Valley Stream South hoops player gets invite to international tourney

For Henoc Bienne, it’s an opportunity of a lifetime.

The 16-year-old point guard for the Valley Stream South High School Falcons was invited to play in an international All-Star game in Switzerland this July, where he would represent Team USA and showcase his talent to a select group of college scouts and professional coaches, with the goal of being recruited by a Division I college.

There’s just one problem.

The 11-day trip to Switzerland in July costs $4,000, and Bienne said that his parents can’t afford to send him. “My mom told me that if I could raise the money, then I can do it,” Bienne said.

The tournament, hosted by 365 Sports, is in its 17th year and invites thousands of athletes from 20 foreign countries to participate in an international tournament. According to 365sports.org, the all-star tourney has teenage athletes train daily and NBA stars conduct presentations and meet-and-greets with them. Over the past four years, two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns attended the tourney, as well as former Dallas Mavericks MVP Dirk Nowitzki. Bienne was one of two athletes invited from Nassau County.

Bienne added that he received the invitation about a month ago and was shocked. “I just went crazy,” he said after his mother read him the invite. “I couldn’t be happier. This is the best opportunity I will ever have in my life. Representing the United States is something I can tell my grandkids.”

The sixth man off the bench for the Falcons, Bienne said he was spotted by a 365 sports scout at a local tournament. A first-year transfer from International Christian School in Brooklyn, Bienne said he’s played high school varsity basketball since ninth-grade. He credits his older brothers, in particular his brother Obed, for never letting his game slip. “Even if I had a good game, he still gives me constructive criticism,” Bienne said. “He always tells me not to get a fat head.”