Jeremy Wilner
Director & Founder
Jeremy Wilner founded Basketball Club Rhode Island (BCRI) in 2019 to help Rhode Island student-athletes reach the next level. Since then, BCRI has produced 60+ college commitments, 30+ All-State selections, and three Gatorade Players of the Year.
Jeremy began coaching at the youth level with CLCF and 1on1 Basketball Inc., later serving at Cranston East and Pilgrim High School before being named Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Lincoln High School in 2022.
In three seasons at Lincoln, Jeremy has led the Lions to a combined 65–16 record, highlighted by a Division II State Championship, RIIL State Final Four appearance, and a strong first season competing in Division I. His success has earned him multiple honors, including the 2024 NFHS/RIIL Boys Basketball Coach of the Year, 2025 RIBCA Division I Coach of the Year, and recognition as a finalist for the 2024 Providence Journal/USA Today Rhode Island Male Sports Coach of the Year.
At the High School level, Jeremy has coached multiple All-State and 1,000-point scorers, including Wayne McNamara, Camden DiChiara, and Tyriek Weeks, while guiding players to awards such as Gatorade Player of the Year, MaxPreps Player of the Year, and RIIL Student-Athlete of the Year.
Kyle VanRossum
President of Basketball
Coach Kyle VanRossum has built a distinguished career in coaching basketball, beginning right after his high school graduation in 2008. With over 15 years of experience across all levels of interscholastic basketball, including the NEPSAC and RIIL, he has earned a reputation for developing high-character student-athletes and guiding teams to success. Notably, Coach Kyle has been named a NEPSAC and RIIL Coach of the Year, a testament to his leadership and dedication.
Throughout his career, Kyle has achieved remarkable success, leading three different programs to Final Four appearances at the middle school level, an accomplishment unmatched to this day. Most recently, he guided The Wheeler School in Providence to a New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) championship. His coaching journey also includes stints at Mt. St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket and Smithfield High School.
A proud graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, Coach Kyle’s commitment to basketball extends beyond coaching. Currently, he serves as the President of Basketball for BCRI, where he oversees all basketball operations, including recruitment efforts, and coaches the 16u and 17u Made Hoop teams for both boys and girls. His passion for player development is evident in his hands-on approach, ensuring that every student-athlete receives top-tier coaching and guidance across all age groups.
Before his coaching career, Kyle was a two-sport standout at Burrillville High School, where he is the all-time leading scorer and assist man. He scored 1,500 career points and led his team to its first semi-final appearance in a decade. On the baseball field, he earned three All-Division selections and helped Burrillville capture its first state title in 42 years.
With a track record of success as both a player and coach, Coach Kyle VanRossum continues to inspire and shape the next generation of athletes.
Ben Silvia
Girls Co-Founder & Director
Ben Silvia is the Co-Founder and Director of the BCRI Girls Program, where he also serves as head coach for our top girls’ teams. A dedicated teacher of the game and developer of young athletes, Ben has played a central role in building Rhode Island’s premier girls basketball pathways.
A standout at Barrington High School, Silvia was a four-year letter winner, three-time All-Division selection, All-Academic honoree, and recipient of the Joe Hassett Sr. Scholarship Award. He continued his career at Wheaton College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
Silvia began coaching while in college and has since become an integral part of The Wheeler School’s basketball success, contributing both on the court and within the school’s athletic department. Ben was recognized as NEPSAC Class C Coach of the Year in 2023-24 after leading the Wheeler School boys team to a New England championship. His commitment to skill development, leadership, and mentorship has helped elevate countless players within the BCRI Girls Program and beyond.
Fernando Torres
Boys High School Director
Fernando Torres brings a championship resume and a strong player development background to his role as BCRI’s Boys High School Director & 17u Head Coach. He led North Providence to back-to-back Division III State Championships (2022–23, 2023–24) before moving to Division II, where he produced a 20 win season and a regular-season title in 2024–25.
Torres currently serves as an assistant coach at Rhode Island College, where he previously played on the Anchormen’s 26–4 Little East championship team in 2012–13.
An experienced educator, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from RIC and a master’s in Educational Leadership from Providence College. His combination of coaching success, teaching experience, and commitment to player growth makes him a valuable leader for BCRI’s high school athletes.
Stephen Capua
Boys Director
Coach Stephen Capua serves as BCRI’s Boys High School Program Director, bringing leadership, energy, and a proven track record of player development to our program. A 2019 graduate of Bishop Feehan High School, Stephen continued his basketball journey at Providence College, where he played club basketball and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance in 2023.
Stephen has quickly established himself as one of the most respected young coaches in the region. On the AAU circuit, he has coached and mentored dozens of athletes, helping 10+ players earn college opportunities through his strong relationships, detailed skill development approach, and commitment to doing things the right way.
At BCRI, Stephen oversees all boys high school teams, setting the tone for culture, competitiveness, and accountability. His ability to connect with players, evaluate talent, and guide families through the recruiting landscape has made him an invaluable part of our program’s success.
Derek Dewey
BCRI South Director
Derek Dewey is the owner and founder of Rhode Island Basketball Academy, the state’s first year-round basketball training facility. A lifelong student of the game, Derek brings over 35 years of competitive playing experience and more than a decade of coaching at the youth, travel, and AAU levels.
A proud native of Narragansett, RI, Derek was a three-year varsity player, two-year starter, and team captain his senior year, a role earned by the respect of his teammates. While he initially planned to pursue basketball at the collegiate level, Derek shifted his focus to entrepreneurship, launching Sky’s the Limit Barbershop, which has become one of Southern Rhode Island’s top barbershops for over 21 years.
Driven by his deep passion for teaching and developing players, Derek opened Rhode Island Basketball Academy in 2019, establishing the only year-round training option in the state at the time. Since then, he has worked with players of all levels, including youth, high school, collegiate, and national-level AAU athletes. He previously ran his own successful AAU program with over 10 teams before partnering with BCRI (Basketball Club Rhode Island), Rhode Island’s premier AAU program, where he now serves as the Director of BCRI South.
Derek’s mission is to help players grow both on and off the court, fostering skill development, confidence, and a lifelong love for the game