Basketball with a Purpose

Reel Scene Sports Media had the pleasure to sit down for a conversation with Coach of the 2026 Riverside Hawks Boys Basketball Team Mr. Shaun Commodore, a well-spoken gentleman raised by a single mother in East Harlem N.Y. Shaun grew up playing organized baseball and basketball and attended Frederick Douglas Academy in NYC. After High School he attended Junior College and received a degree in Computer Information Systems. While attending college, Shaun began coaching youth basketball utilizing his leadership skills and nurturing his natural sense of service to the community. In just getting to know him for a brief period, Shaun seems to bring a sense of purpose into every facet of his life including coaching basketball.

As we fast forward to the present time, Coach Commodore is now coaching the 2026 Riverside Hawks AAU Boys Basketball Team, a team in which he takes tremendous pride in and envisions nothing but upside going forward. The Riverside Hawks AAU Basketball program is one with a deep history in NYC. Headquartered on Riverside Drive in Harlem N.Y., the program was originally founded by the historic Riverside Church. The program’s focus and mission are to use basketball as an avenue for young people to pursue academic opportunities and to promote their overall character and development into productive citizens of the community at large. Some notable alumni that have played for the famed organization include Kenny “the Jet” Smith, Elton Brand, Ron Artest, Kenny “Chibbs” Anderson, Lamar Odom, Chris Mullin, and most recently Donovan Mitchell just to name a few.

Coach Shaun’s calm demeanor translates over into his coaching style quite smoothly. Although he is extremely passionate about coaching basketball, he maintains a sense of calm while, developing and training his young prospects. His philosophy on coaching and development is to guide players and build them up through positive reinforcement for them to acquire the confidence they need to be successful. Players take note; in order to play for Coach Commodore, the main character traits that he looks for in players are having a strong work ethic, a willingness to learn, and having a good sense of personal accountability. He considers himself an “old school” Coach, placing a high emphasis on mastering the fundamentals in basketball in order to graduate to the next level of play. Coach Shaun considers basketball his “sanctuary” and a place where he can have a positive impact on young lives as they develop and mature throughout the process of their journey.

While Coach Commodore is well on his way to a very successful coaching career, his activities outside of the gym also demonstrate his love for the community and passion to help others. Shaun is the youngest Resident Association President in NYCHA (New York City Housing Authority) history working closing with a board of 5 members. Some of the many charitable and very impressive community work that the association has done under the Leadership of Coach Commodore include; performing wellness checks on elderly residents, distributing PPE (personal protective equipment) such as mask/gloves/sanitizer during the COVID-19 pandemic, distributing Fresh Direct Food boxes to senior citizens, conducting book bag drives for kids in the community, acquiring computers for the kids in the community, and creating history by helping to sign off on the first-ever Fitness Zone on NYCHA grounds!

When asked what he wants his legacy to be, Coach Commodore stated that he wants anyone that he has ever coached or mentored to be responsible and accountable individuals who carry on his legacy and leave a similar one for themselves. Through his admirable mentoring, coaching, and community service, Coach Shaun Commodore is a shining exemplification of the true meaning of basketball with a purpose.