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. Success! 16U, and 15U teams participate in The Circuit League this spring and summer? Another member suggested that the union also fund renovations to Rucker Park's playground and landscaping, which are also in disrepair. 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. The more plays you see, the more you have in your memory bank, Mensah said. In the past, it's been stars like Joe Hammond, who scored 74 points in a game at Rucker in the 1970s. 28 pick of the 1993 NBA Draft. The park was renamed after him as the Holcombe Rucker Playground in 1974. Find out about free street basketball in NYC, including locations and schedules for streetball at West 4th, Rucker Park, Dyckman Park, and Orchard Beach. [7] In addition to the basketball court, the park has a baseball field, handball courts, children's playground, bathrooms, and a spray shower.[3]. Wells is hopeful that the renewed interest in Rucker Park will restore the courts allure. Secondly, its one of the only outdoor venues where a league has three officials, shot clocks and NBA rules. All-Star Baron Davis made sure to get some shots up on the court the evening before he played at Rucker Park, Gittens said. NYCHoops - 2021 NYC Summer Ball Circuit - Rivals "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 . 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. He told me, Since you like to talk, why not become an official? Gilbert joked. 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. His legacy was in place, though, and it was cemented when the city of New York renamed P.S. Rucker mentored children, building a program from scratch, always keeping his busy schedule in his pocket. 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. The AEBL is all about culture and community. He also killed cats at the Rucker when he wasn't at UCLA winning three NCAA titles. James "Pookie" Wilson 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. Holcombe Rucker, a Harlem school teacher, staged the first summer Rucker tournament in 1946. A fierce rebounder, Ramsey has impeccable credentials as a Rucker legend -- he is the only player to ever win Rucker MVP honors at the high school, college and pro level. 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.. Weather can be a factor. Sam Worthen Although he didn't play high school basketball, Williams did earn his keep at Medgar Evans College in Brooklyn. 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. Its just us today in the park. The team was one of the best to ever play at . 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. Its a landmark in New York City. Roberts said that the renovation would also extend the legacies of those who brought fame to the park and court. Rucker Park - New York, New York - Atlas Obscura RUCKER PARK STREETBALL LEAGUE Schedule June 14 - August 29, 2021 NEW YORK, New York Info Schedule Teams Venues Documents Travel/Lodging Download the Tri-State Classic / Jordan Brand App Click on a division below or search for a team to view the schedule. You get the idea what kind of mood the player is in. RUCKER PARK STREETBALL LEAGUE Schedule - Exposure Basketball Events NYC Weekend Events: What's Going On March 4-5, NYC Rent Drops For 5th Straight Month, Study Finds, NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed Feb. 24 - March 3, 125th Street Could See Another Apartment Tower As Lot Goes Up For Sale. Calvin Ramsey Harlem's Rucker Park To Host Big, Televised Basketball Tournament In the Rucker Park League there are no set plays. Have a team in the 14U-8U age groups? He had to tie his sneakers a little tighter.. 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. Terms of Use A post shared by SLAM HIGH SCHOOL (@slam_hs). ONE37pm: Thanks for chatting with us ReeCee! By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of all the cookies. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Create your own unique website with customizable templates. Known as the elite high school basketball players' favorite all-star game, the SLAM Summer. He even had a regular spot on the Globetrotters' 1970s cartoon show. Of course, like any game anywhere, they also think they can officiate, too. . Kevin Durant Is Victorious In Rucker Park Return - VIBE.com Its almost all one-on-one.. We dont care where you from. . It means even more to me because that's where everything began for me.". Note: This article is archival in nature. Rucker started a basketball tournament in 1950 in order to help less-fortunate kids stay off the streets and aim for college careers. 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. Those local players never received mainstream recognition as NBA talents, but they are still talked about in New York today. Michele Roberts, below, the executive director of the N.B.A. InsideHoops.com - Rucker Park 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. Boys (Brooklyn, N.Y.) '60 Copyright 2023 SLAM Media Inc. SLAM, SLAMTV, SLAM MEDIA and the SLAM logo are registered Its something that needs to be preserved, Williams said. You cant rely on a jumper when the wind is blowing 20 miles per hour, noted Morrissey. Reggie White Tournament Registration 2023 Theme by SiteOrigin Theme by SiteOrigin Those guys started the same way I did, Morrissey said. Over generations, the asphalt court honed its reputation as a siren calling and name-making mecca for soon-to-be N.B.A. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Archibald went the JUCO route and kept improving his game to the point where he was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1996. 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. Hollans: This partnership is all about people who love basketball, have played basketball, and are in love with the game. All told, the work will "reestablish the court as a state-of-the-art basketball venue," the city said in its presentation. Some believed that part of the purity Rucker had striven for suffered when the park was commercialized. It is geographically at the base of a large cliff named Coogan's Bluff. New York's Rucker League: Where Basketball Officials Hone - Referee That June, Mayor Bill de Blasio named Rucker Parks basketball court the Greg Marius Court. Rucker Park Entertainers Basketball Classic Founder Talks This Year's NHL trade deadline: Winners and losers, including the Bruins, Devils and Bruce Boudreau? Rucker Park 2022 - TBT & TST - The Basketball Tournament Can you break down what this adidas partnership means to each individual league? 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. An elite ball-handler at 6-foot-5, Worthen was a poor-man's Magic Johnson, but those types of players weren't hyped until after Magic made his mark with the Showtime Lakers. 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. The former N.B.A. 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. 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. By Jay Pixel. 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. By dusso. In 2000 he came back to the NBA to play with the Orlando Magic but died after collapsing during the first day of practice with the Magic. 4 areGatorade, Spalding, Def Jam, CLOT, the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), Champs Sports,SHOWTIMEandNike. New boss wants to bring NBA players back to Rucker Park - New York Post His lasting legacy is actually coaching kids throughout New York through his work with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. 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 . How This Man Became the Voice of Rucker Park Entertainers Basketball Classic Rucker Park, Harlem This is the granddaddy of them all, with a lineage that dates back to 1950. When the pros are involved, the park draws huge crowds and wild responses. Partnering with SLAM to put on the SLAM Summer Classic Vol. Basketball junkies would have beef if we ranked the 124 best players to come through the famed park in Harlem. 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. 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. I thought by officiating I could stay close to the game and keep in shape. Holcombe Rucker Park (New York City) - Tripadvisor Support & Feedback He eventually was a NBA Hall of Famer, but some of his most memorable games were played at the Rucker. He said his most memorable experience involved Durant. [3] Everyone loves the game and wants to be part of it, Mensah said. Are you sure you want to delete this family member? The tournament eventually settled at P.S. The red tour buses come to Harlem and go to that park. Playground Legends: 10 Best NBA Players at Rucker Park Cookie Settings. It is the first time in TBT's nine-year. Downtown, the United Nations headquarters had gone dark. Laurinburg Institute (Laurinberg, N.C.) '66 At least 500 people left the park to go to the Gauchos Gym across the bridge in the Bronx, Morrissey said. Rucker Park, a Basketball Mecca, Gets New Life - Continuitynews Ex-Pats Selected to Rucker Park Region for the 2022 TBT 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. Youll see N.B.A. 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. He's so revered the playground at 99th and Amsterdam in New York is named Goat Park. Lenny Cooke - Wikipedia 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. The level of competition and intensity is amazing. (Officials) get to see the size, speed, quickness and skills of players who have pro-like ability.. Its all part of the officiating learning curve. The Rucker Park weekend schedule is: Anyone around, show up and play. From $1.63. Scott won a NBA title with the Boston Celtics and an Olympic Gold Medal in '68, but some of his most memorable battles took place against playground legends such as Joe Hammond. 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. We dont care who you are, he said. EBC at Rucker Park (@ebcruckerpark) Instagram photos and videos The JR Circuit will be debuting in January 2022. In order to limit the Rucker ruckus, we left the players unranked. 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's a new sheriff in Harlem looking to rejuvenate the Entertainers Basketball Classic at famed Rucker Park Cordell Marius. Pablo Robertson Its paved the way for so many people, Williams said. It had to be moved because the court was slippery from the humidity, increasing the risk of injury. Streety also played for Murray State and is regarded as one of the most underappreciated streetball talents ever. In New York City, the arrival of the summer season guarantees a few things, including some of the best and most exciting streetball around. 4 Returns on August 20 at Rucker Park The SLAM Summer Classic is BACK. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Rucker Park Legends - New York City Streetball $ The Basketball Tournament played on the Marius Court at Rucker Park will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis! Its a staple. He would pull up to the Rucker and double-park his Rolls Royce then go put in work. Cardozo (Queens, N.Y.) '94 So fans can expect a great environment for sure. You just never know what can happen. They often do so by playing in as many games that they can, be it pick-up, AAU or park league. The city's most important sporting event of the summer was suddenly in the balance. Greg Marius, a former hip-hop artist, revitalized the atmosphere by starting the Entertainers Basketball Classic in 1982. KD did not take the game lightly. 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. On this list, you'll find NBA icons, streetball legends and -- in some cases -- both. By The Circuit, 12/06/21, 6:00AM EST. Rucker Park 50th anniversary. 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. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. Rucker Park has been featured in lots of movies and television over the years. The crowd was on him. Dr. J producing TV series based on Rucker Park book 'Asphalt Gods' He is looking forward to sharpening his game on a functional court. And we have to be grateful to those (NBA) guys for coming here.. Sports achievements are always in need of reflection. Another benefit of working the park leagues is the camaraderie of the officials from all levels. Rucker Park to host The Circuit's inaugural Blacktop Series event Many players came to that park and got booed. NBA 2K19 Summer Circuit My Career Kobe vs Cortez Rucker ParkStay Updated & Follow Me:Twitter https://twitter.com/HoodieShawnnInstagram https://www.inst. Copyright Policy She wondered if her memories had deceived her into a sunny nostalgia. Some legends have a big reputation, but there is no doubt Hammond's game was legit. College coaches will need to pick up a basketball map at the airport when arriving in New . Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. or If you think about it, a basketball player first starts playing outside most of the time. Soon, he invited pros back, enlivening the experience with the addition of bombastic play-by-play callers, booming hip-hop soundtracks and corporate sponsors. Naming the 24 best players famed Rucker Park ever produced will stir plenty of debate. But the stars returned, and not just on the court. Corey "Homicide" Williams Its commonly referred to as Rucker Park or just the Rucker. Rucker Park definitely represents history. Photo by Caleb Ferguson for the . As a freshman, Fly pumped in 29.4 ppg his first season and 27.5 in his second season before turning pro. He died of cancer in 1965 before he turned 40. We can't wait to bring TBT-style basketball to this historic location and hallowed basketball ground. 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. He then moved on to Alabama State, and even though his Div. He made his name and became famous, however, at the Rucker. NBPA's Michele Roberts helps propel Rucker Park new look with - MSN Fridays: The Rucker Park (not EBC) has afternoon and evening games. 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. Rice (New York, N.Y.) '95 Basketball players at every level use the summer months to improve their skills on the court. Know someone who'd like Harlem news in their inbox? Privacy Settings St. Raymond's (Bronx, N.Y.) '94 We have to be lenient to what is going on. That is the Madison Square Garden of street basketball courts in the world.. Well start with Drew League. From June 30-July 2, Holcombe Rucker Park in Harlem, New York will play host to a 16-team, invitation-only 17U bracket. All it took was a good game, or one nice move, against "The Claw," and anybody was instantly somebody at the Rucker. NOW LIVE: The Circuit's 2022 Event Schedule - The Season Ticket Crime stopped for four hours, four days a week in that area. 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. Official Facebook Site for the EBC (Entertainers Basketball Classic) street basketball league held at. EBC Sports - Read the Latest Sports News & Articles Hip-hop luminaries like Fat Joe and Diddy backed teams. You got to earn it. 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. The National Basketball Players Association is donating $360,000 to revitalize Harlem's historic Rucker Park. Hollans: Sure! Former President Bill Clinton once stopped by to watch the action. Academic problems almost ended Archibald's career before it even started but he got it together and in 1996 was named to the NBA's top 50 players list. 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. [1][4] The players in the Rucker Tournament featured slam dunks, crossover dribbles, and bravado that excited the crowd, a playing style then foreign to the National Basketball Association (NBA). NBA Players At Rucker Park - Sports Illustrated As an official, if theres a lot of jump shots, it makes life easier, he joked. You have to be strong, you have to communicate and you have to be good. 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. I career didn't go exactly as planned, Homicide still drew the interest of NBA scouts. Alson is the most famous playground player of the modern era, bar none. Marius died at 59 in 2017. In the late 1960s and early '70s, his playground rivalry with "Tiny" Archibald was legendary. 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. [2] 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. His wife Chaniel is the commissioner. 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. Please see your Privacy Rights for how your information is used. He would sometimes roll through Rucker to rep the City of Brotherly Love, often with spectacular results. 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. Brooklyn Tech (Brooklyn, N.Y.) '89 Underneath the 155th Street bridge is Rucker Park, quite possibly the most famous playground in basketball. 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. And, more specifically, for the great players who have competed on that court. Because the fans are right on top of the action, officials have to be careful, especially when running along the sideline. All rights reserved. Jeffrey "Hannibal" Banks is hard to miss as he strolls onto the court every summer wearing his trademark round, oversized sunglasses and flowing robe. Well be telling the history.. The park was established in 1956 next to PS 156; the school closed in 1981. Rucker Park 50th anniversary - New York Amsterdam News 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 . Join Active players union. Holcombe Rucker Park Highlights : NYC Parks Hollans: The environment is going to be something that people can connect with. And the biggest thing is its for free. Holcombe Rucker expanded to after-school programs during the school year and formed the Pro Division in 1950. 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. 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 . ", "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 Vacant Lots team was undefeated that summer, headlined by Charles Jones, who'd led the . Central Park 2 - Hours Private Pedicab Guided Tour 29 Recommended Private and Luxury from $99.00 per adult Guided Pedicab Tour of Central Park 24 Recommended Pedicab Tours from $48.00 per adult Central Park Pedicab Guided Tours 218 Recommended City Tours from $50.00 per adult New York Hip-Hop Tour 235 Recommended Bus Tours from $79.99 per adult Rucker Park, 280 West 155th Street, NYC. Rucker does a good job with security, but theres always that element when youre officiating a game.. Cookie Policy LeBron played for Jay-Z's team S. Carter in 2003 at Rucker Park. 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. Rucker Park was featured in the TNT television film On Hallowed Ground: Streetball Champions of Rucker Park, which aired in 2000 and won a Sports Emmy Award. Having grown up in the city, Mensah is familiar with NYC park ball, where the games can get physical and tempers often flare. 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. Larry "Bone Collector" Williams [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). Most fans know "The Dipper" averaged 50.4 points per game in an NBA season and once scored 100. The future of the NFL combine: Is there really a chance it could end forever? players had mostly stopped playing at Rucker Park out of fear of risking their increasingly lucrative contracts. At NYU, Ramsey earned All-American honors and teamed up with future Boston Celtics legend Thomas "Satch" Sanders to form one of the greatest playground frontcourts in history. Commerce (New York, N.Y.) '55 Its no secret its across the street from one of the most dangerous housing projects in New York City, the Polo Grounds. 'Slutty Vegan' Will Open Much Anticipated Harlem Joint Next Week, Espaillat Announces Community Project Funding, Urges Orgs to Apply, Program For Harlem Entrepreneurs Could End With $16K Prize: See How, Unlock Your True Potential- From Feeling Cursed to Confident In 6 Weeks, NYC AI Summer Camp for Middle School Students. Worthen even played two years in the NBA, but his real calling was on the playgrounds. MAP: Did NYC Find A Hazardous Problem In Your Building This Week? Worthen earned preseason All-American acclaim from Street & Smith's at Lane, was named a JUCO All-American in Texas and earned All-American acclaim at Marquette. DeWitt Clinton (Bronx, N.Y.) '66 This place is very legendary in the urban community. Teams 12U (8 teams) 14U (7 teams) HIGH SCHOOL (13 teams) MENS UNLIMITED (12 teams) ONE37pm: Okay ReeCee we have a task for you.