New England Crusaders

"Graduated from Boston College with degree in Communications.  Played for 4 years...currently heading over to Europe to play professional basketball and was signed as a free agent to the CT Sun Women's BB ...."

"The New England Crusaders and Kara Leary was, and continues to be, a great way to experience AAU basketball.  The Crusaders have always been a very well known organization in the North East and have become one of the nations Elite programs. This outstanding organization gave me a chance to travel around the country with great athletes and experience life on the road as a "family".  Thanks to Kara I was able to be  noticed by some of the most well known and best college programs out there.  I played for Kara for 4 summers and during that time the experiences I encountered, on and off the court, prepared me for my life as a college athlete as well as for the world I am about to enter.  To this day Kara is still someone that I look to for advise and can always count on her when I need her.  I still stay in contact with the Crusader program by helping out at practices and keeping up the with friends I made during this great time of my life.

I have enjoyed being a Crusader (always will be one!!) and would recommend it to any young basketball player who is serious about their game and trying to advance to the next level."

-Stef Murphy (All ACC Selection, Boston College 2011, Londonderry 2007), 
Crusader Alum, Professional Player

"Younger girls and their parents come up to me all the time in the gym whenever I’m shooting or working out and always ask the same question, “My daughter loves basketball, how’d you do it? What’d you do to get where you are?” and my answer is always this; “if she wants to play at a higher level she needs to play for the Crusaders”. 

Coming from where I am there is very little what you would call “high” competition. Maine is a small state with an even smaller basketball base. When I was in 7th grade my mom told me about the Crusaders and from there on out I’ve been a Crusader. I honestly have no idea what my life would be like if I hadn’t been in this program the last 4 years. It provided me with every single opportunity that I needed to succeed. I was able to play against the highest competition at the national level. I got to play against girls that are now preparing to go to some of the top schools in the country. I’ve been put on center stage and rows of college coaches have viewed my games. When I look back on when I was in the 7th grade and wondering if the Crusaders would be right for me, I can’t believe I considered it not to be. 

Not only did I play against the greatest players in the nation, I also got to play and form friendships with some of the best players in the New England area. Crusaders put me in a completely new environment surrounded by girls who just want the same thing, to get better every single practice and get to that next level. I now have new friendships in my life that I would have never even thought about had it not been for the Crusaders. The coaches though are what make all of this possible. Kara Leary is one of the greatest coaches that I have ever known in my years of playing basketball. She wants you to learn the game, not just be a good athlete. She wants you to know why to cut and where to pass and what play is going to get your teammates the ball to make those clutch shots. Every game or practice wasn’t just physical work but usually put my mind through some workouts too. 

So when those mothers and fathers of the younger girls come up to me and ask “how’d you do it? What does my daughter need to be doing?” my answer will always be without hesitation “she needs to play for the New England Crusaders”.

-Alexa Coulombe
Current Crusader, McAuley, 2012
Boston College Commit 

As a player and coach in the organization the Crusaders helped me to develop a greater knowledge of the game.  Not only was I able to develop my skills through excellent instruction and in the opportunity to play against the best club teams in the nation, I was also able to understand the value of a great work ethic and development of character.  This program helped me have the most powerful weapon in the game-- a great basketball IQ!  Even as a coach now I use what I learned through with the Crusaders to pass on these values to young women in developing into greater student-athletes and people.

-Cassie Loftus, Recruiting Coordinator, DIII College Coach
Crusader Alum, Crusader Coach,
St Anselms College Player 2008, Nashua 2004

New England Crusaders is the premier AAU team in northeast.  The New England Crusaders has provided my daughter the opportunity to play against the highest level of competition in the country.  The tournaments that the New England Crusaders attend across the country, allows their players to be viewed by the top coaches and programs in the NCAA.  The New England Crusaders is about developing players to reach their highest potential and to help them attain their goal to play at the college level.  If you have a daughter who is serious about wanting to play basketball in college, they need to play for Kara Leary and the New England Crusaders.

-Mandi Coulombe,
Parent of Alex Coulombe(Boston College commit, McCauley 2012)

"Playing for the New England Crusaders was like joining a basketball family. The players, families and coaches were all great people with common goals. Kara's knowledge of the game and her passion for teaching it to us is something special you can't find in other organizations. The national exposure and fierce competition was given to us at every tournament. The players I played with are still some of my closest friends and when we come together it's like we never left...once a Sader, always a Sader! This organization meant so much to me that I coached in it for 3 years and still stay involved in anyway I can. Currently I am ... (a college coach) ...  and wouldn't be there if it weren't for the Crusaders and all the doors they and Kara opened for me!

-Lauren Moore, Assistant College Coach, DII School
Crusader Alum, Crusader Coach,
All Conference Selection Bentley 2008, Alvirne 2003

We can’t begin to thank Kara and the New England Crusaders for the opportunity to play for such a great organization.  Our daughter, Niki, played for the Crusaders for 5 years.  Throughout that time, she had the opportunity to play with, and against, some great players.  But being a Crusader has been so much more than just about playing basketball.  We have met some amazing people along the way.  Although getting the opportunity to play basketball in college is a goal for many of these girls, the true reward is in the journey.   The friendships forged, the places traveled, the talent witnessed, the lessons learned; all these experiences help mold our daughters into the amazing young women they are today.  Kara helped Niki increase her basketball IQ, she helped her to see the court, she helped her hone her skills.  But most importantly, Kara and the New England Crusaders helped Niki to see that when life affords you the opportunity to give back, you accept the challenge and you do your part.   The Crusaders help to mold young women into not just good basketball players, but great people.  And as parents, it’s the person that our daughters become that is our greatest reward. We will forever be indebted to the New England Crusaders and Kara Leary for the great 5 year journey and for helping Niki achieve her goal of playing basketball in college.

                                                                   -Marcia and Scott Taylor, 
                                                                   Parent of Niki Taylor, UVM Freshman

Playing with the Crusaders for my last year of AAU put me into a great position. I was able to play with some of the best players in the area and play against some of the top college recruits in the country. Tournaments, such as Nike Nationals, let me show my athletic abilities to college scouts across the nation. By the end of my junior year in high school, I was being offered full athletic scholarships by several D2 colleges. I ended up committing to Franklin Pierce University, which ended up being a perfect decision. The NE Crusaders not only put my in a perfect position to be recruited, but united me with many people that I consider to be extremely good friends now. I can only say thank you to the coaches and directors of the NE Crusaders for being such an important role in my future.

-College Player, Crusader Alum,
Franklin Pierce 2013, Salem 2009

As a former New England AAU registration Chairperson and a former NE AAU WBB Mass chair, I was fortunate to know about Kara Leary and the New England Crusaders.  Our daughter Chrissy played for 2 1/2 years for the New England Crusaders and also Chrissy had the opportunity to coach one of the U/16 Crusader teams.  

We traveled every weekend from central Mass to New Hampshire so Chrissy could practice with the Crusaders and gain the valuable basketball knowledge and enhance her skills to the next level. Chrissy had the opportunity to play with some of the top level talent in New England and we both garnered some great friendships throughout New England and beyond with all the tournaments we played outside of New England. The traveling to tournaments sponsored by Nike, and playing against the best young talent in the country gave Chrissy and all the girls on team the confidence needed, to know they can play at the next level and succeed. Kara runs a prestigious top level program that develops the skills needed individually and within a team concept.  She develops each girl so they improve to be better players and individuals.

As a Parent  I would highly recommend any girls in New England to contact Kara and join the New England Crusaders. Become part of a wonderful experience on and off the court and learn basketball from a talented group of Crusader coaches.  You will meet great parents and you and your child will treasure some great memories traveling with Crusaders all over.

Our daughter was coaching BB at the division 3 Clark University and recently accepted a position with the US Government.

Kathy & Steve Hall
Parents of Former Crusader Chrissy Hall
(UNH Player 2010, Northbridge 2006) 

"Crusaders basketball is an elite program designed to prepare girls to play at the highest levels. My daughter started on her high school team as a freshman. This would not have been possible without her commitment to the Crusader experience. The Crusaders is where the best come to get better!"

-Parent, Current Crusader Player

My daughter....is entering her third year with the Crusaders. The Crusaders are a special AAU program for many reasons. The coaching staff focus is on developing a student athlete mentality. The core focus of the Crusaders Black is on developing strong fundamentals, working towards college level concepts, and becoming  good teammates and intelligent basketball players. Uniquely, each player makes positive strides at different points during the "regular season" while team  peaks as a whole, especially when the competition gets tough. By far the Crusaders are the best AAU program my daughter has been connected with.  Keep up the good work and thank you!

-Parent, Current Crusader Player 2014

"It’s not just basketball.

This is one of the East Coasts premier Girls AAU Basketball organizations, devoted to developing a young woman’s life skills and athletic abilities.  Once you become a Crusader you quickly discover, that this organization is not just about basketball. It is about teaching student athletes what it takes to succeed in school, their community, and sports. This organization stresses, good study habits in preparation for college or whatever life opportunity the athlete decides to peruse.  Good citizenship, by encouraging players to take advantage of volunteer opportunities in their community, and finally this organization is about developing basketball skills and a competitive attitude that focuses the athlete on their goals (which isn’t always about winning games).

My daughter has played AAU basketball with a number of organizations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and we have found that the New England Crusaders is by far the best organization for developing young women in both basketball and life skills. It is not just the coaches and players that make this organization great. It is the parents who volunteer their time to organize travel plans and other events and everyone who has ever been a Crusader. Past players that return to help teach skills and give advise on college recruiting.

The New England Crusaders is more than just basketball. It is a group of wonderful young women and families enjoying an elite level of basketball and becoming the best they can be."

-Parent, Current Crusader Player 2015