Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there because I was in Boston on business….BUT, I heard that something phenomenal happened up on 155th street last night.
Steve “The Saga Continues” Burtt Jr. broke the park scoring record. He dropped 68 points…that’s right 68. 30+30+4+4! At about 9pm the calls and texts started pouring in. My boy Jason Mercer, who I went to school with and whose first game at Rucker Park was that night said, “Man, it was Layups, Threes, And ones, and Foul shots.”
I don’t know if you realize how many buckets 68 points is. Like, that’s hard to put up playing NBA Live or NBA 2K as Kobe or Lebron!
If you don’t know Steve Jr. played college ball at his dad’s alma mater Iona in New Rochelle, NY. A couple years back he gave LSU (The same LSU squad that went to the Final Four with Tyrus Thomas and Glen “Big Baby” Davis) buckets in the NCAA tournament.
You KNOW next time “The Saga Continues” plays at ‘55, the line is going to be longer than Frederick Douglass Blvd.
Holla!
June 21st, 2007 at 6:39 pm
Yash says:
Considering they just did an article on “All Day” himself, way to stand out Junior! The nickname “The Saga Continues” is just dope!
Imagine Burtt stayed for his final year at Iona — would he be in the L?
June 21st, 2007 at 9:28 pm
Christian Grant-Fields says:
Yash,
If I’m not mistaken I think he stayed all four years at Iona. I could be wrong though.
Yeah man, he’s got a pro game for sure, but sometimes guys get over looked. Especially if you played your college ball at a mid-major. Its a good thing mid-majors are starting to get more love as they rightfully should.
Guys like Steve Burtt Jr. and Keydren Clark definitely have the skills to play in the L.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:27 pm
Sean Couch says:
Couch
Chris: Rucker Park Record is held by Joe “The Destroyer” Hammond. The record I believe is 71 or 72 points. I’ve seen both in print. However thats alot of buckets and a big start for EBC in 2007 and Burtt Jr.
June 21st, 2007 at 11:17 pm
Christian Grant-Fields says:
Couch,
Is it an E.B.C. record? I was told by multiple sources it was.
Anyway, I agree that 68 is A LOT of buckets.
June 22nd, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Killa Cal says:
To correct everybody the record is 62 point once held by Joe Destroyer Hammon, Wed was my fist time out at the park I play for the dream team, what Steve did was phenominal I never seen anything like it he only took 4 jumpers only one went down for a 4 point play and the rest was all and ones going to the basket from the right finishing with the left, Im telling u, nothing I ever seen we were on the side threatning him that if he breaks the record on us we cuttin his leg off sounds grimey but the way he was doing our team, it’s just not human, it was allmost like a game of live.
June 22nd, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Bobbito says:
of course as legend has it . . .
i heard joe hammond had 70 in the park back in the ’70s. 62, 68, 69, 70, whatever the number is–it’s a lot of buckets for anyone. big up to joe, rest in peace to pookie wilson who was #2 right behind him with the record, and a big pound to steve burtt jr. for now being mentioned in the same breath with 2 major legends of our past. think about all the pros that have played in that park, from Dr. J, Charlie Scott, Allen Iverson, Baron Davis, on adn on–and the top 3 single game scorers are all playground dudes who never saw a lick of an NBA arena. Joe Hammond never even played college ball. Pookie ran at Division 3 John Jay. It’s amazing if you think about it. word.
June 22nd, 2007 at 4:03 pm
good-money says:
kiki and steve are good, but dont get it twisted. they were at thier smalls schools for a reason…… they are small. niether one of them is puttin up 68 at hunter with the big boys.
btw, they both got summerleague chances and ran into the big boys. they will both flourish overseas where the comp is solid but not great, and the players are smaller.
who was he playin against???
anybody know?? did he give a known name that 68??
July 19th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Sean Couch says:
We got guys saying they can put up 68 points in major tournaments in
NYC? If it’s a major tournament it’s a major event. Greg Marius allows scrub teams to come in and play? Let’s not diminish this accomplishment. Playing on the playground in the city is serious and to put up buckets like that is an accomplishment.