While the rest of the world was focused on the NBA Draft, the die-hard summer ball fans were out at Hunter College checking out the Nike Pro City Tournament.
In the second game, the X-Men, led by Mike “the Icon” Campbell and Rashad Bell, knocked off three-time NPC champs Nike 1 who were without Junie “GE” Sanders (injured foot). Nike 1 punched X-Men in the mouth early behind the hot outside shooting of former Arkansas Razorback Eric “E Star” Ferguson on way to a comfortable 48-38 lead at half.
With Nike 1 holding a double-digit lead early in the second half, Campbell decided enough was enough. The 2002 Nike Battlegrounds 1-on-1 champ single handedly brought back his squad, scoring 25 of his game-high 34. X-Men dropped 72 points total in the half, and maintained a comfortable double-digit lead through the fourth quarter cruising to a 110-101 victory.
Rashad Bell added 20 points for X-Men, while Garnett Thompson dropped 21 for Nike 1.
Game one was a more competitive affair. United Brooklyn almost forfeited against the Uptowners. Even though they started with just five, UB held down the fort until the reinforcements came. One player to the rescue was in the form of former Boys and Girls HS standout Lee Church. Once he hit the court they just seemed a lot more comfortable handling the pressure defense. They hit some key free throws down the stretch and escaped with a narrow 92-89 victory. The highlight of the evening had to be the one-handed banger Uptowners forward Kenya Carruthers put on Kareem Lloyd. The photographer from the NY Post caught the dunk perfectly; good luck trying to explain, “what had happened,” to your friends back in the hood Lloyd!
James “Sticks” Williams scored 21 for United Brooklyn, and Church added 14 points, all in the second half. Seton Hall shooting guard Jeremy Hazell finished with 16 points for the Uptowners.
Pro City resumes action returns Tuesday @ 6:30pm, Hunter College Gym, 68th St. and Lexington.
By Kyle Henry
June 27th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
ali says:
somebody please tell lee church to hit me up at ali@bouncemag.com
June 27th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
g says:
you want Lee’s math,email or both?
June 27th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
lee is a humble dude. i remember when he was in ‘07 last man standing final eight at madison square garden, and how appreciative he was to be there. like no pretention, just kicking it with me how he didn’t think it was fair that vets like speedy williams and jack ryan were there. lee made it to the final four but bowed out with a good fight. this is of course if it’s the same lee i think it is. if not, my bad–i know too many people!
June 27th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
g says:
its the same dude super Bob. Give Ali my email addy and i’ll link him with Lee…….
July 10th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
COACH "D" says:
LEE CHURCH IS ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKERS IN THE GAME.
WHEN I WAS AN ASSISTANT COACH AT BOYS AND GIRLS
DURING LEE’S TENURE I WITNESSED HIM DEVELOPE INTO
A TOP NOTCH PERSON AND PLAYER. HE CAN PLAY ON MY
TEAM ANYTIME.