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. Overbrook (Philadelphia, Pa.) '55 Nominate your program for the 2022 season. And the biggest thing is its for free. Sitemap We are going to be doing tons of giveaways, and were going to be in the community. Veterans: Wilt Chamberlain, Julius "The Doctor" Erving, Connie Hawkins, Joe "Destroyer" Hammond, Tiny Archibald . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. If you think about it, a basketball player first starts playing outside most of the time. The game began, but afternoon showers postponed it for 4 hours making it the first rain delay in TBT history. Rucker Park is something that just about everybody knows, and people understand the history and the heritage of playing basketball outside. Privacy Settings Hollans: Sure! Boys (Brooklyn, N.Y.) '58 Pasadena (Pasadena, Calif.) The 1960 ESPNHS Mr. Basketball USA would have been a cinch All-American at the University of Iowa, but a gambling scandal cost the Hawk eight years of his prime. Its just us today in the park. And we have to be grateful to those (NBA) guys for coming here.. Earl "The Pearl" Monroe You are there to make sure the game is being played fair, Mensah said. You kind of learn about the players through the course of the game. Summer basketball is back! Often, Rucker would let grade cards influence who could play in the tournament. With the AEBL, I think about culture. By Jay Pixel. During the Rucker Pro League in 1985, he averaged nearly 35 points per game. You will see a celebrity sitting in the audience out there. software for managing & marketing your events. The JR Circuit will be debuting in January 2022. Rucker started a basketball tournament in 1950 in order to help less-fortunate kids stay off the streets and aim for college careers. The Texas native didn't play high school ball growing up in SoCal, but he was always practicing his craft. Brooklyn Tech (Brooklyn, N.Y.) '89 We dont care about your accolades and credibility in the N.B.A. We dont care who you are, he said. 156 to Holcombe Rucker Park in 1975. 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. In New York City, the arrival of the summer season guarantees a few things, including some of the best and most exciting streetball around. Charlie Scott 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. 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. That leaves roughly 14 open weekends during the dead period . While not everyone can referee Rucker Park League games, there are summer leagues across the country where officials can gain valuable knowledge and experience. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 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. Julius Erving and the rappers Fat Joe and ASAP Ferg spoke at the parks reopening after renovations. Admission is free, and each night there is potential to watch professional, college and high school players hone their skills. By doing this we want to foster a harmonious atmosphere (at the games).. 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. Charles Evan Hughes (New York, N.Y.) '64 The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? From June 30-July 2, Holcombe Rucker Park in Harlem, New York will play host to a 16-team, invitation-only 17U bracket. You get the idea what kind of mood the player is in. 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. Joe "The Destroyer" Hammond James "Fly" Williams 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. The joining of forces between adidas Basketball and the hallowed leagues will further illustrate their shared commitment to providing mentorship, resources and opportunities to underrepresented and aspiring players while adding unique access to the adidas brand. Its paved the way for so many people, Williams said. Nate "The Skate . Some occasional girls/juniors games start around 4pm. Well be telling the history.. Please see your Privacy Rights for how your information is used. 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. Another baseball play comes to Broadway. Anyone can read what you share. Winners will advance to the quarterfinals at the University of Dayton . 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. He's also the NBA's all-time leading scorer. All it took was a good game, or one nice move, against "The Claw," and anybody was instantly somebody at the Rucker. 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. 4 Returns on August 20 at Rucker Park The SLAM Summer Classic is BACK. That is the Madison Square Garden of street basketball courts in the world.. He was an overlooked contributor at powerhouse Rice, but earned NJCAA All-American honors at Penn Valley Community College in Missouri. Rucker Park typographic word cloud basketball shape design Sticker. Its real success has been building a community. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The court formally reopened on Saturday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, youth basketball clinics and games. "Jumpin" Jackie Jackson Rucker Park, in her estimation, looked decrepit, with the blacktop cracked and uneven and the bleachers in disarray. 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. Well give all the young men and women a weekend to remember, full of energy,competitionand fun. He died of cancer in 1965 before he turned 40. for the reopening, which was attended by Erving, Kirkland, Nate Archibald and a number of others who had forged their reputations on the court. This is where Bryant and Anthony played, while recent appearances have included NFL stars Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens. He even had a regular spot on the Globetrotters' 1970s cartoon show. 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. 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. From $1.63. It wasnt like he was off. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. Their son came up with the concept of the Drew Crew. 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 . We are blessed to have had the opportunity to lock in these partnerships. Its commonly referred to as Rucker Park or just the Rucker. Williams earned his nickname at his first EBC game and copped MVP honors in 2002. Its not just the renovation, Wells said. Hammond never really got into the high school game; he was already deep into the street game. 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. 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 Hip-hop luminaries like Fat Joe and Diddy backed teams. 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. Weather can be a factor. Although he didn't play high school basketball, Williams did earn his keep at Medgar Evans College in Brooklyn. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Naming the 24 best players famed Rucker Park ever produced will stir plenty of debate. Alson is the most famous playground player of the modern era, bar none. Gilbert said that several current major college and NBA officials come back to Rucker Park in the summer to referee a few league games in order to work on their craft. Morris (Bronx, N.Y.) '87 Dr. A's weekly risers and fallers: Jeremy Sochan, Christian Wood make the list. BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Ex-Pats, the first team to highlight Patriot League men's basketball talent in the long-running summer event, have been selected as the No. 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. 28 pick of the 1993 NBA Draft. The EBC goes until late August. 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. 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. 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. Success! Pablo Robertson However, that summer eventually became the. The level of competition and intensity is amazing. This past Friday, ONE37pm spoke with ReeCee Hollans, Global Grassroots Basketball Sports Marketing Manager about this groundbreaking deal. 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. 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. 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. There was an error submitting your subscription. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. What can they expect when they go to a game this summer? It got so wild they had to get security.. ONE37pm: Okay ReeCee we have a task for you. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Because the fans are right on top of the action, officials have to be careful, especially when running along the sideline. That mystique may be gone. They often do so by playing in as many games that they can, be it pick-up, AAU or park league. There's a new sheriff in Harlem looking to rejuvenate the Entertainers Basketball Classic at famed Rucker Park Cordell Marius. Rucker died at 39 of cancer in 1965. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. You learn quickly how to deal with emotions and people. 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. 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. The more plays you see, the more you have in your memory bank, Mensah said. They recognize good players, good coaches and they recognize good referees.. But only true basketball heads know he ran with the J.W. Richard "Pee Wee" Kirkland Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Worthen even played two years in the NBA, but his real calling was on the playgrounds. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Bernard King, former all star for the New York Knicks once said, "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," Knowlings never played professional basketball and was killed in a car accident at the age of 37. 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. The history of some men isn't evident until . You treat Rucker Park like you treat Central Park, the Empire State Building, Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty. The notion that the park would be in any state of disrepair is a heartbreaker to me, she said. 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 . Its all part of the officiating learning curve. So fans can expect a great environment for sure. The park was established in 1956 next to PS 156; the school closed in 1981. He didn't play in the League, but earned his nickname at the Entertainer's Basketball Classic up at Rucker. I remember the first game I ever did with Zach Zarba. Previous SLAM Summer Classic participants include NBA stars Jalen Green, James Wiseman, JonathanKuminga, Chet Holmgren, RJ Hampton, Josh Christopher, JalenSuggsand Cassius Stanley, as well as rising NCAA starsFlaujaeJohnson, Diamond Johnson, Kiki Rice and Angel Reese. A star at Boys when a frail 10th-grader named Connie Hawkins toiled on the bench, Jackson went on to success at Virginia Union and with the Harlem Globetrotters. At a shade under 6-foot-5, Jackson was one of the game's first great leapers. Rucker Park has been featured in lots of movies and television over the years. Since 1980, Rucker Park Streetball League has been the basketball Mecca of NYC's Harlem community. In fact, Earl Manigault followed in his footsteps as a forward that could sky near the top of the backboard. A McDonald's All-American at Brooklyn Tech, McCrae was the No. Holcombe Rucker, a Harlem school teacher, staged the first summer Rucker tournament in 1946. You got to earn it. He said his most memorable experience involved Durant. Beginning with this summer's slate of games, the Drew League will leave its longtime partner in Nike for a new multiyear partnership with Adidas. 16U, and 15U teams participate in The Circuit League this spring and summer? 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. Taft (Bronx, N.Y.) On this list, you'll find NBA icons, streetball legends and -- in some cases -- both. 22.6k Followers, 805 Following, 473 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from EBC at Rucker Park (@ebcruckerpark) Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. 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.. Gilbert was playing in one of the New York area pro-am leagues when official Tom Washington, who has worked in the NBA for more than 27 years, said something to him following a game that stuck. The article is made available for educational use by individuals. Look for this banner for recommended activities. MAP: Did NYC Find A Hazardous Problem In Your Building This Week? The game didnt get started at Rucker until 11 p.m. His motto was "Each one, teach one" and the tournament further played into his mission of promoting education. It means even more to me because that's where everything began for me.". Copyright 2023 SLAM Media Inc. SLAM, SLAMTV, SLAM MEDIA and the SLAM logo are registered He had to tie his sneakers a little tighter.. Corey "Homicide" Williams You have to let them know why you made a certain call. By the 1980s, N.B.A. Rucker Park will host one of the tournament's early "regional" rounds, between July 16-20, with all games open to the public. Since 1974, the park has been named after Holcombe Rucker, a local teacher and a playground director for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. 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. As you mentioned to me earlier, AEBL games have an HBCU vibe to them, and its an experience. Former President Bill Clinton once stopped by to watch the action. His lasting legacy is actually coaching kids throughout New York through his work with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. (Officials) get to see the size, speed, quickness and skills of players who have pro-like ability.. I hate to use that term, but Atlanta is truly the culture from music, to food, and even fashion. Scott is one of the most accomplished players ever to roll through the Rucker. The National Basketball Players Association is donating $360,000 to revitalize Harlem's historic Rucker Park. 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. Separate from the renovations, the players' association will also fund a new three-year staff position based jointly at the Rucker and at Jackie Robinson Recreation Center, charged with running youth programs. players playing out there. 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. All of which causes Morrissey to say, If you can survive the summer pro-am circuit in New York City, you can survive any league in the world.. While Gilbert said, Basketball is basketball and players play wherever, Morrissey and Mensah said there are some distinct variances when the game is played outside. 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. Trust me. It was automatic.. . NBA icons of yesteryear frequently played at Rucker, names like Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. North (Riverside, Calif.) summer league team in 1993 before returning to New York and creating history at the Rucker. Youll see N.B.A. Nobody drew a crowd like the Doctor and he was the player all playground legends were judged against. 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. 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. He's also been putting in work at the Rucker ever since, earning the moniker as the most dangerous player in the EBC. He then moved on to Alabama State, and even though his Div. A windy day likely means more drives to the basket. N.B.A. Such as:He got game, Above The Rim,Hallowed Ground. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. In the past, it's been stars like Joe Hammond, who scored 74 points in a game at Rucker in the 1970s. Sign In. 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. Ben Franklin (Harlem, N.Y.) 2023 Active Network, LLC and/or its affiliates and licensors. It needs the relationships and the connections with other brands and the support. Support & Feedback Rucker Park is well-known for building the game of basketball, and some of the games most storied careers. Streety has an appropriate last name for a streetball legend and he's another who put in work with the Harlem Globetrotters. . These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Power Memorial (New York, N.Y.) '65 That June, Mayor Bill de Blasio named Rucker Parks basketball court the Greg Marius Court. You can feel the energy in the crowd, said Mensah, who has refereed in games that included NBA pros Kemba Walker, Metta World Peace (Ron Artest), Lance Stevenson, Nick Young and Durant. Of course, like any game anywhere, they also think they can officiate, too. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. I would not have progressed as quickly in my career if I didnt work at Rucker and some of the other leagues around the city, Morrissey said. A lot of these (fans) dont have the chance or the means to go to the (Madison Square) Garden (to see top-flight basketball)., The crowd is interesting because you often have fans there who are not biased to one team, like when you do a college game, Mensah said. [1] Many who have played at the park in the Entertainer's Basketball Classic (also known as the Rucker Tournament) achieved a level of fame for their abilities, and several have gone on to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). 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. 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. A basketball paradise is just a block away. And Rucker started with boys like Bob McCullough. 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. Michele Roberts, below, the executive director of the N.B.A. After high school, Streety went upstate to play at Broome Community College and was selected to the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 1992. In order to limit the Rucker ruckus, we left the players unranked. Careers Privacy Policy Just like the players, summer basketball in the parks is where the good officials become better. More than a few previously under-the-radar players have made their mark at the Classic and saw their college and pro stocks rise after the weekend. There is some question how much pro potential the 6-foot-1 jumping jack had, but he was all-city at Franklin before moving on to Laurinburg Institute in North Carolina. Wilson held the EBC single-game scoring record for 21 years. Yall ready for this? Fridays: The Rucker Park (not EBC) has afternoon and evening games. Herman "Helicopter" Knowlings The goal of the players union is to restore the park as a community asset and attract N.B.A. After all, this is entertainment for a lot of these fans, Gilbert remarked. Sure, Skip has California connections, helping Ventura College win a state chip in '95 before moving on to Fresno City College and Fresno State, where he played for noted playground recruiter Jerry Tarkanian. Since the '50s, Rucker Park in Harlem hosted summer tournaments that brought names as big as Wilt Chamberlain and Connie Hawkins to the blacktop to play a version of the game where style was as essential as the . 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. You see a lot of plays, and if it happens again, you have an idea how to call it.. 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. For over 50 years the Each One Teach One summer league, also founded by McCullough and Crawford, has called Rucker Park home. Have a team in the 14U-8U age groups? Chris Rucker, Holcombe Ruckers grandson, said that the park is a symbol and reference point to what my grandfather did and what he accomplished over the years, so without a basketball court in good working order, the legacy wouldnt be complete., He added, Rucker Park is as much a part of the Harlem community as the Apollo Theater.. Rucker Park was called the P.S. I was nervous. Its all the relationships that will hopefully come back and support the brands thats out there and the tournaments thats out there, and that will help bring back the mystique of what it was and what it is. Actually, thats the exact path many officials in the greater New York City area have followed in their quest for development and advancement.
