He's best known for hanging in the air. 2005 EBC RUCKER PARK STREETBALL PLAYOFFS: Monday, August 15th 6:00 PM (1) Black Wall Street vs. (4) Certified 7:30 PM (1) Don Diva vs. (4) Full Surface/Ruff Ryders Tuesday, August 16th 4:30 PM BOYS Championship 6:00 PM (2) H3/DBand vs. (3) Pearl Harbor 7:30 PM (2) Terror Squad vs. (3) Rich Soil Monstars Wednesday, August 17th Well start with Drew League. But when those games were on, everybody stopped.. Taft (Bronx, N.Y.) But it's at Rucker where Erving turned 155th into his own personal playground. Officiating In Perspective with Barry Mano, let some of the stars get away with a violation or two, Next Level Softball Umpiring Free Email Series. Not only do the players want to do well, you want to do your best job so you can grow from it, he said. Some of the guys who come through here to play are amazing Kevin Durant, James Harden, Vince Carter, Kobe (Bryant), said Gilbert, who witnessed Durant in one game hit seven straight 3-pointers, some from just a step inside the half-court line. Nation; . Hollans: The environment is going to be something that people can connect with. A McDonald's All-American out of St. Ray's, Reid might be best remembered for the ridiculously extra-long shorts he wore at the University of Arkansas. Monroe was a late-bloomer to the high school game; he started at center his final year at Bartram and averaged 21.7 ppg. The Rucker summer league, staged throughout Harlem, was a proving ground for top college and pro stars by the 1960s, and eventually came to call the courts at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard home. Youre dealing with people with multiple emotions, he said. Larry "Bone Collector" Williams He said his most memorable experience involved Durant. It wasnt like he was off. I stopped playing ball and I wanted to stay in shape but I didnt have the discipline to just go out and run by myself. Wells recalled that in 2011, Kevin Durant made an appearance at Rucker Park during the N.B.A.s lockout and amassed 66 points in a memorable performance. Trust me. Rucker died at 39 of cancer in 1965. Probably the greatest high school player of all-time (sorry, LeBron), Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, led Power on a 71-game winning streak. Not long ago, players like Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and Vince Carter made the pilgrimage to West 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard to a court that is tiny in area, but large in cultural and historical significance. Its commonly referred to as Rucker Park or just the Rucker. He died of cancer in 1965 before he turned 40. Pasadena (Pasadena, Calif.) The notion that the park would be in any state of disrepair is a heartbreaker to me, she said. If you grew up in New York probably ever, but certainly in the 60s and 70s when I grew up, you could not help but understand what the Rucker meant to New York basketball, said Roberts, 63, now the executive director of the N.B.A. View. 16U, and 15U teams participate in The Circuit League this spring and summer? Nobody drew a crowd like the Doctor and he was the player all playground legends were judged against. A McDonald's All-American at Brooklyn Tech, McCrae was the No. And we have to be grateful to those (NBA) guys for coming here.. The SLAM Summer Classic is unlike any other high school basketball game! The renovations at the Rucker are personal for many NBA players, who have personal histories at the court, as well as for Roberts herself, who said her brothers took her to the park to shoot hoops while she was growing up in the South Bronx. Morrissey said the way he improved from a skills aspect, and gained the respect from players and fans, was officiating games as often as possible. Kevin came to the park and brought along Jason Williams (former NBA first-round draft pick of the Chicago Bulls and current ESPN analyst) and some other pros to play against the Sean Bell All-Stars, the best team in the city, he said. Laurinburg Institute (Laurinberg, N.C.) '66 So the rumors of his Rucker Park debut echoed throughout the city's entire summer basketball community. MAP: Did NYC Find A Hazardous Problem In Your Building This Week? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Holcombe Rucker expanded to after-school programs during the school year and formed the Pro Division in 1950. At one time, only Earl Manigault was a bigger name. Most fans know "The Dipper" averaged 50.4 points per game in an NBA season and once scored 100. May 31, 2022 A year before its 50th anniversary season, one of the most recognized summer basketball pro-am associations, Los Angeles' Drew League, is switching its key brand partner. You would think this was video for a movie, because every time he came down, they made sure he got the ball, and he was just firing it from way beyond the 3-point line, Wells said. In the NBA, Archibald was known as "Tiny," the man who ran the point for the 1981 NBA champ Celtics and the only player to lead the league in points and assists in the same season. Dr. J producing TV series based on Rucker Park book 'Asphalt Gods' By Ian Mohr February 27, 2022 | 12:30pm Enlarge Image Julius Erving is an executive producer on an upcoming series on famed. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Archibald returned to Rucker Park every summer, even after he had made it to stardom. A windy day likely means more drives to the basket. Power Memorial (New York, N.Y.) '65 Said to have brought in the greatest crowds ever seen at Rucker Park, Erving earned several nicknames during his time on the court, including "Little Hawk," "The Claw" and "Black Moses." When Roberts asked members of the players' unions executive committee if they had interest in renovating the Greg Marius Court at Rucker Park, the players asked how soon they could begin. The Rucker summer league staged throughout Harlem was a proving ground for top college and pro stars by the 1960s, and eventually came to call the courts at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard home. Herman "Helicopter" Knowlings As a referee you have to learn how to argue and how to resolve issues, remarked Morrissey. Some occasional girls/juniors games start around 4pm. Its a landmark in New York City. Their son came up with the concept of the Drew Crew. He even had a regular spot on the Globetrotters' 1970s cartoon show. Rucker Park, in her estimation, looked decrepit, with the blacktop cracked and uneven and the bleachers in disarray. Naming the 24 best players famed Rucker Park ever produced will stir plenty of debate. And the biggest thing is its for free. The NBA legend didn't suit up . The work will a new court surface, high-quality backboards and hoops, new bleachers, benches and park gates, and a new scoreboard that will be easier for community members to program. He made his name and became famous, however, at the Rucker. The red tour buses come to Harlem and go to that park. We won't send you spam. Fridays: The Rucker Park (not EBC) has afternoon and evening games. When the pros are involved, the park draws huge crowds and wild responses. That mystique may be gone. The former N.B.A. Street ball, a basketball Sticker. Holcombe Rucker expanded to after-school programs during the school year and formed the Pro Division in 1950. Known as the elite high school basketball players' favorite all-star game, the SLAM Summer. The article is made available for educational use by individuals. He made an impact at Chaffey Junior College in the late 1990s and spent some time at Globe Institute of Technology in Manhattan, another JUCO. Yall ready for this? McCrae had a history of arrythmia and died while running wind sprints on the first day of practice for the Orlando Magic's summer league team in 2000 at age 29. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Although he didn't play high school basketball, Williams did earn his keep at Medgar Evans College in Brooklyn. Earl "The Goat" Manigault Since a Harlem teacher named Holcombe Rucker first formed a summer league at the park in 1950, the court, at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard, has helped shape the history of street basketball. With the AEBL, I think about culture. For the first time, the SLAM Summer Classic Vol. Sam Worthen Gilbert not only helps train officials but also assigns them to leagues throughout the New York metro area, including the Rucker Park League, where many of the top-flight high school, college and professional players display their talents. Sometimes when youre outside theres an issue of security, Morrissey noted. 4 Returns on August 20 at Rucker Park The SLAM Summer Classic is BACK. 5 dunker of all-time, behind guys named Doc, Dominique, Jordan and Vince Carter. 35 was retired by Austin Peay State University -- a long overdue gesture after twice leading APSU to the NCAA tournament and putting Clarksville, Tenn., on the map. You could step on someones foot and break your leg if youre not careful, Mensah noted. It has also played host to legendary face-offs between amateurs from the neighborhood and stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Julius Irving. Just like the players, summer basketball in the parks is where the good officials become better. Another play about New York Yankees, Bronx Bombers, started on Broadway on February 6, 2018 at the Circle in the. 156, and it further gathered steam when a similar pro league was started for professional players to compete in the offseason. A lot of these guys, all they want to do is take it to the rack where you have to make the decision foul or no foul? There is a reason one of the squads for the Boost Mobile Elite 24 is named in his honor: "The Goat" is arguably the most well known streetball legend of all-time. As an official, if theres a lot of jump shots, it makes life easier, he joked. XFL Week 3 preview: Can AJ McCarron, Battlehawks continue their fourth-quarter heroics? You learn quickly how to deal with emotions and people. HARLEM, NY The basketball court in Harlem's Rucker Park, where generations of players honed their skills but which has fallen into disrepair in recent years, will undergo a major refurbishment thanks to an intervention by the NBA players' union. This annual summer youth league has been instrumental in developing young players and cultivating academic growth and community building. You see a lot of plays, and if it happens again, you have an idea how to call it.. Wilson held the EBC single-game scoring record for 21 years. James "Speedy" Williams ", "His Eyes Have Seen the Glory of Rucker Park", "Playground Legends: 10 Best NBA Players at Rucker Park", "As Kevin Durant's Legendary Night at Rucker Park Turns 10, Brooklyn Nets Could Use 66 Points in Game 5", "Kevin Durant's 66 Point-Performance at Rucker Park is Still Legendary", "When The Destroyer Joe Hammond ruled street basketball", Court profile of Rucker Park basketball court, Photo gallery: Hopefuls Tryout for Rucker Park Basketball Tournament, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rucker_Park&oldid=1141442658, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 02:43. The city's most important sporting event of the summer was suddenly in the balance. Joe "The Destroyer" Hammond Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. LeBron played for Jay-Z's team S. Carter in 2003 at Rucker Park. Fly was so good offensively it was frightening -- both literally and figuratively. Wilt Chamberlain There he played on the same team as Lamar Odom, Jamal Crawford and Sebastian Telfair. Privacy Settings "At a very young age, [I] learned to appreciate how the Rucker is essentially holy ground," Roberts said. players union. You got to earn it. The crowd was on him. Youll see N.B.A. While big contracts have made players less willing to risk injury in the offseason, the mystique of Rucker is even recognized among basketball's current stars, guys who have played for NBA titles, in Olympic gold-medal games and any other big-time atmosphere you can imagine. He didn't play big-time college ball, but Wilson was a big-time scorer and playmaker at John Jay College in the early 1980s. [3] Support & Feedback These days, Rucker Park is best known as the site of the famous Entertainers Basketball Classic summer league, which features the top streetball talents in New York along with occasional celebrity cameos. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Tommy Morrissey, who travels all over the country officiating major college games as well as the NBA G League, has been refereeing at Rucker Park for five years. Julius Erving and the rappers Fat Joe and ASAP Ferg spoke at the parks reopening after renovations. Tim Gittens, a Harlem native, earned his nickname Headache at the park and is now an assistant coach for the W.N.B.A.s Dallas Wings. Please try again. Rucker Park typographic word cloud basketball shape design Sticker. During the Rucker Pro League in 1985, he averaged nearly 35 points per game. After high school, Streety went upstate to play at Broome Community College and was selected to the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 1992. Nominate your program for the 2022 season. Holcombe Rucker, a playground director, established a youth basketball league and summer tournament nearly 70 years ago to keep children away from temptation even as others warned him to. In August, the players union announced it had joined with the citys Department of Parks and Recreation, among others, to give the court a substantial face-lift that would cost $520,000 and to create a recreation position for Rucker Park and the nearby Jackie Robinson Recreation Center. He had all the right moves on the court, and even though he didn't make all the right ones off it, he played a season in the ABA. It was the NBA's loss, however, as the Hawk soared with the Globetrotters, the ABL, the ABA and, of course, on the playground. TBT is a single-elimination basketball tournament where 64 teams compete for a $1 million prize. Dr. A's weekly risers and fallers: Jeremy Sochan, Christian Wood make the list. And, more specifically, for the great players who have competed on that court. Secondly, its one of the only outdoor venues where a league has three officials, shot clocks and NBA rules. Sports achievements are always in need of reflection. For Jones, a 16-year-old resident of Harlem, its still just his home park, the one he has played at ever since he can remember. Its no secret its across the street from one of the most dangerous housing projects in New York City, the Polo Grounds. All it took was a good game, or one nice move, against "The Claw," and anybody was instantly somebody at the Rucker. All of his experience brought Gilbert, now 50, back to where he first learned the game, the parks of New York City. Here's everything we know, The paths of KD and Kyrie: How one month changed three franchises and two superstar legacies, From bubble struggles to NCAA seed improvement, why these final weekend games matter, Transfer Talk: Barcelona circling as Man City tells Silva he can leave, Foden's return to form helps mask De Bruyne's troubles, Nelson sends Arsenal into euphoria with last-gasp winner over Bournemouth. Every play is life or death for these guys.. The National Basketball Players Association is donating $360,000 to revitalize Harlem's historic Rucker Park. You get to talk with the other officials, whether its halftime or after the game, Mensah said. Rucker Park will host one of the tournament's early "regional" rounds, between July 16-20, with all games open to the public. CEO's and brothers Joe Jr., and Randy Cruz host a Pro-Am Men's League with NBA and former college standouts opening day July 3rd. Along with being home of a more flashy game of streetball, Rucker Park is also charmed by fast-talking MCs who call the action, make fun of bad play, and come up with nicknames for great players that often stick around forever. Downtown, the United Nations headquarters had gone dark. "Jumpin" Jackie Jackson The experience of officiating some of the NBA players increases the excitement level. The game didnt get started at Rucker until 11 p.m. Teams play at Rucker Park during the summer before renovations. Cordell is the nephew of the late Greg Marius, who ran Rucker . Photo by Caleb Ferguson for the . North (Riverside, Calif.) summer league team in 1993 before returning to New York and creating history at the Rucker. [5], In June 2017, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio dedicated the court to Greg Marius, founder of the Entertainer's Basketball Classic streetball tournament held at the park. That leaves roughly 14 open weekends during the dead period . Like Earl Manigault before him, Scott finished his high school days at Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina before Dean Smith recruited him as UNC's first African-American scholarship athlete. Another baseball play comes to Broadway. "You can't talk about New York basketball without talking about the Rucker," Michele Roberts, the executive director of the player's union, told Community Board 10. Its much more difficult to constantly have plays that come right to the basket, Morrissey said. Manigault had offers from all over the country, but it never worked out for him. Many of them., A Street Basketball Mecca Gets a Face-Lift, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/10/sports/basketball/rucker-park-renovation.html. On this list, you'll find NBA icons, streetball legends and -- in some cases -- both. Were so excited to bring it to the legendary Rucker Park and give these athletes an authentic NYC hoops experience, says Les Green, CEO of SLAM Media Inc. SLAM is all about celebrating the game of basketball as well as the culture surrounding the game. Decades ago those names included the likes of basketball Hall of Famers Julius (Dr. J) Erving, Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Earl Monroe and Wilt Chamberlain. It would be hard to shoot if you would go to the corner.. Of course, like any game anywhere, they also think they can officiate, too. [2] The land that the park is on was once the site of the 8th Avenue Railroad Company. For us this means family. At 6-foot-5, he could sky, and legend has it he once swatted the shots on three pros on a single possession. 156 Playground when it opened in 1956, and an influential Harlem teacher named Holcombe Rucker soon saw its potential. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. All in the family: how three generations of Jaquezes have ruled West Coast basketball, Alonso says Aston 'living a dream,' eyes podium, Top moments from Brady, Manning, Jordan and other athletes hosting 'Saturday Night Live'. Cookie Settings. They recognize good players, good coaches and they recognize good referees.. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Rucker Park - The true Mecca of basketball - Old school style Sticker. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. So when I think about Drew, I think about family and empowerment on and off the court. It was also featured in the 2018 film Uncle Drew. Streety also played for Murray State and is regarded as one of the most underappreciated streetball talents ever. Former President Bill Clinton once stopped by to watch the action. February 12, 2018 - Soccer. You cant rely on a jumper when the wind is blowing 20 miles per hour, noted Morrissey. He was an overlooked contributor at powerhouse Rice, but earned NJCAA All-American honors at Penn Valley Community College in Missouri. or Well be telling the history.. Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. Its something that needs to be preserved, Williams said. (Officials) get to see the size, speed, quickness and skills of players who have pro-like ability.. In early 2009, Fly's famous No. If you get the chance, check out some of the videos on the internet. Officiating at Rucker Park has allowed Gilbert, Morrissey and Mensah the chance to work alongside and learn from current NBA referees.