Underneath the 155th Street bridge is Rucker Park, quite possibly the most famous playground in basketball. But Rucker Park has always been home to true ballers who forge their identities, as Williams said. His goal was to provide leadership and a leg up for thousands of boys and girls. 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. 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 is looking forward to sharpening his game on a functional court. The New York City native took it to heart and began his journey in officiating. Can you break down what this adidas partnership means to each individual league? The new black-and-gold court features a mural designed by ASAP Ferg, an artist and Harlem native, and produced by Set Free Richardson, an artist and filmmaker. Some legends have a big reputation, but there is no doubt Hammond's game was legit. 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. It means even more to me because that's where everything began for me.". 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. 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. Few streetball players have the style and substance of Kirkland. Rucker Park - History of New York City - Seton Hall University We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Rucker started a basketball tournament in 1950 in order to help less . He also killed cats at the Rucker when he wasn't at UCLA winning three NCAA titles. Wilt Chamberlain Bartram (Philadelphia, Pa.) '62 ONE37pm: Thanks for chatting with us ReeCee! 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. "At a very young age, [I] learned to appreciate how the Rucker is essentially holy ground," Roberts said. InsideHoops.com - Rucker Park Schedule 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. 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. What is TBT? 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. Morris (Bronx, N.Y.) '87 The former N.B.A. The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? 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. The EBC goes until late August. 4 will take place at the famed Holcombe Rucker Park in Harlem, NY. Rucker Park Rich in Basketball History | ACTIVE Manigault had offers from all over the country, but it never worked out for him. Official Facebook Site for the EBC (Entertainers Basketball Classic) street basketball league held at. 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. A McDonald's All-American at Brooklyn Tech, McCrae was the No. But it's at Rucker where Erving turned 155th into his own personal playground. Summer basketball is back! As an official, if theres a lot of jump shots, it makes life easier, he joked. Sam Worthen 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. Terms of Use He was an overlooked contributor at powerhouse Rice, but earned NJCAA All-American honors at Penn Valley Community College in Missouri. Rucker Park is well-known for building the game of basketball, and some of the games most storied careers. You just never know what can happen. North (Riverside, Calif.) summer league team in 1993 before returning to New York and creating history at the Rucker. You cant get that for free basically nowhere else like that.. 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. 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. The Bronx native is a one-on-one specialist and can defend players of all sizes. They may ask you about a certain play and suggest that you take a better angle the next time.. He turned down a $50,000 offer from the Lakers and a three-year deal with the ABA. Youre dealing with people with multiple emotions, he said. Holcombe Rucker Park Highlights : NYC Parks 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. In the late 1960s and early '70s, his playground rivalry with "Tiny" Archibald was legendary. Fridays: The Rucker Park (not EBC) has afternoon and evening games. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. We can't wait to bring TBT-style basketball to this historic location and hallowed basketball ground. With a roster of 24 amazing athletes and eight great partners, this years Classic will be the biggest one yet.. By dusso. Although he didn't play high school basketball, Williams did earn his keep at Medgar Evans College in Brooklyn. Pablo Robertson Its a staple. The game didnt get started at Rucker until 11 p.m. Rucker is more than a hoops heaven--it's also a city-maintained park that has a children's playground, a baseball field, handball courts and other perks. Mcrae was drafted in the first round of 1993 draft but decided to play in Europe. 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. NBA Players Association Officially Begin Renovation of Rucker Park's for the reopening, which was attended by Erving, Kirkland, Nate Archibald and a number of others who had forged their reputations on the court. His lasting legacy is actually coaching kids throughout New York through his work with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. Holcombe Rucker expanded to after-school programs during the school year and formed the Pro Division in 1950. Theres no set way to deal with people. Many of them., A Street Basketball Mecca Gets a Face-Lift, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/10/sports/basketball/rucker-park-renovation.html. The leagues in New York have been a hotbed for players and officials for years, Gilbert noted. Their son came up with the concept of the Drew Crew. Every game and every person is different. Rucker Park will host one of the tournament's early "regional" rounds, between July 16-20, with all games open to the public. We have to be lenient to what is going on. By COURT-VISION. Best Playground Basketball Courts in America | Legends Blog - Legends It was automatic.. Streety also played for Murray State and is regarded as one of the most underappreciated streetball talents ever. 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. In 2022, Rucker Park became the first outdoor venue for The Basketball Tournament, a single-elimination winner-take-all tournament with a $1 million prize, acting as one of eight regional venues of the competition.[8]. It is the first time in TBT's nine-year. Rice (New York, N.Y.) '95 156, and it further gathered steam when a similar pro league was started for professional players to compete in the offseason. Rafer "Skip To My Lou" Alston Teams play at Rucker Park during the summer before renovations. Archibald returned to Rucker Park every summer, even after he had made it to stardom. 1,489 were here. 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. All-Star Baron Davis made sure to get some shots up on the court the evening before he played at Rucker Park, Gittens 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). 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.. The game began, but afternoon showers postponed it for 4 hours making it the first rain delay in TBT history. A basketball paradise is just a block away. The team was one of the best to ever play at . subscribe to the email newsletter from Harlem Patch. In New York City, the arrival of the summer season guarantees a few things, including some of the best and most exciting streetball around. [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. It needs the relationships and the connections with other brands and the support. Every play is life or death for these guys.. Its not just the renovation, Wells said. For us this means family. Copyright 2022 Referee Enterprises Inc. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The EBC has a men's division which headlines the league, but it also has a high school league, and U15, U12 and U10 divisions. He's best known for hanging in the air. You see a lot of plays, and if it happens again, you have an idea how to call it.. players playing out there. We dont come there giving you roses. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. I hate to use that term, but Atlanta is truly the culture from music, to food, and even fashion. 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. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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 . That June, Mayor Bill de Blasio named Rucker Parks basketball court the Greg Marius Court. Since 1980, Rucker Park Streetball League has been the basketball Mecca of NYC's Harlem community. 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. The experience of officiating some of the NBA players increases the excitement level. If you think about it, a basketball player first starts playing outside most of the time. 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'. NBPA's Michele Roberts helps propel Rucker Park new look with - MSN by AmNews Staff Reports March 2, 2017. Credit: Bill Moore. Bryant, the former Los Angeles Lakers superstar who died last year, earned both cheers and jeers from a lively crowd during his 2002 appearance. Connie "The Hawk" Hawkins Everybody wanted it.. We dont care where you from. You learn quickly how to deal with emotions and people. From $19.84. [7] In addition to the basketball court, the park has a baseball field, handball courts, children's playground, bathrooms, and a spray shower.[3]. 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. Larry "Bone Collector" Williams 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. A History of Rucker Park: The True Mecca of Basketball - Complex | Rucker Community Web Site