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." 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. Alson is the most famous playground player of the modern era, bar none. Everything we send is officiating specific because that's all we do. "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. Although many professional basketball players have played at the court after gaining prominence, many others developed their basketball skills at Rucker prior to becoming notable in the sport, including: Other amateur players who made a name for themselves at Rucker but never played in the ABA or NBA included Earl Manigault, Joe Hammond and Pee Wee Kirkland. It does not store any personal data. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Rucker Park will host one of the tournament's early "regional" rounds, between July 16-20, with all games open to the public. software for managing & marketing your events. That mystique may be gone. It is the first time in TBT's nine-year. Privacy Policy Wilson held the EBC single-game scoring record for 21 years. Roosevelt (Roosevelt, N.Y.) '68 There was an error submitting your subscription. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Hollans: Sure! Youre dealing with people with multiple emotions, he said. custom baskets donated by Spalding. ONE37pm: Thanks for chatting with us ReeCee! 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. Not only do the players want to do well, you want to do your best job so you can grow from it, he said. It was automatic.. Rucker Park, in her estimation, looked decrepit, with the blacktop cracked and uneven and the bleachers in disarray. Here I am now refereeing with an NBA official, Morrissey said. Underneath the 155th Street bridge is Rucker Park, quite possibly the most famous playground in basketball. The AEBL is all about culture and community. Rucker Park ribbon cutting Credit: Bill Moore photo This past Saturday at Rucker Park, located at 155th Street and Eighth Avenue in Harlem, an official celebration of its renovation and reopening . That led the National Basketball Players Association the union representing the league's players to approach the city, offering to fund $360,000 in renovations that are set to begin this summer. ", "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. A 5-foot-7 showman with a wicked handle, Robertson helped Loyola of Chicago win the 1963 NCAA title. June Schedule 14 & under and Woman's Men's Men's 4:15PM 6:00 PM 7:30 PM June 20 Monday N/A Men's Game Men's Game . [3] Rucker started a basketball tournament in 1950 in order to help less-fortunate kids stay off the streets and aim for college careers. 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 Rucker Park weekend schedule is: Anyone around, show up and play. 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. 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 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. 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. Theres no set way to deal with people. Its paved the way for so many people, Williams said. players union, checked in on the progress. This annual summer youth league has been instrumental in developing young players and cultivating academic growth and community building. We also want to offer the fans an insight into basketball officiating. Joe "The Destroyer" Hammond Holcombe Rucker, a Harlem school teacher, staged the first summer Rucker tournament in 1946. His motto was "Each one, teach one" and the tournament further played into his mission of promoting education. 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. As you mentioned to me earlier, AEBL games have an HBCU vibe to them, and its an experience. 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). Its gotten people out of trouble. [6] The park underwent $520,000 in renovations between August and October 2021, funded in part by the National Basketball Players Association and New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. 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. "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. The National Basketball Players Association is donating $360,000 to revitalize Harlem's historic Rucker Park. You see a lot of plays, and if it happens again, you have an idea how to call it.. 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. 1,489 were here. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Find Camps & Activities for your Active Kids, Basketball Workouts to Increase Explosiveness. Worthen even played two years in the NBA, but his real calling was on the playgrounds. 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. Williams took the hard road to streetball stardom. Corey "Homicide" Williams 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. View. Those local players never received mainstream recognition as NBA talents, but they are still talked about in New York today. This isnt something that we want to do only during the summer, we want the impact to be year-round. We dont care who you are, he said. When you talk about the greatest forwards in high school history, you begin with The Hawk. A windy day likely means more drives to the basket. Known as the elite high school basketball players' favorite all-star game, the SLAM Summer. Terms of Use All rights reserved. All told, the work will "reestablish the court as a state-of-the-art basketball venue," the city said in its presentation. Power Memorial (New York, N.Y.) '65 Taft (Bronx, N.Y.) This annual summer youth league has been instrumental in developing young players, and cultivating academic growth and community building. Could you just speak a little more about this partnership? 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. It's a run-down subway station, never too crowded, and a set of stairs will take you back above ground. This past Friday, ONE37pm spoke with ReeCee Hollans, Global Grassroots Basketball Sports Marketing Manager about this groundbreaking deal. He's also the NBA's all-time leading scorer. Many players came to that park and got booed. 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. Wilt Chamberlain Monroe was a late-bloomer to the high school game; he started at center his final year at Bartram and averaged 21.7 ppg. He also killed cats at the Rucker when he wasn't at UCLA winning three NCAA titles. Rucker mentored children, building a program from scratch, always keeping his busy schedule in his pocket. or We dont care what you do. ONE37pm: Okay ReeCee we have a task for you. Herman "Helicopter" Knowlings From $19.84. Commerce (New York, N.Y.) '55 There's a new sheriff in Harlem looking to rejuvenate the Entertainers Basketball Classic at famed Rucker Park Cordell Marius. Kareem "Best Kept Secret" Reid Rucker started a basketball tournament in 1950 in order to help less . Some of the greatest talents in pro basketball--Chamberlain, Abdul-Jabbar and Erving were the biggest names--would play alongside incredible streetball talents out of Harlem. 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. However, that summer eventually became the. Cardozo (Queens, N.Y.) '94 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. "Jumpin" Jackie Jackson It would be hard to shoot if you would go to the corner.. This place is very legendary in the urban community. He made his name and became famous, however, at the Rucker. Hollans: This partnership is all about people who love basketball, have played basketball, and are in love with the game. I career didn't go exactly as planned, Homicide still drew the interest of NBA scouts. He's also been putting in work at the Rucker ever since, earning the moniker as the most dangerous player in the EBC. "At a very young age, [I] learned to appreciate how the Rucker is essentially holy ground," Roberts said. players. 4 Returns on August 20 at Rucker Park The SLAM Summer Classic is BACK. It was kind of tough, because one side of the court was uneven, so if you would run downhill, one side would be deeper than the other, Jones said. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. (Officials) get to see the size, speed, quickness and skills of players who have pro-like ability.. Crews worked on the court starting in August, leveling the asphalt and installing black bleachers, a state-of-the-art scoreboard and N.B.A. If you think about it, a basketball player first starts playing outside most of the time. But did you know Wilt also averaged 47.2 ppg his senior season at Overbrook? But only true basketball heads know he ran with the J.W. The history of some men isn't evident until . Recently, it's players like Corey "Homicide" Williams, who made a huge name for himself during the early 2000s and later went on to play professionally overseas. He died of cancer in 1965 before he turned 40. They just want to see a good basketball game., The people in New York City know all the facets of good basketball, added Morrissey. $ The Basketball Tournament played on the Marius Court at Rucker Park will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis! 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. Well give all the young men and women a weekend to remember, full of energy,competitionand fun. Rucker Pro League, the Each One Teach One summer league and the famed . As someone who played college ball myself, its been incredible to work with experts in this space. Thats why that park is special. Please see your Privacy Rights for how your information is used. What's even more amazing, though, is that Rucker Park has its own list of legends. Although he didn't play high school basketball, Williams did earn his keep at Medgar Evans College in Brooklyn. A post shared by SLAM HIGH SCHOOL (@slam_hs). Summer basketball is back! Its odd how I got started, said the 40-year-old Mensah. 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 something that needs to be preserved, Williams said. The goal of the players union is to restore the park as a community asset and attract N.B.A. With Rucker Park, I think about History. 22.6k Followers, 805 Following, 473 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from EBC at Rucker Park (@ebcruckerpark) We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Rucker Park was called the P.S. The Rucker represented a platform for players not only from New York City, but all over the tri-state area and beyond, to flex their blacktop skills. All-Star Baron Davis made sure to get some shots up on the court the evening before he played at Rucker Park, Gittens said. Fly was so good offensively it was frightening -- both literally and figuratively. Reggie White Tournament Registration 2023 Theme by SiteOrigin Theme by SiteOrigin 5 dunker of all-time, behind guys named Doc, Dominique, Jordan and Vince Carter. Erving played in the Rucker Park League back in the 1970s before the days of the nickname "Dr. J" and set the bar for many of the young, up-and-coming players. Join Active 156 Playground when it opened in 1956, and an influential Harlem teacher named Holcombe Rucker soon saw its potential. [3] 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. Ricky Rubio Feels Back to Normal After Comeback Game, Stephen Curry on His Return to Play and Regaining His Rhythm, REPORT: Miami Interested in Buying Out Jae Crowder, Drexel Guard Keishana Washington is One of the Coldest Scorers in the CountryAnd Shes Just Getting Started, How the NBA G League is at the Forefront of Basketball Innovation, from Player Development to Testing New Rules, Frank Jackson on His NBA Journey, Proving Himself and Getting to Play for the City He Calls Home, Hannah Hidalgo is Ready to Bring Her Dynamic Game to Notre Dame. That's how much his game was revered and he did most of his serious work teaming up with Hawkins and floor leader Ed "Czar" Simmons in legendary schoolyard battles with names such as Satch Sanders, Cal Ramsey, Tony Jackson, Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain and countless others. He did a lot more than that, however, also serving as a mentor to a young streetball prodigy named Nate "The Skate" Archibald and playing for the Harlem Globetrotters. In early 2009, Fly's famous No. The summer of 2011 wasn't expected to be a great one for NBA fans as the league was in a lockout that would force a shortened 66-game season. You get the idea what kind of mood the player is in. A prolific scorer, Kirkland had a legit high school and college rep, teaming with future NBA all-star Bob Dandridge at Norfolk State before being drafted by the Bulls in 1969. And we have to be grateful to those (NBA) guys for coming here.. We dont care where you from. . 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. 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. DeWitt Clinton (Bronx, N.Y.) '61 Are you sure you want to delete this family member? NBA icons of yesteryear frequently played at Rucker, names like Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Conrad "McNasty" McCrae ONE37pm: What else do you want people to know about this partnership? 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. 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. Every play is life or death for these guys.. Franklin K. Lane (Brooklyn, N.Y.) '76 Over the last five years, he worked 65-70 games a summer. Bartram (Philadelphia, Pa.) '62 Julius "The Claw" Erving He was an overlooked contributor at powerhouse Rice, but earned NJCAA All-American honors at Penn Valley Community College in Missouri. Entertainers Basketball Classic Rucker Park, Harlem This is the granddaddy of them all, with a lineage that dates back to 1950. As Kevin Durant's Legendary Night At Rucker Park Turns 10, Brooklyn Nets Could Use 66 Points In Game 5 More From Forbes Jan 29, 2023,08:45pm EST As John Tavares Hits 1,000 Games, His Toronto. She wondered if her memories had deceived her into a sunny nostalgia. 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. 4 areGatorade, Spalding, Def Jam, CLOT, the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), Champs Sports,SHOWTIMEandNike. In the Rucker Park League there are no set plays. Greg Marius Court at Holcombe Rucker Park is a basketball court in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard, just east of the former Polo Grounds site. 16U, and 15U teams participate in The Circuit League this spring and summer? North (Riverside, Calif.) summer league team in 1993 before returning to New York and creating history at the Rucker. Its iconic. It got so wild they had to get security.. Its stressful. By Jay Pixel. While not everyone can referee Rucker Park League games, there are summer leagues across the country where officials can gain valuable knowledge and experience. What you won't find are big-name ballers who came to Rucker once or twice, never to return. 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.

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