For its first five years, Rickey Rivers’ Funsport Junior Pros League was restrained mostly to the confines of small Brooklyn gyms. But Sunday night, the uncomfortable bleachers and dim lights gave way to padded seats and lustrous illumination as the championship game between the New Jersey Pirates and Starrett City shifted to maybe the greatest basketball venue in the world, the Garden.
While not quite what you’d find courtside at Staples Center, the crowd still had a few big names. Walt “Clyde” Frazier and John Starks took some photos with players before the game, and Indiana Pacers guard Dahntay Jones watched the opening few minutes. Lincoln HS coach Dwayne “Tiny” Morton and Cardozo head Ron Naclerio also took in the action.
Starrett City controlled the pace for most of the game and held the NJ Pirates’ star Mike Silverthorn to two first-half points.
With the Pirates’ defense keying on Lincoln HS-bound Isaiah Whitehead, Chancellor Ellis and Thomas Holley combined for 15 first-half points as Starrett City took a 27-20 lead into the break.
Starrett City began the third quarter on an 8-2 run, and the Pirates never got closer than 10. Whitehead finished with nine points and eight rebounds, while Ellis and Holley combined for 29 and 16, earning co-MVPs.
Silverthorn, who is likely headed to Blair Academy next year, scored eight points, and teammate Jake Dadika chipped in eight as well.
January 4th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
bobbito garcia says:
i love it. you got pre-teens putting up 52 points in a 32 minute game, meanwhile i’ve seen men leagues (NRF to name one) play in the garden and only wind up with 32, 34 total points! it’s a long court and the depth perception is not incredible, so i’ve seen even good shooters blank out in there, let alone get pet cuz it’s ‘the garden.’ props to all the kids in rickey’s program, sure it was a life experience for some, and for others the start of many visits back to msg.
January 4th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Sean Couch says:
The kid Whitehead is the real deal.
January 4th, 2010 at 11:43 pm
fan says:
Congrats to Starret City. Gotta have 3 of the top players in NYC in Isaiah Whitehead, Chance Ellis and Thomas Holley Good Job to Ricky. Pre season training followed by a 5 game season then playoffs where 16 teams of 30 make it. Playoffs were exciting, some great wins by the NJ Pirates over Gauchos and then Playaz Club after Playaz Club took down Above and Beyond who had a couple of top players from philly and little Jerron Love. Starrett coasted the whole season and through the playoffs, def gonna be one of the top AAU teams in the nations this year. Good Luck to them
January 5th, 2010 at 12:08 am
tp says:
is the kid whitehead better than lance at same age?
January 5th, 2010 at 12:16 am
The Brooklyn Report says:
That’s hard. Isaiah Whitehead is the real deal.We can’t forget about Lance Stephenson either at that age. Only time would tell honestly.
January 5th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Uncle Bump says:
Isaiah was feeling bad about how he perform, in the garden. But when he seen the comments. It lift he back up. So I just wanted to thank you for the feed back. People say Im alittle hard on him, but I just want him to be the best player,I know he could be. And about the LANCE vs ISAIAH? Lance Sr. Is teaching me how to improve Isaiah game, so lets just say…. They cut from the same cloth
January 5th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Uncle Bump says:
Sorry about my spelling LOL, I hope u understand where Im coming from. Next time i’ll proof read before i post
January 5th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Elliot Rosado says:
I commented last week that Isiah Whitehead is the next one, The next Lance? Let’s just say he’s not far off.
January 6th, 2010 at 2:42 am
eddie torres says:
i would like Ricky Rivers for giving my team the opportunity for playing at the garden. Chance Ellis of starret city was the star of the night. he hit 3 big shots in the beginning of the 3rd quarter and we couldn’t get back in the game. but congrats to starrtet city on winning the championship. and my NJ Pirates for making it to the garden. who thought NJ Pirates would make it. funsport jr pros is the best basketball league in the tri-state.
January 6th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Rickey Rivers says:
Thanks for the coverage of the event. Isaiah Whitehead is the real deal and hands down the best player in metro-NY area from what I’ve seen. He was pressing it a little at the Garden and NJ Pirates were heavily focused on him. This program gives birth to a lot of our future HS stars starting with Jayvaughn Pinkston, Doron Lamb, and many more in the pipeline.
Thanks for being there Trevor!
January 8th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Zach Radz says:
Congrats to all the Big Time Ballerz who made this a fab-o event for the Youth of NY .
You hear a lot of crap when u go out of state that NY is slipping when it comes to ball . This is pure evidence that those misguided thought are trash !
I am hoping to be able to play in the next session in March .
Thx ,
Z #12 aka Vanilla Cocoa
January 10th, 2010 at 3:19 am
eddie torres says:
Listen. I understand all the excitement about Isaiah Whitehead but every one is taking away a special moment from Chance Ellis and Thomas Holley. They had a great season and a special game in the championship at MSG. Every one played poorly except these two players. They carried their team to victory yet when you read about the game every one is talking about Isaiah’s poor performance? The real deal is Isaiah has played against my team and he has always performed poorly. We have never paid close attention or zero in on him. Chance has killed us in every game he has played against us and Thomas has man handled us. These players were the real deal and they deserve more credit for how good this team is. Real talk.
January 12th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Isaiah Whitehead says:
I THINK I PLAYED AN WORK GAME AT THE GARDEN..I WAS IN A LITTLE FENDER BENDER SATURDAY.. WOKE UP FEELIN FINE BUT A LITTLE UNBALANCED.. BUT I TRYED MY BEST AND OUR TEAM WON….. CONGRADS TO THE NJ PIRATES THEY PLAYED A GOOD GAME… MAYBE NEXT TIME….I’LL SHINE : )
January 13th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
eddie torres says:
Congratulations to Starrett City and to Chance Ellis and Thomas Holley for their stand out performances in the Funsport chip at MSG. I’m disapppointed that their special moment has been over shadowed by a fellow teammate poor performance. Chance has killed us every time he has played us and Thomas has man handled us every time. Isaiah Whitehead is a good player but we have never “zeroed in” or “paid special attention” to him. He has always performed poorly against us and he had another off night. The focus should be on the only two players who played well that game not on a player who didn’t. JMO
January 14th, 2010 at 11:00 am
basketball fan says:
Everyone has a bad game sometimes and to say Isaiah always plays poorly against your team is so untrue. There’s no one on your team that can compare..Chance and Thomas were definitly the MVPs at the Garden but did u forget that Isaiah performances ALL SEASON is what got them to the Garden? SORRY EDDIE I KNOW YOU HATE TO HEAR THIS BUT ISAIAH WHITEHED IS THE REAL DEAL HANDS DOWN!!! Not taking anything from Chance or Thomas but it is what it is….Isaiah will definitly see your team again and I know he will make it his BUSINESS not to PERFORM POORLY AGAINST THE NJ PIRATES LOL….
January 17th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
eddie torres says:
Basketball fan my name is eddie torres I don’t hide behind false names and I’m about the kids. Your statement was untrue and I stated the undeniable facts. You need to watch out for that Brooklyn hype machine there were a lot of padding stats down there and all 3 of Starrett City players led them. Coaches know you can put players up front of the press so when you get steals those players are the 1st players reaping the benefits. When you miss 2 to 3 tip ins or layups that you should have made it gives u more rebounds than if u would have made it in the 1st place. Beware of the Brooklyn hype machine that team is tough and they were tough before Isaiah joined them. Last year they were undefeated as 7th graders playing against 8th graders in funsport. JMO
January 17th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
basketball fan says:
Your right Eddie.. You’re for the children but you’re bashing one. And if the stats were padded you need to talk to Ricky about that. I am a basketball fan. The undenible fact is that you have a problem with the real fact that is Isaiah is the REAL DEAL!!! The Brooklyn hype I don’t know about. I only know what I’ve seen.. LETS JUST WAIT UNTIL THEY GET TO HS..Good Luck with your NJ Pirates in 8 is Enough.. Hope y’all make it to the Fianls..
January 19th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
eddie torres says:
Basketball fan my apologies if anyone feels as though I’m “bashing” another player. I’m just trying to shine the light where it is deserved to be shined not where people choose to shine it. WE WILL WAIT UNTIL THEY GET TO HS…..sometimes things are not what they appear to be…..you can’t manufacture something that is not there…..we will see. In the meantime beware of the Brooklyn hype machine. I remember a couple of years ago Labrent Walker from NYC was supposed to be the next NEXT ONE and after 4 different HS he’s down in D.C. learning how to become a point guard to save his HS career. The script has been written already….things will turn out the way a certain way. Doesn’t matter who disagrees with who. Time will tell but in the meantime if you would just let the kids play without putting unrealistic expectations on them. Unless they are Lebron James they can’t possibly live up to the unearned hype that is bestowed upon them. JMO
January 20th, 2010 at 12:46 am
basketball fan says:
Thanks for writing the script I know no disrespect was intended Eddie its alright to disagree and I do respect your opinion alot. Whats the unrealistic expectations? He’s a good player? I do think you’re wrong about Isaiah I think he’s a great player with alot of respect and discipline for the game. He will become a great HS player.I could be wrong only time will tell…
January 20th, 2010 at 1:10 am
Isaiah Whitehead says:
NEXT TIME I PLAY THE PIRATES I WILL PLAY MY GAME!!!!!!!AND Y ARE YALL ARGUING BOUT ME AND MY TEAMMATES!!!!!!!!!!!ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS DAT EDDIE YOUR TEAM CANT BEAT HANDS DOWN SO!!!!WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY NOW!!!!!!!!AND IF I WAS ON THIS TEAM LAST YEAR WE WOULD HAVE WENT TO THE CHIP LAST YEAR IN FUNSPORT!!!!!!!!THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!!!JUICE CREW BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!#1 IN DA REGION!!!!!!NOT PIRATES!!!!LOL!!!!!I WILL SHOW ALOT OF PPL WAT IM MADE OFF NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!
January 20th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
eddie torres says:
Mr Whitehead you are presently the best in the region and I agree with that. What I don’t agree with is labeling you the “next Lance” or “the next one”. You should be the first “Isaiah Whitehead” not the next someone else. If you could just develope at your own rate and not at the rate of media and fans expectations you could be a good to great HS player. How are you going to have other good players continue to play with you if the media and fans continue to overlook your fellow talented teammates contributions? There was no need to make you the focus after our game when you didn’t perform well. Your teammates keep getting slighted when they perform well. Their performances are always an after thought or not mentioned at all. Before you got with those guys I remember you being a role player for the Assassins and Ethan,I.Lewis and Shaq never passed you the ball and we blew you guys out. Starrett City beat us twice with their 7th graders.
January 20th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
ISAIAH WHITEHEAD says:
I DIDNT PLAY AGAIST YALL!!!!!!!!LOL CRAZII!!!!!!!!I KNO WHERE YUR COMING FROM THO!!!!!!!!!!!
January 21st, 2010 at 10:36 am
Uncle Bump says:
Enough said Eddie. You making things up like a child. All I have to say is,” Hating is healthy when u have a son @ the same age group, that wouldnt play if his father wasnt the coach. So shine some light on that.
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:14 pm
the big guy says:
you need to stop getting mad over Isaiah being the next Lance and about who h=gets shine or not because what you have to understand is that the Starret City is not only just a team they are a family so stop get mad over shine or who is better than who.
January 22nd, 2010 at 1:24 pm
the big guy says:
Starret City is a family and some of the top players in the country there is no one player it is many players all in which who do work on the court so don’t just give credit to one player give credit to all of the players who make this family
January 25th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Coach says:
Being at funsport every week what Eddie is saying is true. Alot of his stats were blown up, points off steals and alot of rebounds off his own misses but he is still the best prospect in New York. Eddie is also right about chance and Thomas not getting their shine but that has nothing to do with isaiah, that’s the world we live in. In a normal world we wouldn’t be talking about jhs players like this, so you gotta take the good with the bad. Also what about Tim quashie, he’s been playing with them for years and is also a good player that we don’t hear about.
January 25th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Coach says:
One thing that I do find funny about the junior pros is every kid on every team has to show their report cards and have a C avg to play, which is great but what about the kids that are being held over from the previous year. Kids that were in 8th grade last year and are in 8th grade again this year. Starrett city has a couple kids that were in 8th last year, what does this teach the kids, that it’s ok to get held over to play ball cause that’s why it’s strictly for. This is a major topic that should be dicussed in youth basketball cause it’s getting ridiculous. I praise all the kids out there that can keep up their grades and their games. Every coach and parent should tell these kids there’s only a handful of kids going D-1 every year from NYC so let’s get more time in the classroom so when kids come on to defend their rankings it is written in proper English
January 26th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
eddie torres says:
Coach there are no Starrett City players repeating the 8th grade this year. I know this personally but I do agree with you on the problem of reclassification. Starrett City is very talented in fact Thomas is the youngest one of all because he will be 14 this summer! As for proper english? Unfortunately kids write like they text on their phones. This holds true for blogs so don’t read too much into the broken english stuff.
January 27th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
Observer says:
Isaiah, Chance, Tim or Thomas. These are all talented players. If you pay attention and are honest you recognize that they can do what they do because of one another. When teams converge on Thomas it opens the floor for Isaiah, Chance, Tim and the other players to do what they do. Bottom line is it is a team sport even though there are some people that have forgotten that. How these kids are going to develop remains to be seen. Academics should be a focus because any serious injury can wipe out a potential b-ball future in a heartbeat.