Middletown native and New York Knicks forward Cleanthony Early was shot in the right knee in an early-morning attack after leaving a Queens strip club.

Police say Early was leaving CityScapes gentlemen's club on in Maspeth, Queens, when he was surrounded by up to six men after 4 a.m. Wednesday. Early was shot in the knee and then robbed of his gold necklace and gold caps from his teeth.

Early was taken to Elmhurst Hospital and is listed in stable condition.

The 24-year-old moved to Middletown when he was 14. He attended Pine Bush High School where he played varsity basketball at before transferring to Mount Zion Christian Academy. A North Carolina school known for it's basketball program.

Following high school, Early came back to the Hudson Valley and was a junior college star at Sullivan County Community College, where he was a two year Division III Player of the Year. He then transferred to Wichita State  and was drafted by the Knicks in the 2nd round of the 2014 NBA draft.

The Knicks released a statement this morning saying, "We are aware of what occurred with Cleanthony Early this morning and are relieved that he is not in a life-threatening situation. We will not comment any further until we receive more information."

In his second season with the Knicks Early has played in 10 games, averaging less than a point per game.

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