• Faith — Believing in Yourself, Your Future, & Your Purpose. (Self-Confidence)
• Grind — Performing Repetitive Actions Over & Over To Attain A Goal. (Persistence)
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NEWS
Faith & Grind
Program Builds Youth Basketball Futures
By: Danny Lopriore
January 2020
The Examiner News
(Westchester, NY)
Mike Buffalo’s basketball life has been about believing in himself and working hard to achieve his goals through college, a pro career and in an afterlife on the court, teaching the game to young, aspiring Westchester-area players.
Buffalo took his Faith & Grind program players to the Westchester Knicks-Maine Red Claws NBA G League Basketball Game at the Westchester County Center last Saturday (1-25-2020), where the “Grinders” were featured in a pre-game scrimmage and got a glimpse of their hopeful futures.
“My goal is to be an NBA player someday, so I want to work as hard as I can” Sleepy Hollow 10-year-old Noah Fasulo said during halftime of the Knicks game. “Faith & Grind is helping us become better team players. We’re learning to have confidence and work hard.
Faith & Grind got the on-court experience and had a chance to meet with some of the Knicks players. They seemed unfused by the spotlight and understood the hard work and dedication it would take to reach their potential.
“You have to do a lot of work on skills and become a team player.” Edgemont 9-year-old Lucas Kumar said. “I’m working on becoming a better defender and to be more aggressive. Coach helps us feel confident.”
Buffalo a Bronx-born kid who went on to play at York College in Nebraska and then tried his hand at the pro game for two seasons in England is dedicated to giving Westchester kids a good foundation in the game. He has worked as an AAU coach at House of Sports in Ardsley and was a junior NBA clinician with the Brooklyn Nets before launching Faith & Grind two years ago. He took his teaching skills to China in July of 2019, where he coached a camp for kids in Beijing.
Buffalo took his Faith & Grind program players to the Westchester Knicks-Maine Red Claws NBA G League Basketball Game at the Westchester County Center last Saturday (1-25-2020), where the “Grinders” were featured in a pre-game scrimmage and got a glimpse of their hopeful futures.
“My goal is to be an NBA player someday, so I want to work as hard as I can” Sleepy Hollow 10-year-old Noah Fasulo said during halftime of the Knicks game. “Faith & Grind is helping us become better team players. We’re learning to have confidence and work hard.
Faith & Grind got the on-court experience and had a chance to meet with some of the Knicks players. They seemed unfused by the spotlight and understood the hard work and dedication it would take to reach their potential.
“You have to do a lot of work on skills and become a team player.” Edgemont 9-year-old Lucas Kumar said. “I’m working on becoming a better defender and to be more aggressive. Coach helps us feel confident.”
Buffalo a Bronx-born kid who went on to play at York College in Nebraska and then tried his hand at the pro game for two seasons in England is dedicated to giving Westchester kids a good foundation in the game. He has worked as an AAU coach at House of Sports in Ardsley and was a junior NBA clinician with the Brooklyn Nets before launching Faith & Grind two years ago. He took his teaching skills to China in July of 2019, where he coached a camp for kids in Beijing.
Members of the Faith & Grind youth basketball program wait near the court Saturday night to greet the G League players as they emerge from the locker room for warmups.
“A lot has changed with youth basketball”, Buffalo said. “ I grew up in the Bronx, where I would play from sunup to sundown outside in the park. Most kids today prefer to play basketball inside a gymnasium. And social media has a major affect on the game today. For example, you can find out about how a particular player actually plays through social media; whereas when I was coming up it was more through word of mouth or actually seeing the player up close and personal.”
Buffalo’s main focus in his intense 1-on-1 sessions is to identify the weaknesses that each child may have and apply remedies. “A kid might struggle in dribbling with his weaker hand, which is sometimes the left, so performing repetitive drills to develop confidence and muscle memory. I also make sure to round out the session with some of the basic offensive needs such as shooting, dribbling, layups, rebounding, and conditioning.”
Riyaan Ratliff, an 11 year old from West Harrison, has been working with Buffalo for two years. Like his fellow grinders, he uses what he has learned in his youth basketball experience. “I love all the training, but the running and endurance are the toughest because you have to push yourself,” Ratliff said. But when you play in games, it helps because you are strong. Also, you have to learn use both hands in the drills.”
Buffalo, who at 28-years-old instills the principles of hard work and self-discipline to his young players, feels his role is to give them the skills and experience they need to succeed and to plant the idea that they can achieve their goals. “The thing I tell the kids is, I can teach you what you’ll need to know, but you have to have the will and desire to be your best,” Buffalo said. “I am always excited when they show improvement but seeing that desire is exciting.”
Buffalo’s main focus in his intense 1-on-1 sessions is to identify the weaknesses that each child may have and apply remedies. “A kid might struggle in dribbling with his weaker hand, which is sometimes the left, so performing repetitive drills to develop confidence and muscle memory. I also make sure to round out the session with some of the basic offensive needs such as shooting, dribbling, layups, rebounding, and conditioning.”
Riyaan Ratliff, an 11 year old from West Harrison, has been working with Buffalo for two years. Like his fellow grinders, he uses what he has learned in his youth basketball experience. “I love all the training, but the running and endurance are the toughest because you have to push yourself,” Ratliff said. But when you play in games, it helps because you are strong. Also, you have to learn use both hands in the drills.”
Buffalo, who at 28-years-old instills the principles of hard work and self-discipline to his young players, feels his role is to give them the skills and experience they need to succeed and to plant the idea that they can achieve their goals. “The thing I tell the kids is, I can teach you what you’ll need to know, but you have to have the will and desire to be your best,” Buffalo said. “I am always excited when they show improvement but seeing that desire is exciting.”
Faith & Grind youth basketball players look on from the stage at the Westchester County Center as the G League Knicks play the Maine Red Claws.
Andy Feng, who Buffalo said was quiet and hesitant on the court at first, has blossomed into a confident player. “I have learned that I can be a strong player and I’m getting more confidence,” the 12-year-old Irvington resident said. “When you practice a lot and work hard, it shows in the games.”
Buffalo who seemed at ease wrangling two dozen excited players at the County Center, sees his kids playing on high school, college, and even professional courts someday. “I think the game of basketball is in great hands,” he said. I think it’s great that the game is evolving so each generation can have their own narrative. With that said, I am going to continue to lead the next generation of kids who are aspiring to be the next future stars. Coaching is fun and I’m enjoying helping kids under the Faith & Grind basketball program.”
For more information on Faith & Grind, log on at www.FaithAndGrind.org
Buffalo who seemed at ease wrangling two dozen excited players at the County Center, sees his kids playing on high school, college, and even professional courts someday. “I think the game of basketball is in great hands,” he said. I think it’s great that the game is evolving so each generation can have their own narrative. With that said, I am going to continue to lead the next generation of kids who are aspiring to be the next future stars. Coaching is fun and I’m enjoying helping kids under the Faith & Grind basketball program.”
For more information on Faith & Grind, log on at www.FaithAndGrind.org
Coach Mike Buffalo delivers instruction for basketball & for life.
TO PURCHASE THIS SPECIAL EDITION MAGAZINE. HEAD OVER TO www.MetroSportsMag.com
FAITH & GRIND BASKETBALL SCHOOL
March/April 2019
Metro Sports Magazine
(New York)
By: Warren Rosenberg
Metro Sports Magazine
(New York)
By: Warren Rosenberg
Training For Basketball & For Life
The U.S. Anti-Doping agency reported that coaches of youth sports programs rank as the most positive influence on young people and, in many respects, places them above parents, teachers and religious leaders in influencing their social development. Recognizing that the impact coaches have, both during and long after the coaching relationship has finished, and in aspects of life outside of sports, Dr. Michael W. Austin writing in the November 1, 2017 issue of Psychology Today, notes that coaches “have a moral responsibility to have a positive impact on their players” and that to do so, a coach “must be a person of character, moral courage, respect and integrity.”
This seems to be precisely the premise behind Coach Mike Buffalo’s basketball development program aptly named, “Faith and Grind”. The premise behind his program, as explained to MetroSports Magazine by coach Buffalo, is that “on the basketball court, we must have Faith in our team mates, our coaches’ strategies, and more importantly Faith in ourselves. In addition to such Faith, we must Grind, or work hard to improve our overall basketball development to become victorious in on the court”. Extending the impact of his training philosophy beyond the basketball court he goes on to say that, “I want the youth to know that Faith & Grind doesn’t only apply to basketball or any other sport; it extends to academics as well. In order for you to be a great student, you must first believe that you can become one and then put forth the effort in doing so.”
We first met coach Buffalo at the Westchester County Center where he is a frequent guest having been a close friend of one of the team members during the 2016-17 season and where he developed a relationship with the team’s general manager and former New York Knicks great, Allan Houston. Houston, who runs his own faith-based youth development program, FISLL, has provided both inspiration and guidance to coach Buffalo. FISLL, ‘Faith, Integrity, Sacrifice, Leadership and Legacy, is a youth leadership development league operated under the umbrella of the Allan Houston Legacy Foundation.
“I met Allan Houston about three years ago through a friend of mine, Doron Lamb, who formerly played for the Westchester Knicks during the 2016- 2017 season. I remember introducing myself to Houston and as the season went along, we’d gotten more familiar with one another. Houston agreed to take time out of his busy schedule during the summer of 2017 by guest speaking at the Faith & Grind Basketball School. It was a phenomenal event which the kids & I really enjoyed having a New York Knicks legend give back and share insight on what Faith & Grind means to him, and how it propelled his 12 year NBA career.
This was a huge confidence booster
because I was just starting out with the program and to have a guy of that stature speak at a function that I put together felt surreal. Houston was also one of my favorite NBA players during the early 2000s.” Not one to overlook New York’s other professional basketball team, coach Buffalo has also built a relationship with the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets. “My ties to the Brooklyn Nets are, I was hired in the summer of 2018 as a “Youth Basketball Academy Clinician” where we give back to the various communities in Brooklyn by hosting free basketball clinics and camps throughout the year. I enjoy being a part of the Brooklyn Nets organization and connecting with the children of Brooklyn.”
Since his commitment to guiding young people seems so sincere to us, we asked coach Buffalo if there was time when he knew that dedicating his professional career to helping young people develop their basketball skills was the right way forward for him. “During my senior year at York College in Nebraska, there was a kid by the name of Morgan Conner who saved my life. I fell out of love from the game of basketball because of the constant disappointments that I had to endure throughout my career. In despite of all that; Conner still looked up to me as a role model. That admiration reignited my love for the game and from that point on, I knew I had a special connection to the youth.”
Faith and Grind Basketball School currently operates at locations throughout Westchester County, including health clubs, public parks, and private homes, and on most days of the week. “I do this to try my best to accommodate everyone and keep it as local as possible. Some of the locations include, The Westchester Gym in Elmsford, Clark Academy High School in Dobbs Ferry, Greenville Elementary School in Scarsdale, and the Rippowam Cisqua School in Bedford. The majority of the kids apart of the Faith & Grind program are from Irvington, Chappaqua, Valhalla, & Scarsdale. I’ll be looking to connect with more local communities within Westchester as time goes along. These sessions are open to anyone who registers through the Faith & Grind website.”
Participation in the Faith and Grind Basketball School has been growing so quickly that Coach Buffalo has taken on an assistant, another coach Buffalo. “I recently hired Coach Doug Buffalo who happens to be my older brother. I owe a lot of my success to him because he’s been there every step of the way. He constantly feeds me positivity to help me grow as a person and gives me advice on how to uplift the Faith & Grind program.
Also, I used to train with him as a kid so he has experience teaching youth basketball. Over the next 5 years, I see Faith & Grind growing tremendously by expanding and influencing kids in different fields of life. In addition, I would like to travel to different places across the world and continue spreading a positive message that anything is possible with just believing in 2 words: “FAITH & GRIND.”
This seems to be precisely the premise behind Coach Mike Buffalo’s basketball development program aptly named, “Faith and Grind”. The premise behind his program, as explained to MetroSports Magazine by coach Buffalo, is that “on the basketball court, we must have Faith in our team mates, our coaches’ strategies, and more importantly Faith in ourselves. In addition to such Faith, we must Grind, or work hard to improve our overall basketball development to become victorious in on the court”. Extending the impact of his training philosophy beyond the basketball court he goes on to say that, “I want the youth to know that Faith & Grind doesn’t only apply to basketball or any other sport; it extends to academics as well. In order for you to be a great student, you must first believe that you can become one and then put forth the effort in doing so.”
We first met coach Buffalo at the Westchester County Center where he is a frequent guest having been a close friend of one of the team members during the 2016-17 season and where he developed a relationship with the team’s general manager and former New York Knicks great, Allan Houston. Houston, who runs his own faith-based youth development program, FISLL, has provided both inspiration and guidance to coach Buffalo. FISLL, ‘Faith, Integrity, Sacrifice, Leadership and Legacy, is a youth leadership development league operated under the umbrella of the Allan Houston Legacy Foundation.
“I met Allan Houston about three years ago through a friend of mine, Doron Lamb, who formerly played for the Westchester Knicks during the 2016- 2017 season. I remember introducing myself to Houston and as the season went along, we’d gotten more familiar with one another. Houston agreed to take time out of his busy schedule during the summer of 2017 by guest speaking at the Faith & Grind Basketball School. It was a phenomenal event which the kids & I really enjoyed having a New York Knicks legend give back and share insight on what Faith & Grind means to him, and how it propelled his 12 year NBA career.
This was a huge confidence booster
because I was just starting out with the program and to have a guy of that stature speak at a function that I put together felt surreal. Houston was also one of my favorite NBA players during the early 2000s.” Not one to overlook New York’s other professional basketball team, coach Buffalo has also built a relationship with the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets. “My ties to the Brooklyn Nets are, I was hired in the summer of 2018 as a “Youth Basketball Academy Clinician” where we give back to the various communities in Brooklyn by hosting free basketball clinics and camps throughout the year. I enjoy being a part of the Brooklyn Nets organization and connecting with the children of Brooklyn.”
Since his commitment to guiding young people seems so sincere to us, we asked coach Buffalo if there was time when he knew that dedicating his professional career to helping young people develop their basketball skills was the right way forward for him. “During my senior year at York College in Nebraska, there was a kid by the name of Morgan Conner who saved my life. I fell out of love from the game of basketball because of the constant disappointments that I had to endure throughout my career. In despite of all that; Conner still looked up to me as a role model. That admiration reignited my love for the game and from that point on, I knew I had a special connection to the youth.”
Faith and Grind Basketball School currently operates at locations throughout Westchester County, including health clubs, public parks, and private homes, and on most days of the week. “I do this to try my best to accommodate everyone and keep it as local as possible. Some of the locations include, The Westchester Gym in Elmsford, Clark Academy High School in Dobbs Ferry, Greenville Elementary School in Scarsdale, and the Rippowam Cisqua School in Bedford. The majority of the kids apart of the Faith & Grind program are from Irvington, Chappaqua, Valhalla, & Scarsdale. I’ll be looking to connect with more local communities within Westchester as time goes along. These sessions are open to anyone who registers through the Faith & Grind website.”
Participation in the Faith and Grind Basketball School has been growing so quickly that Coach Buffalo has taken on an assistant, another coach Buffalo. “I recently hired Coach Doug Buffalo who happens to be my older brother. I owe a lot of my success to him because he’s been there every step of the way. He constantly feeds me positivity to help me grow as a person and gives me advice on how to uplift the Faith & Grind program.
Also, I used to train with him as a kid so he has experience teaching youth basketball. Over the next 5 years, I see Faith & Grind growing tremendously by expanding and influencing kids in different fields of life. In addition, I would like to travel to different places across the world and continue spreading a positive message that anything is possible with just believing in 2 words: “FAITH & GRIND.”
Above. Coach Mike Buffalo at Irvington’s Scenic Hudson Park. Photo Credit: Warren Rosenberg
Above. Coach Mike Buffalo with NY Knicks Allan Houston
Coach Mike Buffalo & The Faith & Grind Students
Basketball Pro Comes Home To Van Cortlandt; Shares Tips
COMING HOME
(BRONX, NY)
December 2017
Norwood News
Mike Buffalo returned to the Bronx on Dec. 8 after pursuing an education in Nebraska and a professional basketball career in Europe, and the Norwood News was there to cover it.
BRONXITE MIKE BUFFALO (seated at center), an alum of Wings Academy, returned to his home borough on Dec. 8 for an event at The New School for Leadership and The Arts. After realizing his professional basketball dreams in Europe, the 26-year old founded the Westchester-based Faith & Grind Basketball School.
AFTER GRADUATING FROM York College in Nebraska, Buffalo (r) made his professional basketball debut for the Mansfield Giants of the English Basketball League. Since returning stateside, Buffalo has taken up coaching, teaching local kids about the game of basketball.
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NOW RETIRED, BUFFALO says that he looks forward to returning to his home borough to continue coaching. Reflecting upon his career, Buffalo said that he could have never imagined playing basketball abroad. Photos by Miriam Quinones.
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Mike Buffalo Realizes His Dream
Here is Mike Buffalo during the signing of his first professional basketball contract. The photo includes with the team's logo and a representative from the Mansfield Giants
You Gotta Believe by Ken Kush Sports Editor (York News Times - Nebraska)
November 4, 2014
YORK – Several months ago, Mike Buffalo’s passion for the game of basketball took a nose dive.
His dream to play professional ball and eventually move into the front office off a professional team just didn’t seem possible anymore.
At the time Mike was a senior at York College and had notified his coaches he was leaving the team.
A chance meeting with Mason Conner, then a student at York Middle School, during a trip down to the York Community Center changed how Mike felt. Suddenly he had a revitalized eagerness to return to the game.
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Mike will take another step in his life’s chapter.
“I am proud to announce that I will be beginning my professional basketball career in the English Basketball League (England) with the Mansfield Giants,” Mike said. “I am very thankful for this opportunity from the man above. The Lord works in mysterious ways. This is all ‘God's Plan, Not Mine’ and just to think I gave up on basketball several months ago and now look where he has me at now, in another country to start my professional career. I am truly blessed.”
Since graduating from York College last May, Mike has faced six months of uncertainty. He even thought about going out and finding a regular 9-5 job.
“
I must admit this process was a bit stressful. After graduating from York College in May 2014 with a degree in business, and just sitting around for six months of not knowing where I'll be playing next season was frustrating.” So frustrating he considered “getting a 9-to-5 job in my degree field because I was losing faith and thought that basketball might not work out after all,” said Buffalo. “But I continued training and kept believing that God was going to place me somewhere. It just takes time and patience because sometimes you have to expect the unexpected and allow God's timing to bring you where you need to be at his pace.”
Mike is very thankful to a lot of people who kept believing in him and encouraging him to keep fighting for what he wanted.
“I want to thank my immediate family, my friends, my professional basketball agent Wesley Alston, my trainer Marlon Smith, coach Matt Shaw of the Derby Trailblazers and the Simon family,” Mike said. “My second family in Nebraska, the Conners, for their continuous love and support and fans in the New York City area and the York, Nebraska community.”
Mike and his trainer plan to give back to the community of York next summer following Mike’s first professional season when they return to host the Mike Buffalo Basketball Camp.
“
So at the moment I'm actually in England. I have to begin practice for my upcoming game on Saturday (November 8), which means I am six hours ahead of you guys in time,” Mike added. “So you can shoot me emails at any time you would like to. Because I'm usually up at all different times and hours of the day.”
You can keep up with Mike at "Mike Buffalo" on any of the social networks (Facebook, Twitter or Instagram).
Mike will keep the News-Times updated throughout the season on how he is doing in his new home.
News-Times/Ken Kush - Mike Buffalo (left) and Morgan Conner (right) watch the Pius X vs.York boys Class B state basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena last Thursday. The two have become best friends since a chance meeting at the York Community Center.
York College Senior Gets Back His Game
A Chance Meeting by Ken Kush Sports Editor (York News Times - Nebraska)
March 19, 2014
YORK – Everything in life happens for a reason.
When York College senior basketball player Mike Buffalo went to the York Community Center one day, he never realized a chance meeting with a kid who just wanted to see him dunk a basketball would change his life.
Mike loved the game of basketball and he saw himself after college hoping to take his game to the next level.
But something happened and he couldn’t really explain why his passion and his desire for the game he had loved, suddenly no longer existed.
“I went to the Community Center one day and I ran into this kid named Morgan Conner and he asked me if I could dunk the basketball. I was just down there kind of working on my game in between classes and I said sure,” Buffalo said.
“It’s kind of my nature to do that for kids, because when I was growing up I wanted to see players do that too. The whole experience was kind of humbling to have this kid look up to me.”
Buffalo said that when he came to York College from New York, via a Virginia Military School, he was expecting to play a lot and see a lot of time on the court, but things didn’t work out that way and he told his coach Delton Deal that he no longer had the desire to play the game.
“I didn’t hold any grudges against the coaches, I know that things don’t always work out, but I just didn’t have the desire to play the game anymore and I told the coach don’t put me in the game, because I just won’t give the effort he needs to see. I just gave up on the game of basketball and at the same time I was having wisdom tooth problems and had to get that taken care of too.”
Buffalo said the friendship continued to grow between him and Morgan and he started to work out with him and helped him do some drills and he even started to do them himself.
“He asked me to come work him out and I did. I gave him some things to do and went over some drills with him,” Buffalo commented. “I started to do the drills myself and for some reason the passion and the desire returned to play the game. I can’t explain what happened and why I started to feel this way again. I don’t know what it was. Maybe I started to see myself in him and I started to realize again all these dreams I had.”
The York College men’s basketball team returned from a weekend trip and Buffalo went back to the coach.
“My team returned and I told my coach I wanted to play again. It was rough because I still wasn’t getting a lot of playing time, but since I am a senior, on senior night I got to start and played about 36 minutes,” Buffalo shared. “I put on my best performance of the year, I had 28 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Morgan and his brother (Mason) were in the gym that night and it was then I realized that he was the reason I was playing the game again and was back on track to achieve my dream. If it hadn’t been for that day at the community center and me meeting Morgan, I probably wouldn’t have gone back to basketball. I am positive he’s the reason. He gave me my life back.”
Buffalo has continued to work out with Morgan and his brother and he has also been to York Middle School to have lunch with Morgan and his classmates. They both attended the York Dukes’ first round game with Pius X at state basketball together and later this summer Buffalo will be showing Morgan and his family around New York, the Bronx and where he grew up.
Buffalo will return to New York in May following graduation. He will continue to work on his basketball skills and hope to catch the eye of a scout who might be his ticket to the NBA, playing in club games all summer. Buffalo will graduate with a degree in business administration and following his basketball days has plans to stay in the sport as a career.
“I just feel that I owe Morgan so much,” said Buffalo. “He and his family are going to come to New York in July and I am going to show them around and take them to where I grew up as a kid. I want to enter the corporate world and maybe get a job in the front office of an NBA team.
“That day was a blessing. God works in mysterious ways and now I just don’t look at life from one direction,” said Buffalo. “The sky is the limit and anything is possible.”
March 19, 2014
YORK – Everything in life happens for a reason.
When York College senior basketball player Mike Buffalo went to the York Community Center one day, he never realized a chance meeting with a kid who just wanted to see him dunk a basketball would change his life.
Mike loved the game of basketball and he saw himself after college hoping to take his game to the next level.
But something happened and he couldn’t really explain why his passion and his desire for the game he had loved, suddenly no longer existed.
“I went to the Community Center one day and I ran into this kid named Morgan Conner and he asked me if I could dunk the basketball. I was just down there kind of working on my game in between classes and I said sure,” Buffalo said.
“It’s kind of my nature to do that for kids, because when I was growing up I wanted to see players do that too. The whole experience was kind of humbling to have this kid look up to me.”
Buffalo said that when he came to York College from New York, via a Virginia Military School, he was expecting to play a lot and see a lot of time on the court, but things didn’t work out that way and he told his coach Delton Deal that he no longer had the desire to play the game.
“I didn’t hold any grudges against the coaches, I know that things don’t always work out, but I just didn’t have the desire to play the game anymore and I told the coach don’t put me in the game, because I just won’t give the effort he needs to see. I just gave up on the game of basketball and at the same time I was having wisdom tooth problems and had to get that taken care of too.”
Buffalo said the friendship continued to grow between him and Morgan and he started to work out with him and helped him do some drills and he even started to do them himself.
“He asked me to come work him out and I did. I gave him some things to do and went over some drills with him,” Buffalo commented. “I started to do the drills myself and for some reason the passion and the desire returned to play the game. I can’t explain what happened and why I started to feel this way again. I don’t know what it was. Maybe I started to see myself in him and I started to realize again all these dreams I had.”
The York College men’s basketball team returned from a weekend trip and Buffalo went back to the coach.
“My team returned and I told my coach I wanted to play again. It was rough because I still wasn’t getting a lot of playing time, but since I am a senior, on senior night I got to start and played about 36 minutes,” Buffalo shared. “I put on my best performance of the year, I had 28 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Morgan and his brother (Mason) were in the gym that night and it was then I realized that he was the reason I was playing the game again and was back on track to achieve my dream. If it hadn’t been for that day at the community center and me meeting Morgan, I probably wouldn’t have gone back to basketball. I am positive he’s the reason. He gave me my life back.”
Buffalo has continued to work out with Morgan and his brother and he has also been to York Middle School to have lunch with Morgan and his classmates. They both attended the York Dukes’ first round game with Pius X at state basketball together and later this summer Buffalo will be showing Morgan and his family around New York, the Bronx and where he grew up.
Buffalo will return to New York in May following graduation. He will continue to work on his basketball skills and hope to catch the eye of a scout who might be his ticket to the NBA, playing in club games all summer. Buffalo will graduate with a degree in business administration and following his basketball days has plans to stay in the sport as a career.
“I just feel that I owe Morgan so much,” said Buffalo. “He and his family are going to come to New York in July and I am going to show them around and take them to where I grew up as a kid. I want to enter the corporate world and maybe get a job in the front office of an NBA team.
“That day was a blessing. God works in mysterious ways and now I just don’t look at life from one direction,” said Buffalo. “The sky is the limit and anything is possible.”
Zero Gravity Basketball (Westchester NY) Champions
2021 Fall Season 5th Grade/11U Team
2021 Fall Season 7th Grade/13U Team