The           Family

Ben Silvia

Coach Ben Silvia was a four year letter winner and three year all-Division selection at Barrington High School. Ben was recognized as an all-Academic athlete and the Joe Hassett Sr. Scholarship Award winner in his senior year. Coach Ben continued his athletic career at Wheaton College where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. He started coaching basketball while in college and has become an integral piece of The Wheeler School's basketball success, while working full time in the athletic department. Coach Ben is the director of our girls program and works tirelessly with skill development and molding young adults.

Fernando Torres

Coach Fernando Torres has been coaching at the high school level since 2016. He grew up in Westchester, NY where he was a stand out player at Brewster High School. He continued his athletic career under Bob Walsh at Rhode Island College including a Little East Championship. Coach Fernando is currently the varsity head coach at North Providence High School where he led the team to a Division 3 State Championship banner in 2023. Prior, he spent time on the LaSalle Academy basketball staff. Coach graduated from Providence College with a Masters Degree in Education Leadership/Administration in 2020. 

Alan Moreau

Alan Moreau was a four year player at Lincoln High School and went on to play collegiately at Springfield College. His coaching career started at Lincoln Middle School and has grown to Special Assistant to the Head Coach of Lincoln Mens' Varsity Basketball in 2022. His ability to coach and connect with student-athletes of all ages makes him an ideal person to lead player development. Coach Alan actively trains Tyler Kolek (Marquette), Brandon Kolek (Franklin Pierce), Octavio Brito (#8 Keene State) amongst others. 

Along with his role at BCRI, Coach Alan works for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Rhode Island where he runs basketball skills and drills weekly. Alan is also a renowned stand-up comic and uses that skill to connect with his players.

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Alan is BCRI's director of player development and runs many of The Basketball Club's camps and clinics. 

Vanessa Venditti

Coach Vanessa Venditti is a current player on the nationally ranked Rhode Island College women's basketball team. Vanessa is majoring in wellness and exercise science and minoring in coaching. She grew up in Wethersfield, CT where she played basketball and soccer all four years of high school and was recognized as team captain and an all-conference player. As soon as Vanessa could hold a basketball she started playing and she is very excited for the next chapter of her basketball journey, coaching girls that share her passion.

Bailey Burke

Coach Bailey Burke is a current player on the nationally ranked Rhode Island College women's basketball team. She is majoring in business management and minoring in finance. Bailey started playing basketball in the fourth grade and has had a passion for the sport ever since. She is excited to share her passion and love for the game with the next generation of Rhode Island hoopers.

Olivia Middleton

Coach Olivia Middleton is currently finishing up her collegiate career as a graduate transfer at Rhode Island College after a decorated career at St. Lawrence. Olivia was a four year starter and named first team all conference during the 2022-23 season. During that season, Olivia led St. Lawrence in points, assists and steals. She finished her collegiate career with 746 points. Before a standout college career, she was an all-state point guard for Barrington High School. Starting all four years, Olivia eclipsed the 1,000 point mark and was named an all-league selection three times. Coach Olivia will be working closely with our girls program, more specifically skill development. We are fortunate to have someone who knows what it takes to not only get to the next level, but be successful at the next level, to help our ladies! 

Marc Pelagalli

Coach Marc Pelagalli has been coaching youth basketball for over 12 years in Cranston and Providence. Marc is heavily involved in CLCF sports and is an administrator for the Providence Hoops League. After competing in both basketball and baseball at Classical High School, Marc graduated from Rhode Island College with a degree in education. Marc has been a Providence Health and Physical Education teacher for the past 18 years. Marc lives in Cranston with his wife and three boys. 

Jouandi Perez

Coach Jay's passion for basketball began in the 7th grade when he learned how to keep the scorebook for his older brothers' high school basketball team at Feinstein High School in Providence. Jay was a starting point guard for the 2012 state championship Central High School basketball team. After graduation, his coaching career began when he began training and work out sessions at John Hope Settlement House. He was a volunteer assistant coach at Central High School during the 2013-14 campaign and then moved on to start the freshman program at Juanita Sanchez. Jay is currently the head junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach at Moses Brown. Coach Jay is currently in his 5th year as part of an organization called Play for Peace. The organization was created to provide opportunities for young kids to access free basketball clinics, leagues and after school programs. In 2019, Jay founded "Better Living Juices" an organic pressed juice company for athletes.

Josh Cabrera

Coach Josh Cabrera is currently the associate head boys' basketball coach at Classical in Providence. Josh has an extensive playing career which started at Classical High School in Providence where he helped lead the team to a state championship. Josh continued his playing career as a four year member of Norwich University Mens' Basketball team in Northfield, Vermont. Coach Josh immediately got into coaching when he was named the head coach of The Gunnery in Washington, CT. In a three year span, he recruited 20 athletes, 15 of which went on to play basketball at the college level. After a successful three years, Josh took a position with Vermont Academy (NEPSAC) in where he was responsible for all aspects of basketball operations, including recruiting and working with Jordan Nwora, a Louisville commit and current Milwaukee Buck. Josh was named the head coach at Moses Brown in Providence where he is also a math and spanish teacher. Coach Josh graduated from Norwich University with a bachelor's degree in 2013.

Kyle Bodington

Coach Kyle Bodington brings an umatched level of passion and energy to the basketball court. A two time state champion coach while manning the sidelines at Narragansett High School, Coach Kyle Bodington is currently the head varsity coach at North Kingstown High School. His baketball pedigree started at a young age when he stared for North Kingstown and became a member of the 1,000 point club. His experience coaching youth basketball throughout high level varsity basketball helps him connect with all the players in the BCRI program. Kyle is currently the athletic head of the North Kingstown Parks & Recreational Department. 

John Palazzo

Coach John Palazzo has coached at various levels of basketball including, recreation, travel and high school basketball.  He has been the Assistant Boys Varsity Basketball Coach at La Salle Academy since 2012.  During his current time at La Salle Academy they have been the Division 1 Champions in 2014 and 2015, was the RI Open State Champions in 2015 and the RI Open State Runner up in 2016. John was a three year varsity basketball player for La Salle Academy graduating in 2002. Also, while at La Salle he was a two year varsity soccer player winning championships in 2000 and 2001. He attended and graduated from Sacred Heart University earning his B.S. in Accounting with a minor in Business. Coach Palazzo is a Certified Public Accountant and holds his M.B.A. from Johnson and Wales University. He is also an adjunct graduate school professor at various colleges and universities in Rhode Island. 

Aside from his day job, Coach Palazzo is heavily involved in his community serving on many non-profit boards. He is the Director of Basketball for CLCF and coaches his son's youth recreation and travel basketball teams for CLCF.  He is also on the Board of Directors at Cranston Western Little League and coaches his son's team. Coach Palazzo will be coaching one of our Elementary Division teams this spring!

Kevin Reidy

Former Bishop Hendricken all-state point-guard/captain who played competitive D-3 college basketball at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (perennial Top 25 program in the nation), Coach Reidy is passionate about the game of basketball and is committed to player development on and off the court. He’s a small business owner and an active member of the North Kingstown, RI Youth Basketball Board. Coach Reidy has been coaching youth basketball for 7+ years and currently serves as the Head Boys Basketball Coach for Wickford Middle School. He and his wife, Caitlyn, are blessed with three amazing children and reside in Saunderstown, RI. Kevin is an avid golfer and still enjoys playing “old man hoop”!

Luke Scaramella

Coach Luke Scaramella has been around youth basketball for an extended period of time. Luke spent ten years involved with EGBA and coaching Cole Middle School of East Greenwich. Luke recently accepted a position as the JV coach and varsity assistant at East Greenwich High School. After a successful hoops career at Moses Brown, Coach Luke went on to play division 1 tennis at the University of Vermont where he graduated with a psychology degree.

Mike McDermott

Coach McDermott has been involved with youth coaching for the last 25 years and has been part of BCRI since its first season.  He just finished his first year as an Assistant Coach at La Salle Academy in Providence and serves as the Freshman Boys Head Coach.  He has coached through the YMCA, MetroWest travel teams. He was formerly assistant coach with the Barrington High School Boys teams and the Director of Barrington Youth Basketball.  He was a D1 rower for Georgetown, but as a basketball player, his big claim to fame is blocking Dikembe Mutumbo in an intramural game in college.  Outside of basketball, he coaches software engineers at MojoTech in Providence.

Tom Driscoll

Joining the BCRI coaching staff in the Spring of 2021, Tom Driscoll brings over 15 years of coaching experience to the program.  Tom was a 1,000 point scorer at West Warwick High School (2003) and went on to play NCAA basketball at Vassar College (NY), being named team captain during his senior year (2007.)   Along with BCRI, Tom also coaches in the Coventry Basketball Association competitive program. 

Jake verDorn

Coach Jake verDorn brings a wealth of coaching experience from all over the east coast with him to BCRI. Coach Jake has spent time as an AAU coach and a high school coach in New Jersey and South Carolina since 2008. Currently, Coach Jake is the head junior varsity coach and varsity assistant for North Kingstown High School. A 3-year varsity player at Sparta High School in New Jersey, Jake earned captaincy his senior season. Jake earned a bachelor of science degree in sports management from Ithaca College and completed the graduate program for teaching certification in physical education from Montclair State University

Dwayne "Debo" Monroe

Coach Dwayne Monroe was proudly born and raised in the city of Providence, RI. His love for basketball began when he was 11 and as he grew older, he realized he loved coaching the sport more than playing it. His coaching journey began in 2008 at Sackett Street Recreation Center in Providence. From ‘08-present day, he has coached both girls and boys elementary, middle school, and high school levels. Currently, he is the head varsity coach at Times2 Academy, where we hold the 2021 Division 3 State Championship title. Coach Debo is invested in BCRI’s AAU program and this will be his third year as a valued member of the coaching staff. As a devoted coach, his goal is to instill teamwork, leadership, and communication skills into his players and teach them to not only play the game, but also know the game of basketball.