A jump shot contested during a pick-up game. Three passes before a shot. Serious cuts to the rim and players using screens and rolling hard, all at 3:30 pm in the afternoon on a Monday. Welcome to Halle Park in Memphis, Tennessee - a place where serious pick-up games go on all day and all night. The Park is located on Mt. Moriah @ Mendenhall in East Memphis.
Contesting the jumper at Halle - Photo: Jason Hill
With 4 courts and lights that stay on all night, players like 41-year old Andre “They call me Mr. Bank Shot” Fleming regularly ball at the park. Andre told me that he played at Hillcrest High School and averaged 16 points as a senior. He mentioned that he received
a scholarship to the University of Tennessee-Martin but left after 2 years because of family commitments. Andre now DJ’s at the Red Apple Lounge and comes to the park for exercise before work. “A lot of young talent comes here to play and it’s heated competition. The best run comes out between 6pm to midnight.”
Couch with Dre holding Bounce Edition 13 - Photo: Jason Hill
The official game is half-court 4-on-4 with fulls usually starting up in the evenings. First game is 15 by ones and thereafter, 12 by ones. I noticed that on the two main courts, one basket was double-rim and the other was a breakaway rim so which one would you want?
Couch shooting on the double rim, shorty needs to get a hand up. Photo: Jason Hill
I didn’t stay for the full court action but based on the competition I saw, this is a great spot to play and get challenged. Halle Park is definitely official run, so if you lace up tight and play hard, make it must stop if your ever in Memphis.
May 16th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
couch–why you had to j down shorty like that?!!! dag, b! i was just in memphis/mississippi fiendin’ for a run! wish i had linked with you. next time.
May 17th, 2008 at 10:43 am
CCB says:
Coach Couch, I should have stayed in touch with you. Memphis has an okay streetball scene but due to the extremely hot summers, players don’t come out really until dusk and at dark. Memphis could really benefit from a league and I have been trying to setup one for the last couple of years. Here is a video I did with a team from Mississippi that I put together to get cats excited about everything.
Bobbito this was when I was working with SHO-SHOT, which is now MARQUI. (I recently left MARQUI to work on my own footwear company ARC, long story) Here is the video www.centercourtbasketball.com/Teamblack.wmv What I did was hit the courts get out some flyers dropped some DVD’s of this clip from Halle: www.centercourtbasketball.com/ms1.wmv
and I hoped that we could get something started but Memphis is one of those cities where if it isn’t free, ball players feel like they are owed so they won’t pay for it. You guys know like I know, without sponsorship the first couple of years a league has to have people who pay.
Anyway peep out the videos. They are not great but it will give people a glimpse of what Memphis could be. I just have to figure out how to get it done. any advice would be good, a partnership of some type? Get at me.
Chris B.
www.centercourtbasketball.com
centerco@centercourtbasketball.com
May 19th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
blakkstar says:
Thanx BOUNCE for showcasing my hometown. Ive done some real work on those courts in the past. If you looked over at the bleachers, thats where the work before the work begins. Again, thanx for lookin out.
ps
Ridgeway High gym is the spot for REAL ballin in the Memphis HEAT
May 19th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Sean Couch says:
Chris
Give me a call when you can.
May 21st, 2008 at 9:37 am
CCB says:
My bad Coach for not getting to you sooner. Can you hit me with an e-mail. I will get to you immediately. Here is my email centerco@centercourtbasketball.com
www.centercourtbasketball.com