Wilson held the EBC single-game scoring record for 21 years. But only true basketball heads know he ran with the J.W. The history of Rucker began in 1950 when a New York City Department of Parks and Recreation worker named Holcombe Rucker took it upon himself to create a tournament to help kids realize their. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. That summer he also played in the Rucker League, played at the Rucker Park in New York City, and was the second leading scorer, averaging 23 points along with 12 rebounds per game; during the competition he faced professional players like Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, Zach Randolph and Omar Cook. Thanks to NBA's original documentary 'The Doctor', aired in 2013, we were able to get a glimpse of Julius Erving playing at the famed Rucker Park.. Julius put on a show for the crowd. At a shade under 6-foot-5, Jackson was one of the game's first great leapers. Teams 12U (8 teams) 14U (7 teams) HIGH SCHOOL (13 teams) MENS UNLIMITED (12 teams) The game began shortly after 2 p.m. at Rucker Park and wrapped up indoors with the Big 5 team winning, 74-67, at Gauchos Gym in the Bronx, home of the New York-based AAU program. The SLAM Summer Classic is unlike any other high school basketball game! The AEBL is all about culture and community. Stacey Marius, Gregs sister, said that her brother had this vision of bringing his love for hip-hop and basketball and getting them together and having tournaments, but in a place where it was a high-profile tournament that everybody could enjoy.. Julius "The Claw" Erving That is the Madison Square Garden of street basketball courts in the world.. Note: This article is archival in nature. The organizers slyly suggest that the game on these Harlem. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Kareem "Best Kept Secret" Reid Known as the elite high school basketball players favorite all-star game, the SLAM Summer Classic will again bring together the top boys and girls from across the country to take part in a weekend filled with community,cultureand competition. Greg Marius, a former hip-hop artist, revitalized the atmosphere by starting the Entertainers Basketball Classic in 1982. Rucker Park - The true Mecca of basketball - Old school style Sticker. James "Pookie" Wilson Hammond never really got into the high school game; he was already deep into the street game. You get to talk with the other officials, whether its halftime or after the game, Mensah said. Kareen Abdul-Jabbar -Power Memorial (New York, NY) Class of 1965, Rafer Skip To My Lou Alston -Cardozo (Queens, NY), Class of 1994, Nate The Skate Archibald -Dewitt Clinton (Bronx, NY) Class of 1966, Wilt Chamberlin -Overbrook (Philadelphia, Pa) Class of 1955, Julius The Claw Erving commonly known as "Dr. J" -Roosevelt (Roosevelt, NY) Class of 1968, Joe The Destroyer Hammond -Taft (Bronx, NY), Connie The Hawk Hawkins -Boys (Brooklyn, NY) Class of 1960, Jumpin Jackie Jackson -Boys (Brooklyn, NY) Class of 1958, Richard Pee Wee Kirkland -Charles Evan Hughes (New York, NY) Class of 1964, Herman Helicopter Knowlings -Ben Franklin (Harlem, NY), Earl (The Goat) Manigault -Ben Franklin (Harlem, NY) Class of 1964, Conrad Mcnasty Mcrae -Brooklyn Tech (Brooklyn, NY) Class of 1989, Earl The Pearl Monroe -Bartram (Philadelphia, Pa) Class of 1962, Corey Homicide Williams -Rice (New York, NY) Class of 1995, Kareem Best Kept Secret Reid -St. Raymonds (Bronx, NY) Class of 1994, Charlie Scott -Laurinburg Institute (Laurinberg, NC) Class of 1966, James Fly Williams -Glen Springs Academy (Lakemont, NY) Class of 1972, James Speedy Williams -Morris (Bronx, NY) Class of 1987, Larry Bone Collector Williams -Pasadena (Pasadena, Calif). It needs the relationships and the connections with other brands and the support. Its stressful. You got to earn it. We give you the best playground basketball courts in America. All-Star Baron Davis made sure to get some shots up on the court the evening before he played at Rucker Park, Gittens said. No matter, Monroe developed into one of the game's greatest guards under the tutelage of Clarence "Big House" Gaines at Winston-Salem State and at Philly's famed Baker League. A post shared by SLAM HIGH SCHOOL (@slam_hs). The history of some men isn't evident until . It encouraged me to work even harder.. Its odd how I got started, said the 40-year-old Mensah. The game began, but afternoon showers postponed it for 4 hours making it the first rain delay in TBT history. subscribe to the email newsletter from Harlem Patch. For more information about the SLAM Summer Classic and real-time coverage of the event later this month, follow@SLAM,@SLAM_HSand@WSLAMon all social media platforms. Its commonly referred to as Rucker Park or just the Rucker. He is looking forward to sharpening his game on a functional court. The game didnt get started at Rucker until 11 p.m. With a roster of 24 amazing athletes and eight great partners, this years Classic will be the biggest one yet.. Pablo Robertson The leagues in New York have been a hotbed for players and officials for years, Gilbert noted. If youre a hooper, your dream was to play at that park, said Corey Williams, who goes by the nickname Homicide and turned impressive performances at the Rucker and other playgrounds into a lengthy international professional career. for the reopening, which was attended by Erving, Kirkland, Nate Archibald and a number of others who had forged their reputations on the court. During the Rucker Pro League in 1985, he averaged nearly 35 points per game. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. Laurinburg Institute (Laurinberg, N.C.) '66 This past Friday, ONE37pm spoke with ReeCee Hollans, Global Grassroots Basketball Sports Marketing Manager about this groundbreaking deal. 28 pick of the 1993 NBA Draft. Board members reacted warmly to the project during the May 12 presentation, though some worried that attention to the court would fade after the three-year staff position ends. In recent years, Wells said, some summer tournaments that used to come to the Harlem court have started to go elsewhere. Join Active Beginning in 1947, Rucker organized a tournament around Harlem for area players as a way to bond the community and give local kids an extracurricular activity. Are you sure you want to delete this family member? He's also been putting in work at the Rucker ever since, earning the moniker as the most dangerous player in the EBC. Commerce (New York, N.Y.) '55 From June 30-July 2, Holcombe Rucker Park in Harlem, New York will play host to a 16-team, invitation-only 17U bracket. You kind of learn about the players through the course of the game. Can you break down what this adidas partnership means to each individual league? All rights reserved. Cookie Settings. Action in this summer's tournament gets started in the Omaha and Rucker Park regionals. 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. 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. 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. Manigault had offers from all over the country, but it never worked out for him. For over 50 years the Each One Teach One summer league, also founded by McCullough and Crawford, has called Rucker Park home. You just never know what can happen. You are there to make sure the game is being played fair, Mensah said. 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. When it comes to fans, the crowds at Rucker Park are notorious for their zest for basketball and the players. James "Speedy" Williams (Officials) get to see the size, speed, quickness and skills of players who have pro-like ability.. Jeffrey "Hannibal" Banks is hard to miss as he strolls onto the court every summer wearing his trademark round, oversized sunglasses and flowing robe. SLAM Summer Classic Vol. 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." Morrissey admits the games can be taxing on officials. In New York City, the arrival of the summer season guarantees a few things, including some of the best and most exciting streetball around. As a child, Michele Roberts occasionally found herself at Holcombe Rucker Park when her older brothers, who were supposed to be babysitting her at home in the South Bronx, would take her to Harlem instead. All rights reserved. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Rucker Park is something that just about everybody knows, and people understand the history and the heritage of playing basketball outside. It means even more to me because that's where everything began for me.". Please try again. Officiating summer park-league games, like those held at legendary Holcombe Rucker Park in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, gives referees invaluable experiences, according to veteran official Terry Gilbert, director of the Pro-Am Referee Training and Development Program. That mystique may be gone. Theyre older, theyre faster, theyre bigger and theyre stronger, said Will Mensah, another Rucker League referee who now officiates in the G League as well as small-college basketball. 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. Although probably bad moves, he didn't make any bad moves when he dropped 50 on Dr. J in a double-overtime loss in what veteran observers call the greatest streetball game ever played in 1970. You may not be able to say one thing to one person that you could to another., Gilbert developed a slogan that he uses to promote the Pro-Am program. For us, Drew League, Rucker Park, and AEBL were no-brainers because they are legendary summer basketball leagues. Basketball players at every level use the summer months to improve their skills on the court. By COURT-VISION. Over the last twenty years the event has . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. James "Fly" Williams This place is very legendary in the urban community. Teams play at Rucker Park during the summer before renovations. Rucker Park via YouTube Located at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem, N.Y., Holcombe Rucker Park is famous for churning out some of the greatest basketball talents in. Rucker Park was called the P.S. For more Harlem news, subscribe to the email newsletter from Harlem Patch. In celebration of the official partnerships, adidas Basketball athletes James Harden, Anthony Edwards and Donovan Mitchell will debut each leagues partnership jersey ahead of this years summer league season. Since 1980, Rucker Park Streetball League has been the basketball Mecca of NYC's Harlem community. He eventually was a NBA Hall of Famer, but some of his most memorable games were played at the Rucker. 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. Sometimes when youre outside theres an issue of security, Morrissey noted. But on the playgrounds, Archibald was known as "The Skate," the man who returned to Rucker every summer even after he made it to the big-time. Despite all the success the community experienced through the youth league and summer tournament, Mary Rucker-Thomas does not feel that her husband's legacy . Everyone loves the game and wants to be part of it, Mensah said. Rucker Park is well-known for building the game of basketball, and some of the games most storied careers. Hollans: The environment is going to be something that people can connect with. Rucker Park has been featured in lots of movies and television over the years. It wasnt like he was off. The park was established in 1956 next to PS 156; the school closed in 1981. 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. Most fans know "The Dipper" averaged 50.4 points per game in an NBA season and once scored 100. Secondly, its one of the only outdoor venues where a league has three officials, shot clocks and NBA rules. 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. Conrad "McNasty" McCrae [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. The 2022 grassroots basketball season is inching closer - and the upcoming circuit should finally see some return to normalcy - as all three shoe brands (Nike, adidas, Under Armour) expect to field full schedules during the live-recruiting periods. LeBron played for Jay-Z's team S. Carter in 2003 at Rucker Park. Read More. Back home, however, the lefty point is better known for leading rapper Fat Joe's Terror Squad to three consecutive EBC titles in 2002-04, including the final one in which he led his team past a group featuring Cali standouts Baron Davis and Gilbert Arenas. Veterans: Wilt Chamberlain, Julius "The Doctor" Erving, Connie Hawkins, Joe "Destroyer" Hammond, Tiny Archibald . As his tournament gained in popularity and the Rucker League transformed into a summer pro-am, Rucker managed his connections to secure hundreds of college scholarships for the teenagers he viewed as students before athletes. For those who saw him play with the St. Louis Spirits, it was a memorable experience -- just like those that saw him at Rucker, the Hole in Brownsville or any other street court. Nominate your program for the 2022 season. He said his most memorable experience involved Durant. With thousands of fans in attendance and thousands of dollars on the line, the teams arrived at Rucker Park with the city experiencing its biggest blackout since 1977. Soon, he invited pros back, enlivening the experience with the addition of bombastic play-by-play callers, booming hip-hop soundtracks and corporate sponsors. MackenzieMgbako, Gill St. Bernard School (Gladstone, NJ), Robert Dillingham,DondaAcademy (Simi Valley, CA), SimeonWilcher, Roselle Catholic HS (Roselle, NJ), Jared McCain, Centennial HS (Corona, CA), Judea Watkins, Sierra Canyon HS (Los Angeles, CA), Jadyn Donovan, Sidwell Friends School (Washington DC), Hannah Hidalgo, Paul VI HS (Haddonfield, NJ). Even more than his handle, Williams' biggest asset is confidence. We can't wait to bring TBT-style basketball to this historic location and hallowed basketball ground. 22.6k Followers, 805 Following, 473 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from EBC at Rucker Park (@ebcruckerpark) Ben Franklin (Harlem, N.Y.) Rucker Park definitely represents history. He made his name and became famous, however, at the Rucker. Rucker Park will also have second round games on Sunday and a Round of 16 matchup on Wednesday that will be televised in primetime on ESPN at 8 p.m. career, matched against Adrian Walton, better known as Whole Lotta Game. As an official, if theres a lot of jump shots, it makes life easier, he joked. Rucker Pro League, the Each One Teach One summer league and the famed . You get the idea what kind of mood the player is in. and/or its affiliates and licensors. As his tournament gained in popularity and the Rucker League transformed into a summer pro-am, Rucker managed his connections to secure hundreds of college scholarships for the teenagers he viewed as students before athletes. In the past, it's been stars like Joe Hammond, who scored 74 points in a game at Rucker in the 1970s. One of the premier streetball leagues providing weekly access to some of not only the city's, but also the nation's brightest stars gracing the hardwood is, of course, the Rucker Park Entertainers Basketball Classic. Rucker Park is located in a neighborhood (Harlem) that has long been an African American cultural hub in New York as well as the flashpoint for multiple race riots that elucidated the simmering discontent of black New Yorkers tired of being treated as second class citizens. The National Basketball Players Association is donating $360,000 to revitalize Harlem's historic Rucker Park. Players from Philadelphia, like a young,. As a freshman, Fly pumped in 29.4 ppg his first season and 27.5 in his second season before turning pro. Over the last five years, he worked 65-70 games a summer. He once scored 100 points in a Police Athletic League game where his team scored 102. All it took was a good game, or one nice move, against "The Claw," and anybody was instantly somebody at the Rucker. Charlie Scott 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. The notion that the park would be in any state of disrepair is a heartbreaker to me, she said. For us this means family. By the 1980s, N.B.A. MAP: Did NYC Find A Hazardous Problem In Your Building This Week? North (Riverside, Calif.) summer league team in 1993 before returning to New York and creating history at the Rucker. We dont come there giving you roses. All these guys came down there because it was basically mano a mano, he said, with you against somebody, not being told how to run a set, but your best skill against my best skill, and your knowledge against my knowledge, on this even playing field where the crowd can become an opponent too., He added, You was pushed into a different level of playing because you didnt want to fail in front of all of these people, and you want them to see you perform, because it gave you so much more energy and more life, and then your legend grew., Wells recalled the time Carter, who recently retired after a 22-year N.B.A. players. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. And we have to be grateful to those (NBA) guys for coming here.. Earl "The Goat" Manigault The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". He would sometimes roll through Rucker to rep the City of Brotherly Love, often with spectacular results. He's also the NBA's all-time leading scorer. Wells is hopeful that the renewed interest in Rucker Park will restore the courts allure. Those guys started the same way I did, Morrissey said. It is the first time in TBT's nine-year. 16U, and 15U teams participate in The Circuit League this spring and summer? The NBA legend didn't suit up . legends like Wilt Chamberlain, Lew Alcindor (later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) and Julius Erving, who went by the nickname the Claw at the park long before he was known as Dr. J. You got to earn it.. 156 to Holcombe Rucker Park in 1975. Nation; . Scott is one of the most accomplished players ever to roll through the Rucker. Holcombe Rucker expanded to after-school programs during the school year and formed the Pro Division in 1950. The goal of the players union is to restore the park as a community asset and attract N.B.A. All told, the work will "reestablish the court as a state-of-the-art basketball venue," the city said in its presentation. You see a lot of plays, and if it happens again, you have an idea how to call it.. There's a new sheriff in Harlem looking to rejuvenate the Entertainers Basketball Classic at famed Rucker Park Cordell Marius. 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. Rucker sits in the shadows of the Polo Grounds Towers, a collection of 30-story apartment buildings on the former site of an old baseball stadium. Archibald almost never made it to the big-time, as academic troubles nearly derailed his prep career. Many of the game's future pros tried to emulate the moves of "Black Jesus" -- the hesitation fakes and the famous 360-degree finger-rolls -- but few, if any, performed like him. In order to limit the Rucker ruckus, we left the players unranked. 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. Its much more difficult to constantly have plays that come right to the basket, Morrissey said. Official Facebook Site for the EBC (Entertainers Basketball Classic) street basketball league held at. Ramsey even spent some time in the League with the hometown Knicks and the Syracuse Nationals, but he's perhaps best remembered for legendary schoolyard battles against Connie Hawkins. But the court, widely known as "the Rucker," has seen better days: its pavement is cracking, its gates are missing and broken, and its bleachers were damaged by a recent winter storm, Parks Department officials told a Harlem community board this month. They may ask you about a certain play and suggest that you take a better angle the next time.. 5 dunker of all-time, behind guys named Doc, Dominique, Jordan and Vince Carter. Over generations, the asphalt court honed its reputation as a siren calling and name-making mecca for soon-to-be N.B.A. Today is a special day for hoops and streetwear fans. 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. Well, you have to know the dynamic of it, Gilbert said. Its a landmark in New York City. Morris (Bronx, N.Y.) '87 players. Franklin K. Lane (Brooklyn, N.Y.) '76 Fly was so good offensively it was frightening -- both literally and figuratively. As someone who played college ball myself, its been incredible to work with experts in this space. So if the players can improve by using this blueprint, why not referees? His goal was to provide leadership and a leg up for thousands of boys and girls. By Brewtown Andy @brewtownandy Jul 15, 2022, 11:00am CDT / new Every play is life or death for these guys.. Herman "Helicopter" Knowlings When the pros are involved, the park draws huge crowds and wild responses. I career didn't go exactly as planned, Homicide still drew the interest of NBA scouts. Some occasional girls/juniors games start around 4pm. He was an overlooked contributor at powerhouse Rice, but earned NJCAA All-American honors at Penn Valley Community College in Missouri. The park was renamed after him as the Holcombe Rucker Playground in 1974. "When I was in 9th grade, I saw the Helicopter, with my own two eyes, pick a quarter off the top of the backboard to win a bet, and I was in complete shock," said former NBA all-star Bernard King. This annual summer youth league has been instrumental in developing young players and cultivating academic growth and community building. Nobody drew a crowd like the Doctor and he was the player all playground legends were judged against. Following his death, two protgs - Bob McCullough and Fred Crawford (both drafted by NBA teams) - created the Rucker Pro League, a competition among professionals held in the park each summer. There he played on the same team as Lamar Odom, Jamal Crawford and Sebastian Telfair. June 2, 2015. 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. You can keep up with all of the latest updates with this announcement via adidas. Most know him as Dr. J, ABA and NBA ambassador of the 1970s and '80s. Entertainers Basketball Classic (EBC) founder Greg Marius can only recall one player he wishes would've graced the famed court within Rucker Park: Michael Jordan. It needs to have the support that we used to have.. Of course, like any game anywhere, they also think they can officiate, too. History. This article is the copyright of Referee Enterprises, Inc., and may not be republished in whole or in part online, in print or in any capacity without expressed written permission from Referee. We are blessed to have had the opportunity to lock in these partnerships. The climb began on the lower levels before eventually culminating with 10 years in NCAA Division I basketball in several different conferences as well as Spain. The experience of officiating some of the NBA players increases the excitement level. Pasadena (Pasadena, Calif.) While there are plenty of other parks and leagues around New York City, as well as across the country, the Rucker Park Summer League, which is held from mid-June until about mid-August, is unique in many aspects. [3] Rucker started a basketball tournament in 1950 in order to help less-fortunate kids stay off the streets and aim for college careers. The article is made available for educational use by individuals. Sitemap He straightened things out by his senior season, when he was named all-city for a 21-0 team that won a mythical national championship.
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