About Us

About Us:

Ball Never Lies (BNL) was founded in August 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging as an innovative platform dedicated to high-level basketball competition and player exposure. The organization initially launched with 3v3 and 5v5 tournaments, quickly gaining regional recognition for its elite talent, competitive atmosphere, and distinctive event style.

Building on its early momentum, BNL expanded into elite showcase events for top boys and girls across New England. In August 2021, the organization hosted what became widely regarded as one of the premier elite camps in the region, featuring student-athletes holding Division I scholarship offers from programs such as Ohio State, Providence College, Seton Hall, and Stanford, among others. That same year, BNL also hosted the “One Last Dance” showcase in East Providence, highlighting the top Division III prospects from across New England in a highly competitive, exposure-driven environment.

In September 2022, Ball Never Lies officially launched the BNL Elite AAU Program, beginning with a single team. The program experienced rapid growth, expanding into the girls’ division with four teams by Spring 2024. By Fall 2024, BNL Elite had grown to seven boys teams spanning grades 7 through 12, establishing a strong presence across multiple age groups and competitive levels.

In 2025, BNL Elite reached a significant milestone by joining the NXTPRO x PUMA Circuit, competing on one of the premier national platforms in grassroots basketball. In its inaugural season on the circuit, BNL Elite earned recognition as a Top 100 program nationally, further solidifying its reputation as a rising force in player development and competitive excellence.

Meet the Team! 

Irving Eggleston Jr: Founder/ Program Director BNL Elite Boys AAU

Irving Eggleston Jr. returned to the Rhode Island College men’s basketball program during the 2024–2025 season as an assistant coach. Previously, he coached for two seasons as an assistant coach at Brandeis University, a member of the high-academic UAA Conference. Prior to his time at Brandeis, Irving spent two seasons as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Rhode Island College. He began his collegiate coaching career at Nichols College, where he contributed to one of the most successful seasons in program history, helping lead the Bison to a program-tying 25–4 record, their first Top 25 national ranking, and their second Conference Championship. He later served as an assistant coach at Lasell College, helping guide the Lasers to a playoff appearance.

Beyond the collegiate level, Irving has worked extensively in player development at the grassroots and professional levels, including roles with the Jr. Celtics and the Connecticut Sun of the WNBA. He is widely recognized for his expertise in player development and recruiting, having successfully recruited an All-Conference student-athlete at every collegiate program with which he has been affiliated. In recognition of his impact within the AAU basketball landscape, Irving was named the 2024 AAU Coach of the Year.

As a player, Eggleston is a 2016 graduate of Nichols College and one of the most accomplished student-athletes in program history. He was twice named Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Player of the Year and led the Bison to three CCC Regular Season Championships and two conference championship appearances. He graduated tied as the program’s all-time leader in steals (193) and ranks 12th in career scoring with 1,298 points, while also placing in the program’s top 10 for career free throw attempts and makes. Eggleston was a two-time CCC First Team selection and the 2015–16 CCC Defensive Player of the Year. Following his senior season, he earned ECAC Division III New England Second Team honors and D3hoops.com Northeast Region Second Team recognition. He was inducted into the Nichols College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.

Following his collegiate career, Eggleston played professionally during the 2016–17 season with Newcastle University of the National Basketball League (NBL), where he averaged 16.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. He helped lead the Knights to their first-ever appearance in the British Universities and Colleges Sport Premier Final Four, as well as an NBL Division II Patrons Cup Championship.

Eggleston is a native of Manhattan, New York.

Dino Porcic: Founder/ Program Director BNL Elite Girls AAU

Dino Porcic took over the coaching reins of the Johnson & Wales (RI) University women’s basketball program in May, 2023.

Porcic came to JWU after spending the 2022-23 campaign as an assistant coach at Merrimack College, a Division I institution in Andover, Massachusetts. Playing a non-conference schedule which featured two NCAA Tournament teams (Notre Dame & USC) and two more which qualified for the NIT Tournament (Boston University & Harvard), the Warriors won 15 games (10-6 Northeast Conference), which was four more than the previous season. Three MC student-athletes earned NEC All-Conference honors as the Warriors went from seventh-place in 2021-22 to third this past season.

Porcic handled all operations duties for the Warriors, including team meals and travel, scheduling, budgeting, scouting, and academic supervision. He was also a key recruiter for head coach Kelly Morrone, using both the transfer portal as well as relationships fostered with high school, club, and junior coaches.

A 2016 graduate of Nichols College, Porcic cut his teeth in the coaching ranks as an assistant coach with the Lady Rivals AAU program. From there, he moved on to Rhode Island College, where he spent three seasons as an assistant coach (2019-22). Porcic helped the Anchorwomen to back-to-back Little East championship game appearances (2021-22) and the 2022 LEC Championship, which resulted in a berth into the NCAA Tournament. RIC posted a three-year combined record of 56-11 (.836 winning pct.) with Porcic on staff, and he played a key role in recruiting student-athletes from across New England. Working primarily with the guards, he was also responsible for practice planning and created recruiting videos for the program.

Porcic is a native of Putnam, Connecticut, Porcic was a member of the 2012-13 men’s basketball program at Nichols, which advanced to the CCC Tournament. He graduated NC with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management.

Randolf Thurman: BNL Elite Boys AAU Coach

Randolf Thurman currently and assistant coach at John Hopkins University. Thurman completed his 2nd season as an assistant coach with the Johnson & Wales (RI) University men's basketball team in 2024-2025.

The former Dean College standout is no stranger to competing at a high level. Coming from Wilbraham & Monson Prep the prep star competed against some of the best players to ever pick up a basketball in New England.

Jontai Williams: BNL Elite Boys AAU Coach

Jontai Williams is from the Bronx, New York. Having grown up in New York City, basketball is a very prominent sport. Jontai's first introduction to basketball was in sixth grade when his older brother taught him about the game of basketball. He played on an AAU Adidas-affiliated basketball team called WizKids where he began to travel and play competitively in many states across America.

In high school, he attended Cardinal Hayes High School where he played on the freshman and junior varsity, and 2 years on the varsity team as a starting guard.  In his varsity season, he was a Captain and was able to help his team achieve the schools first CHSAA AA Catholic High School City/State basketball championship in 2016-17 and was named to the all-tournament team. He was also a top 15 player in NY State at the end of his high school career.

From there Jontai received a full basketball scholarship to play basketball at Division 2 level at Saint Michael's College in Vermont for 4 years. Throughout his career, he was a Captain of the 2021-22 team, achieved 6 NE-10 Academic Honor Rolls, and was a top 5 point guard in the conference in assists per game.

From there Jontai was able to play an extra year of basketball due to COVID-19 and transferred to Johnson & Wales University Wildcats for the 2022-23 season as the starting point guard where he made the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) All-Academic Team. Throughout his career, he was able to help run basketball camps where he was able to help young athletes work on skill development and understanding the game of basketball. Jontai worked as the Head Coach of the Moses Brown Boys Middle School A team winning a championship, last season he was the top assistant at Rocky Hill Country Day School, and he recently accepted an Assistant Coaching position with Rhode Island College Women’s Basketball program.

Anthony Arrico: BNL Elite Boys AAU Coach

Born and raised in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Anthony Arrico developed a passion for basketball in the sixth grade. While he committed to football during high school, his love for the game never faded. He continued to compete at a high level, playing against top local high school and college athletes in rec leagues, men’s leagues, and pickup games. His natural talent and deep understanding of basketball became evident, and after high school, he decided to transition into coaching.

Anthony began his coaching career in his hometown intramural league, where he quickly established himself as a dedicated mentor for young athletes. His passion for player development led him to individual training and skill work, focusing on helping players refine their fundamentals and improve their basketball IQ. His ability to connect with athletes and guide their growth made him a natural fit for BNL Elite.

Anthony first joined BNL Elite in an interim role, where his reliability, leadership, and on-court performance stood out. His work ethic and commitment to developing young talent earned him a full-time coaching position with the program. Now, as a key member of the BNL coaching staff, Anthony continues to inspire and develop the next generation of players, bringing energy, knowledge, and a deep love for the game to every practice and competition.

Dan Porcic : BNL Elite Boys AAU Coach

Dan Porcic is a basketball coach and former collegiate student-athlete with a strong background in player development, recruiting, scouting, and program operations. He currently serves as an Assistant Coach and Associate Director of Admissions at Putnam Science Academy, widely regarded as one of the premier prep basketball programs in the country. Over the years, Putnam Science Academy has developed and placed hundreds of student-athletes at the Division I level and beyond, establishing a national reputation for elite player development and academic success.

Prior to joining Putnam Science Academy, Coach Porcic worked as a Graduate Assistant at Southern Methodist University (SMU) while earning his Master’s degree in Sports Management. During his time with the program, he played a key role in scouting preparation, video analysis, and on-court skill development. His contributions helped support back-to-back 20+ win seasons and consecutive NIT appearances, including a Top 4 NIT finish during the program’s first season competing in the ACC.

As a player, Porcic was a four-year collegiate starter, competing at both Division II and Division III levels. He began his career at Concordia College before finishing at College of Mount Saint Vincent. During his junior season, he earned First Team All-Skyline Conference honors along with Third Team All-Met recognition, accolades that highlighted his impact and consistency on the court.

Drawing from his experience as both a high-level player and coach, Porcic brings a detail-oriented approach to player development, a deep understanding of the recruiting landscape, and a commitment to helping student-athletes reach their full potential both on and off the court.

Andrew Medina: BNL Elite Boys AAU Coach

Andrew Medina returns to the program where his journey began, this time stepping onto the sidelines to start his coaching career. A former player within the program, Andrew brings firsthand knowledge of the culture, standards, and commitment required to succeed both on and off the court.

Having developed as an athlete within the program, he understands the importance of discipline, teamwork, and daily improvement. His experience as a player allows him to connect with athletes in a meaningful way while helping guide them through the same developmental path he once followed.

Now transitioning into coaching, Andrew is passionate about giving back to the program that helped shape him. He is eager to grow as a coach, learn the responsibilities of leadership, and play a role in helping young athletes build their skills, confidence, and passion for the game.

Derek Shanks: BNL Elite Girls AAU Coach

Derek Shanks begins his second season as an assistant women's basketball coach at Rhode Island College.

Shanks joins the RIC staff after recently graduating with a bachelor’s degree in finance and sports management from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. While at UMass, Shanks served as the head coach of the women’s club basketball team and was also a practice player with the varsity team.
 
The North Attleboro, Mass. native served as an assistant coach with the Red Rocketeers boys’ varsity basketball program for three seasons.