach.
Discounts are available — ask us before you register and we will tell you what applies to your family.
As with everything MVE runs, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and fees cover gym rental and coaching.
Next block not dated yet
Email me when the next block drops
Same Saturday format at Herkimer College. We'll send dates and last-block-style pricing the day they are set.
Who Runs It
Your Coaches
Former Utica University players and a college strength coach — not a rotating cast of volunteers.
Justin Mayers
Skills
Former Player @ Utica University
Damien Call
Skills
Assistant Coach & Former Player @ Utica University
Levi Spina
Skills
Player @ Utica University
Devon Flynn
Strength & Conditioning
Utica University Strength & Conditioning Coach
The same staff coaches our spring travel teams. Meet the full MVE coaching staff.
Where
Herkimer College
Training runs at Herkimer College, 100 Reservoir Road, Herkimer, NY 13350 — the same building that hosts MVE's tournaments, with three courts under one roof and parking right outside the door.
It sits directly off the Thruway corridor, which is why we use it: it is close to reasonable for families coming from Utica, New Hartford, Ilion, Frankfort, Mohawk, Little Falls and Dolgeville, and a manageable Saturday morning from Rome.
What to bring: indoor basketball shoes, a water bottle, and a second shirt. Players do not need to bring a ball.
Who It's For
Modified & JV Players
Kids who want to arrive at November tryouts sharper than they left in March. Summer is when the gap gets made up.
Varsity Players
Real strength and conditioning alongside skill work, run by a college strength coach who does this professionally.
Future MVE Players
A low-commitment way to work with our staff before spring tryouts — and for us to get to know your player before tryout day.
Skills training is open to boys and girls. Our spring travel teams are boys only, but the Saturday sessions are not — any player who wants the work is welcome.
Training FAQ
Do you have to be on an MVE team to train?
No. Saturday skills training is open to any player in grades 6–12 in the area, regardless of what school they attend or which travel program they play for in the spring.
When is the next MVE training block?
The summer 2026 block ran June 20 through August 8 at Herkimer College and is finished. The next block's dates will be posted on this page and emailed to our list. Contact us if you want to be notified when registration opens.
How much does MVE skills training cost?
The last summer block was $15 for middle school (grades 6–8) and $20 for high school (grades 9–12). High school costs more because the morning includes a 45-minute strength and conditioning block. Next-block pricing is posted with the dates. Discounts are available on request.
Where is MVE skills training held?
Herkimer College, 100 Reservoir Road, Herkimer, NY 13350 — roughly a twenty-minute drive from Utica and New Hartford, and just off the Thruway corridor for families in Ilion, Frankfort, Mohawk and Little Falls.
What is the difference between the middle school and high school sessions?
Middle school (grades 6–8) is 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM and is 1 hour 15 minutes of basketball skills work. High school (grades 9–12) is 9:30 to 11:00 AM and splits into 45 minutes of skills and 45 minutes of strength and conditioning led by Utica University's Devon Flynn.
What should my player bring?
Indoor basketball shoes, a water bottle and a second shirt. Basketballs are provided.
Does training help with making an MVE spring team?
It is not a shortcut — every player still has to attend tryouts, and returning players are not guaranteed a spot. But it does mean our coaches know your player's game before tryout day, and it is the most direct way to work on the things they will be evaluating. See the tryout page for what coaches are watching for.
Is skills training open to girls?
Yes. Spring travel teams are boys only, but Saturday skills training is open to boys and girls in grades 6–12.
Stay Ready For The Next Block
2027 spring tryouts are early February. Register now so we can email gym and session times — and training dates, the moment they are set. Or call 315-570-3540.