Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Straight outta Compton… Richmond (CA) is no Compton…it’s worse and not getting better anytime soon! According to CQ Press City Crime Rankings 2008-2009, Richmond hones the sixth highest crime rate (out of 215 cities in the US) for cities with populations of 100,000 to 499,000. The competition on the blacktop must be tough!

Through hard work, determination, and a focus that hails from the playgrounds, Clyde Harvey Weems, has earned his stripes on the concrete. Although born in Akron (Ohio), he has been raised as a product of the tough city of Richmond (California).

Photo: Arron Andrews @ Sandlot Studios

At 32 years old, he shares his experiences from college to a coast-to-coast journey that puts the rags to riches success stories to shame.

Weems moved from Ohio at the age of six years old when his great-grandfather died in Richmond, CA, and his mother decided to help Clyde’s grandmother. She also felt that it was time for a better opportunity for Clyde, noting that Ohio did not have much to offer.

When Weems arrived under the California sunshine, he had trouble adjusting to the people. In school, he was the center of jokes because of his accent and ended up fighting kids almost every day. After being suspended numerous times, he began to switch his focus from the frustration at school to the blacktop.

Photo: Arron Andrews @ Sandlot Studios

His escape from the teasing around the age of 13 years old led to spending much of his time at the park in his neighborhood. Something reminiscent of the Run DMC gold chains and the 1990s when everybody had a Benz showed Weems another lifestyle…the dope game.

Most people who Weems saw near the park were well-dressed. Although his mother made sure that he was well-dressed, Clyde always noticed “somebody that dressed better.” Clyde admitted to selling drugs for a short period of time. He never used them. Looking back, Weems noted that it was the worst time I ever had in my life.

“…for a lot of people in lower economic environments that’s all they know. It doesn’t mean you’re bad, it just means you made the wrong decision.”

Photo: Arron Andrews @ Sandlot Studios

Weems made the right decision and choose basketball. He signed with Division I Alabama State out of Richmond HS, where he was under the famous Coach Carter, but ended up staying local at the College of Marin due to low test scores.

After several stints, Weems played at the University of La Verne in California. Most teammates passed, played well together, and worked in a system unfamiliar to the street game. Clyde would slice through defenders and go to the rack. Things did not work out with the coach but luckily Weems, the first in his family to graduate from college among many siblings, received his bachelor’s degree as reinforcement.

Since then, Weems has moved to New York City. He now works and resides in the Milbank section of Harlem, where he serves as a Drug Prevention Specialist for the Children’s Aid Society. By designing programs to enable youth to stay drug-free, Clyde works with ease. He implemented a program for kids with Division I basketball talent but not Division I grades. The rule: kids must give their report cards at each marking period in exchange for the connection with a college coach as a mentor.

Photo: Arron Andrews @ Sandlot Studios

So, what’s a basketball junkie, hoop head, or former player doing in the mecca of street basketball?

He still got game. Period. Think Malloy Nesmith (The Future) aka Forever Young. EBC Dream Team in 07…check! W’s in only two games played at Rucker Park…check! An-almost-Scott Skiles with 22 assists on oops to Skywalker at Mt. Morris Park…check!

The guy has even played in Shammgod’s tournament on 145th Street in Harlem, where he was dubbed “Sidney Deane” aka Wesley Snipes character on White Man Can’t Jump. Several summers ago after the MC learned that he was from Cali, Weems became under constant eyes of the crowd. To prove the moniker, a tip-dunk through the lane or all 5 defenders basically put the fans on their feet with the MC thinking West Coast “California Love.” (Is it just me or do I hear Tupac in the background?)

In addition to the street game, Weems more recently was a player/coach for the formerly New York City Internationalz (now the NYC Thunder). Despite only playing half a season in Denmark (team folded), C-Dub has earned his place in the U.S.

After college, Weems played in the La Verne Pro Am, where his team won EIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS IN A ROW! Guys like Lamont Landers, Chancellor McCobb, Anthony Collins, and a former Oakland Raider gave the team its spark.

With consistent winning seasons, the team became so good and so cocky that they used to tell the commissioner what they wanted for the championship display. Team members would take turns dropping 30 or 40 points a night against former NBA players, former college standouts, and street talent. Word is Snoop’s team did not even want to play in the tournament after they learned of the championships.

West Coast ball: how did Clyde get his start?

He started off playing AAU ball for Gary Payton’s brother Greg. If that’s not enough, then listen to his transition into the game…

At a local gym in Richmond, California, the legendary Coach Carter (yes! Like the movie!) had a 11-12 year old son who was playing by himself at the other end of the court. Weems, being a young teenager, came over and disrespected Carter’s son. Immediately, the man found himself playing Weems one-on-one. After Weems made a basket, Carter replied, “You have a nice shot, sir.” Thinking that was lame, Weems talked trash and continued to play hard. Then, Carter said, “If you shoot and miss the game is over.” After witnessing the Coach drain NBA jumpers like nothing, Weems went up for the shot and clank. Game over. Final score: 15-4 in favor of Carter. Before he left, Coach gave Weems advice: “Before you talk trash, remember who you are.” To this day, Weems refers to Coach Carter as KC – short for King Carter due to his talent both on and off the court.

2007 EBC Dream Team

“Three Mondays ago I went to meet photographer Alexander Richter in the gym at The Kennedy Center on W 135th Street to watch some aspiring NYC hoop stars tryout for the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic Dream Team.

…the EBC decided to let fans of the league try out to make a “Dream Team”, giving them the opportunity to compete against the best streetball players New York City has to offer. After a shoot around and a group photo, coaches J.R. and Norman Ostrin, both of whom have coached champion EBC teams in past years, told the hopefuls that they understood at least some of them were talented players overlooked by city coaches, an interesting tactic acknowledgment of the NYC basketball system that finds and develops young players into stars at the street, college and NBA levels.

After running layups, and at times unruly three-man weave with a straight hectic 3 on 2 to 2 on 1 drill that would have made my high school coach’s head pop, the would-be Dream Teamers divided into five or so teams and ran quarters.”

2007 Dream Team:

Clyde Weems
Akio Charles
Roman Hernandez
Yvon Dantes
Edgar Lugo
Christian Grant-Fields (Dime Magazine family)
Terrell Towns
Raul Natera
Mickell Vickers
Irving Moses
Jason Mercer
Mamadou Hanne (Bounce Magazine family aka 40 Cal)
Roger Kelly