NYC Basketball History

NYC Legend @hdache13 coming thru to chop it up. Make sure yall rune in..🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀Growing up in Harlem of New York City, Tim Gittens faced crippling hardships that could have made him another statistic.  However, Tim Gittens refused to walk the cyclic path of society's stigmatizations as an inner city youth and excelled despite the numerous setbacks… using basketball as a vehicle to maneuver through and conquer the path. In the last 20 years Tim Gittens has become one of most influential basketball players. Tim Gittens was a collegiate all-star and had an impressive and extensive professional basketball career.  Gittens had an opportunity to play in the NBA and also dominated on teams in the USBL, ABA, China, Iran, Puerto Rico, and England; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters.  He proudly wears the number 13 on his jersey in honor of his late father, who was also a Harlem Globetrotter.  Gittens is most famous for playing in national and international streetball competitions; he began competing in these competitions as a child and was given a nickname, Headache.  Headache became a dominating, feared force on the basketball court.  He became a founding member on the world renown, And 1 Streetball Team.  Headache was one of the most recognized players on the And 1 worldwide tour; a headliner for the nationally televised And 1 series, that aired on ESPN; and also a star on the And 1 Streetball Mixtape/DVD for 5 consecutive years.   He starred in the video game Street Hoops from Activision.  He has endorsed athletic apparel.  He has been featured in music videos, print ads and various publications.  Some publications have included: GQ, Dime, New York Times, Men’s Journal, and Forbes.  Gittens’ most recent film appearance, Doin’ It In The Park, features him alongside Julius “Dr. J” Erving and other streetball Hall of Famers.     Through worldwide travels, Gittens noticed some issues and decided to do his part into creating a solution and positive/life-changing results.  Now he is an assistant coach in the WNBA with the Dallas Wings..Congratulations King

Melshawn Scott played for MLK High School where he avg 25 points as a sophomore but was forced to leave school after a situation he explains during the interview. He also played college ball at St Augustine in GA. Trouble had a way of finding the Harlem Legend but his journey to Redemption is one for the books.

Rich Brunson is entering his fifth season as the head coach of the Brookdale's women's basketball program. In his first three seasons, his teams earned their way to the Region XIX conference championships. In Brunson's first year (2016), he was honored with Region XIX, Coach Of The Year, as his Jersey Blues qualified for a trip to the national tournament. Coach Brunson produced two 1st team All-Americans and Players Of The Year; Che'Kasha Andrews (Willmington University), who is Brookdale's women's basketball all-time leading scorer, and Haley Dalonzo (NYIT). Brunson was an assistant coach for the Brookdale's men's basketball program from 2012-2016. In his first season, the Jersey Blues were crowned the national champs and conference champs the following year as well. The men's program had an outstanding record of 102-25 in his four-year tenure. Coach Brunson served as the boys assistant coach at Matawan High School, Piscataway Vocational High School, and Raritan Valley Community College. He also served as the Head Coach for New Brunswick Vo-tech and St. Peters (girls) High School. Brunson has played a crucial role in over 74 players receiving athletic scholarships in major programs and professional careers overseas, including five NBA players. Brunson also serves as a Special Education Aide at Monmouth Regional High School.

Check put the exclusive conversation w/ playground Legend A-Butta as he talks about the basketball culture in NYC as seen through his eyes. This is one incredible story

NYC Great Daryl “Showtime” Hill @therealshow3.told y'all , it's was going to be epic🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 His nickname says it all, "Showtime". Given to him in junior high school by a buddy, the "Showtime" moniker has stuck to Daryll Hill, the post-graduate at Milford Academy (Milford, Conn.). And he's known as "Showtime" on the playground courts at the famed Rucker League in New York City, where he's balled against the likes of Steve Francis, Jamaal Tinsley and Al Harrington. "On the playground, that's when I bring out the tricks," said Hill. "But when I play for my school, indoors, I change my game and it's all about winning." And while all the And 1 Mix Tape moves may get him props on the playground, it's his true point guard game and it's inherent "winning" ways that's made Hill one of the hottest recruiting commodities with college coaches. His nickname says it all, "Showtime". Given to him in junior high school by a buddy, the "Showtime" moniker has stuck to Daryll Hill, the post-graduate at Milford Academy (Milford, Conn.). And he's known as "Showtime" on the playground courts at the famed Rucker League in New York City, where he's balled against the likes of Steve Francis, Jamaal Tinsley and Al Harrington. "On the playground, that's when I bring out the tricks," said Hill. "But when I play for my school, indoors, I change my game and it's all about winning." And while all the And 1 Mix Tape moves may get him props on the playground, it's his true point guard game and it's inherent "winning" ways that's made Hill one of the hottest recruiting commodities with college coaches.

Hip Hop Legend Capone

All City, 3x City Champs & 1 State Champion Boys & Girls & Hilbert College Great Seton Hall Standout Coach Ruth Lovelace @ruth.lovelace.16 . Ruth was a certified Killer when she played at Boys & Girls.. She avg something like 38 points per game before accepting a letter of intent to attend @setonhallwbb ... The Boys and Girls School of Brooklyn is known as one of the premier basketball schools in New York City and the city league is known as one of the toughest in the country. Her school has never missed the playoffs and the Kangaroos have won the city championship three times and the state championship once🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 The coach can be an imposing figure on the sidelines of any sport. But one would expect that a boys’ basketball team would be coached by a man. It’s fairly common to see men coaching girls’ basketball, but it is not often that you find a woman coaching boys’ basketball. Yet one of the most successful boys’ basketball coaches in New York high school history is a female, Ruth Lovelace, and she has been here in southwest Georgia for the last few days. Her team was scheduled to play Eagles Landing High School in the championship game of the Roundball Classic at Lee County after beating Albany’s Monroe and Central Macon in the first two rounds. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Her players don’t have an issue with her being a woman. In other media reports player said it was kind of like being coached on the court by your mother and sometimes they felt they needed to listen because a female was talking. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Lovelace, called “Coach Love” by her players, is famous not only because she is a female coach for boys’ basketball, she is famous because she has been so successful in her coaching career. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 #nycelitebasketball #saveouryouth #nycelitebasketball #saveouryouth #saveourboy&girls #nycsummerbasketball #nychighschoolsports #nychighschoolbasketball #citywidesummerleague #Brooklyn #queens #Bronx #Harlem #statenislsnd #nba #news12brooklyn #news12bx #news12li #news12 #ESPN #allthesmokepodcast #fatjoeshow #knuckleheads #Nike #brandjordan #puma

Capone-N-Noreaga released their first single “Illegal Life” featuring Mobb Deep’s Havoc in 1996 after signing to Neil Levine’s Penalty Recordings. The record laid the groundwork for N.O.R.E. and Capone to drop their debut studio album the following year. However, Capone was locked up after violating his parole, which led Noreaga to finish the project himself. Comprised of 20 songs, The War Report was released in 1997 and contains features from Mobb Deep, Busta Rhymes, Iman THUG, Troy Outlaw and frequent collaborator Tragedy Khadafi (who appears on more than half of the project), among several others. The album boasts singles like “L.A., L.A.,” which serves as a direct response to Snoop Dogg’s “New York, New York,” as well as records like “T.O.N.Y. (Top Of New York)” and “Driver’s Seat.” Widely considered a street classic by fans and critics alike, the project was pivotal for the music scene in Queens and still remains a cult favorite 25 years later.

Basketballheadzz Presents: Hip Hop Legend Sadat X from the Legendary Group Brand Nubian amazing interview. He is definitely an official Basketballhead for real..He talks about his days with the Riverside Hawks, playing in the CHSAA and against some of the best ball players in NYC before joining the Legendary Group brandnewbianbrothers 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

Steve Rivers lived in Bklyn until 1973 when at age 11, they moved to Uniondale NY.Steve began playing organized Basketball in the 6th grade and played for Lawrence Road JHS. In 1977, Steve went on to school at LI Lutheran HS where he gained honors as an All Long Island guard in both his junior and senior years.Steve received a full basketball scholarship to play at the Univ. of Maryland where he played with such players as Albert King, Buck Williams, Ernie Graham, Adrian Branch, Herman Veal and the late great Len Bias.The highlight of his career was when he scored 29 pts vs NC State his junior year.Steve was fortunate to have the opportunity to play vs great college players such as Isaiah Thomas,Hakeem Olajuwon,James Worthy and Michael Jordan.In 1984 he received his degree in Gov't and Politics with a minor in Sociology.He began working as a NYC school teacher in 1986,and is still teaching JHS in the Charter school sector.He is married to Veneta Rivers and has two children,Joshua 21,and Deanna 27.Steve is also proud to say that he is a born again Christian who serves as Vice chairman of the deacon board at Brown Memorial Baptist Church.Steve is currently resides in Brooklyn and still serves as a coach at LI Lutheran summer basketball camp.🏀

Basketballheadzz Presents: Ep 120 Archbishop Molloy H.S Great, Holy Cross College Hall of Fame Inductee & Head Coach of @eagleacademybkbasketball @coachkevh14_ came thru for an amazing conversation about his incredible career..🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 #nycbasketballhistory #nychighschoolbasketball #brooklyn #bronx #Queens #StatenIsland #Manhattan #longisland #westchestercounty #upstateny

Basketballheadzz Presents: Tonight 8pm my guy and former Bayridge summer league teammate NYC Legend @blackjackryan21 Jack Ryan, aka "Black Jack", aka "Water", is an American streetball player from Brooklyn, New York. Ryan's basketball exploits began at John Jay High School, where, as a senior, he averaged 26 ppg. Ryan later took his game to East 5th St. Park in Brooklyn, where he mastered the tricks and shots he became well known for. In his first season in a recreational league at West 4th, Ryan played one game against former Detroit Piston Phil Sellers and scored 44 points. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Ryan is most well known for his very proficient 3-point shooting. According to an article written by Bobbito Garcia about Ryan in Slam Magazine Streetball Special Collector's Issue, Chris Mullin once described Jack as the best shooter he'd ever seen who hadn't played in the NBA. The article also states Peter Vecsey got Ryan a tryout with the New Jersey Nets in 1990, but was the second-to-last man cut, ending Ryan's NBA aspirations. In May 2003 Ryan was named as one of "Slam Magazines Greatest Playground Ballers of All Time." Ryan further proved his mastery of the 3-point shot when he won in 2005. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Ryan is as authentic & inspirational as he performs shooting demonstrations and spins nine balls at a time! He serves as a powerful speaker for many Elementary and Middle School programs delivering a unique and interactive message to youth while entertaining with basketballs. Planners who seek fantastic performances featuring tremendous athletic skill, infectious smiles and superb basketball entertainment consistently contact Jack “Blackjack” Ryan for their events. See http://hoopwizard.com

BasketballHeadzz Presents: Awesome Interview w/ NYC Legend @iam_kareemreid 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 His school career started with St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School. As a freshman on JV, the team went 33-1 and won the city championship. With the closing of the school. His search led him to another Bronx school, the famous basketball school St. Raymond High School for Boys. The reason he chose this school was because all of the members from his previous team decided on going to the powerhouse Harlem school, the Rice Raiders, located on 124th street. During his time at St. Raymond’s, as a junior, he led the team to a New York City and state championship in 1993, and as a senior, the 1994 city championship. With these accomplishments, he was awarded being named a McDonald’s All-American as one of the top-rated points guards in the country. 🏀🏀 His college career wasn’t as smooth as any senior transitioning into college because of his ACT score, which made him have to sit out the 1994-95 season with the University of Arkansas. When the 1995-96 season began, he was a freshman that led the Razorbacks to the Sweet Sixteen in the 1996 NCAA Tournament and an NIT Final Four as a sophomore. At the end of his college career, he was the all-time leader in assists with 748 and third all-time in steals with 251.  After the 1995-96 season, he was named All-SEC Freshman Team and as a sophomore, he was named 2nd Team All-SEC.  Coming from the Bronx, Kareem Reid has lived a life that many inner-city kids would dream of living, and every day another star is born. 🏀🏀 Aside from his success at the HS and College levels, Kareem also made himself a household name on the NYC Streetball scene.  With his patented spin move and heart of a warrior, Reid always played with a chip on his shoulder.  At 5’10” he was one of the shortest guys to put up huge numbers at venues such as EBC at Rucker Park, Kingdome and Dyckman just to name a few.  Most notably playing with Mousey’s Dream Team and Fat Joe’s Terror Squad, Reid feasted on the competition winning multiple Championships and MVP awards.  Salute goes out to Kareem “The Best Kept  Secret” Reid, one of the best

Basketballheadzz Presents: Awesome interview w/ NYC Great & ClevelandStateUniversityLegend Cori Coleman coming through to tell her story🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Averaged 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game as a senior...earned first team All-Manhattan and first team All-State as a junior...named the Manhattan Player of the Year following senior season...also earned first team All-City and first team All-State honors as a senior...named to the ESPN Rise National Invitational All-Star first team as a senior...led Murry Bergtraum to four straight Public School Athletic League championships...part of the 2008 State Championship team...team finished as the state runner-up during sophomore, junior and senior seasons.🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

BasketballHeadzz Presents: In Honor of Black History Month: Tonight 8pm NYC, Larenburg Institute & @northcarolinambb Legend and NBA Hall ofFameInductee @charliescott.33 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Charlie Scott had reached a pivotal crossroads. At age 17, two years after he had moved by himself to North Carolina from New York City, all his hard work had brought him to the moment he dreamed would be his escape from the streets of Harlem: acceptance of a major college scholarship. And it looked like Davidson would be the choice. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Scott, who was averaging almost 30 points and 12 assists. Smith did not want to miss any of the Tar Heels' practices but said he might send one of his assistants..2x All ACC, 3x NBA All-Star and NBA Champion

Salesian H.S.,Westchester Community College Great & NYC Playground Legend @shanedribblemachine coming thru to tell his story. You already know my brother is not one to hold back so you already know it's going to be Epic..You don't want to kiss this🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 High School: Salesian High School (1990-94) where he played in the New Rochelle Class B Championship College: West Chester Community College (1994-96) where he was named 2nd team All-American Conference MVP in 1996 – the day his son was born. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Other Experience: Shane joined the AND 1 Mix Tape Tour in 2001 and starred in the ESPN TV series Streetball from 2002 through 2006. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Earned Street Name: From MC and renowned Rucker Park legend, Duke Tango, who said he dribbled like a “machine”. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Shane says: “What I love about streetball is the freedom and atmosphere of the games. I love to play everywhere and anywhere, I just love the game. Now I am stepping up my game off the court because I am one of the owners of the Tour – I am part of something big – a legacy to leave my kids and the fans.”#CHSAA

Salesian H.S.,Westchester Community College Great & NYC Playground Legend @shanedribblemachine coming thru to tell his story. You already know my brother is not one to hold back so you already know it's going to be Epic..You don't want to kiss this🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 High School: Salesian High School (1990-94) where he played in the New Rochelle Class B Championship College: West Chester Community College (1994-96) where he was named 2nd team All-American Conference MVP in 1996 – the day his son was born. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Other Experience: Shane joined the AND 1 Mix Tape Tour in 2001 and starred in the ESPN TV series Streetball from 2002 through 2006. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Earned Street Name: From MC and renowned Rucker Park legend, Duke Tango, who said he dribbled like a “machine”. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Shane says: “What I love about streetball is the freedom and atmosphere of the games. I love to play everywhere and anywhere, I just love the game. Now I am stepping up my game off the court because I am one of the owners of the Tour – I am part of something big – a legacy to leave my kids and the fans.”#CHSAA

BasketballHeadzz Presents: Brooklyn Legendary HS Coach Brooklyn Law & Tech HS Head Coach Kenny Pretlow Francis of Brooklyn after he graduates this spring...Awesome story from a coach that has been doing this since the 80's to the present .. The selling point is, we put kids in college,” Levy said. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Despite the size of the gym, the Jets are a team that hits from long range. Moreno practices some of his 3-pointers from just inside a doorway. “All in all, it’s still a gym,” senior Victor Ogbo said. “You work with what you’ve got. ... The ball’s still gotta go in the hoop.” They work with what they’ve got in a lot of ways. “A lot of our kids come from neighborhoods that are pretty tough neighborhoods, so you almost have to understand that they may walk into the building is genuine and they care for them

Curtis High School Great @nemiath44 Few people have as much admiration for the SIHSL Tournament as Red Tripp, the championship-game MVP while playing point guard for Curtis in 1999. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 “It brings back a lot of great memories,” said Tripp, sitting at the press table during Wednesday night’s semifinals at Wagner College. “Nothing but good times.” 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Tripp (with ball) helped the Warriors finish 17-0 on Staten Island during his senior campaign of 1998-99. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 He was a smooth-dribbling, assist machine who'd often turn steals into points. He earned Advance All Star status as a senior. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Tripp scored 23 points in the Warriors' SIHSL Tournament championship game victory over St. Peter's. Tripp was in the middle Curtis’ four-year run as SIHSL champions (1997-2000), playing for the 1998 and 1999 title squads. He made the all-tourney team both seasons, earning MVP honors after scoring 23 points in a 69-62 win over St. Peter’s during his senior campaign. 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 He remains in close contact with Gannon, his former Curtis coach who he calls “the best coach ever on Staten Island.” 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 Tripp can effortlessly rattle off the names of teammates from his two varsity seasons, but for space considerations here were his fellow Curtis starters on the 1999 title team — Nigel Wyatte, Rob Lewin, Rocky Ferrante and Demitrius Williams.

NYC Legendary Head Coach Johnny Mathis 🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀 For most basketball coaches, seeing their team mired in a 27-point deficit would be cause for some angry barking, a clipboard fling, and a swig or two of Mylanta. For John F. Kennedy head coach Johnny Mathis, it’s his medicine. Mathis, a fixture at JFK since 1987, has had more to deal with than the average coach. Health issues have thrown him a curve the past several seasons, which has enabled the legendary coach to put subpar play by his team in its proper perspective. So when his Knights were down 49-22 with just over six minutes left in the third quarter in last week’s game against Truman, there were no sideline histrionics. Just a calm timeout, and a chance to get his players’ heads back in the game. “They’re young,” Mathis said. “Most of them are inexperienced so I just tried to settle them down.” Kennedy responded by shaving their 27-point hole to a single point with 16 seconds to play. But Kennedy’s miracle comeback came up just short when Emmanuel Sarbah’s putback off Isaiah Malave’s missed free throw with 0.3 seconds to play came a fraction too late as Truman held on for a 69-67 victory. “We dug a hole that was too deep to come back from,” Mathis said. “We got down 8-0 to start the game, and we just let them shoot and we weren’t playing any defense. But we did exactly what we were supposed to do in the second half, which allowed us to come back from 27 down. If we had done that from the beginning, we would have been all right.”