New York Gauchos

Location: New York City, NY
Region: GBOA East
Coach: Dwayne Mitchell
NBA Alumni: 14, (Stephon Marbury, Sidney Green, Rod Strickland)
NCAA Alums: 46, (Jessie Sapp, Taj Gibson, Brian Laing)
Founded: 1967

The Gaucho program, now in it's 40th year, was launched on the vigorous premise that sports activity could reshape and offer new direction to the lives of high school dropouts and in the process, assist troubled youths in establishing real roots in the huge housing complexes in which they are growing up. Founded in 1967 by Lou d'Almeida, Teamwork Foundation, Inc, is the parent organization of the Gauchos, an educational and recreational basketball program, which serves economically disadvantaged minority boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 19 from New York City. The Gauchos' goal is to motivate youth to stay in school by providing the incentive of excellent basketball competition and provide every youngster with the opportunity to make something of his or her life. In its forty year history, the Gauchos program has worked with thousands of New York City youngsters, providing them with the tools they need to complete their high school education and plan for their futures. The program has proven effective, as every Gaucho's graduate has had the opportunity to attend college or junior college.