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Danny played a variety of sports growing up, but basketball was his first love. Like most kids, he started out in programs and leagues run by the YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club and the town recreation department. He displayed advanced skills at an early age and made his first travel team in third grade—he joined a program called CYP at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Port Chester, N.Y., which borders his hometown of Greenwich, Conn. By fifth grade, he was playing for two travel teams, CYP and the Greenwich Flame, and both teams were dominant in their respective leagues and regions.

Even though junior and amateur golf slowly began to take up the majority of his time, Danny would go on to play basketball (and golf, of course) at Greenwich High for four years. He also was the starting shooting guard for an elite AAU basketball team called United Sons & Daughters (USAD). The team practiced in nearby Stamford, Conn., and was coached by former Fairfield University star Troy Bradford, who was assisted by Danny’s dad, Joe. During Danny’s time with the team, USAD qualified for the AAU National Championships four times, including a run to the 2010 Final Four in Little Rock, Ark., that resulted in a third-place finish in the country. Danny was the team’s leading three-point shooter. His long-range marksmanship and slick passing skills played a key role in the team’s success. Several of his teammates went on to play basketball in college, including his starting backcourt partner and friend, Schadrac Casimir, who is now playing for Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y.

From the time he began playing basketball, Danny always wore uniform #3. Danny’s parents, Debbie and Joe, are both alums of Syracuse University and are diehard fans of the men’s basketball team. It immediately became Danny’s favorite team in any sport, and he has been rooting for the Orange for as long as he can remember. Joe was the sports editor of The Daily Orange, the student newspaper, during his time at Syracuse. He maintained a relationship with the coaching staff, so the Guise family traveled to as many games as possible. Road games at places like St. John’s, Seton Hall and UConn, which were short drives from their home, were automatics on the schedule. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden was a must every year, and they went to as many NCAA tournament games as they could. Obviously, the Guises also made frequent trips to Syracuse. Not only did they attend games at Carrier Dome, but they were invited to watch team practices. Danny quickly became friends with many of the players and coaches and worked out with them after practices. In particular, Mike Hopkins, who is now the Syracuse Associate Head Coach, spent a great deal of time working with Danny on his game. It was a dream come true to practice at the Carrier Dome. He also served as ball boy for several home games.

Danny’s favorite Syracuse player was Gerry McNamara, who wore #3 during his Syracuse playing career and is now a Syracuse assistant coach. McNamara, along with current New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, led Syracuse to the NCAA National Championship in 2003. The game was played at the New Orleans Superdome, the same site where Syracuse lost the 1987 NCAA title game to Indiana on Keith Smart’s shot just before the buzzer (Danny’s dad, Joe, was at both games). In the 2003 final, McNamara hit six 3’s in the first half to give the Orange an 11-point halftime lead over Kansas, and then Syracuse held on for an 81-78 victory, with Hakim Warrick blocking Michael Lee’s shot just before the final buzzer. McNamara had an incredible college career after that, culminating with a dramatic MVP performance in leading the Orange to the 2006 Big East title at Madison Square Garden. Danny still has a piece of the net from that game. Of course, Danny wore his #3 Syracuse jersey everywhere to the point where other Syracuse players dubbed him “Little GMac.”

Fast forward to Danny’s time with USAD. As usual, Danny wore uniform #3 (his tribute to McNamara), and that, coupled with his three-point shooting prowess, prompted his USAD teammates to hang the “DG3” moniker on him. The nickname stuck, so much so that even friends outside of his basketball world call him that now. And these days, Danny hopes to continue dropping 3’s on the board, particularly on par 4’s and 5’s.