Mousey the Magician at Tri-State Classic. Photo: Jonathan Lopez

West 4th

If only it was as easy for all teams on the brink of the playoffs at West 4th St. (3rd St., 6th Ave.) as it was for Uninvited Guest Thursday night.With the playoffs just over a week away and a lot still to be determined, U.G. got its easiest win of the season, a forfeit from Jimmy’s All Stars as the coach, who had the uniforms, never arrived. Read More »

AButta and Young Mousey at Dyckman. Photo: BallGurl.

Dyckman

JTA had Team 914 seeing red at Dyckman (204th st./Nagle Ave.) last night, and it wasn’t because of their ruby uni’s either. Kenny “Rodman” Carpenter dropped a methodical 27 points on a variety of inside and outside shots. He gave the Westchester team Charles Bronson type payback for being over an hour late to the game. Will Cadiz, who led all scorers with 28 buckets, put the backpack on for Team 914, Read More »

Michael Beasley after his Pro City debut. Photo: Naomi Jefferson.

Nike Pro City

I’m sitting in the office as the day is winding down and I get the good news that the number two drafted player in the 2008 NBA, Michael Beasley is supposed to be playing at Nike Pro City at Hunter College (68th and Lexington Ave.). Then I found out that his buddy, former Syracuse star and Houston Rocket Rookie, Donte Greene will be accompanying him. Read More »

A Butta at Dyckman (photo. Samera Marsh)

Dyckman As far as entertaining match-ups and straight ballin’ out go, Dyckman (204th st./Nagle Ave.) supplied like the Staples Easy Button. Last night, former Rice H.S. and Manhattan College star Jason “1,000 Dribbles” Wingate went at it with a youngin’ when his Jimmy Starzz took on JTA. Jason provided the dish, while a baby-faced “Spin Cycle” showed him the swish. Their 1-on-1 battle stole the show. End result: Jimmy Starzz triumph 78-63. Read More »

Lil Ra’s post game speech. Photo: Paul “PR” Rivera

When you’re on a bus with 12 ball players for a lengthy period of time you hear chatter about a little bit of everything from women, to music and mostly basketball. On the way down to the Hyperdunk Challenge presented by Nike, which paired the best that Philly and Washington D.C. had to offer against NYC all-stars, I was lucky enough to travel with the team of NYC all-stars. The team consisted of John “The Franchise” Strickland, Mike “King of New York” Campbell, Darryl “Showtime” Hill, Mark McCarroll, Ron Yates, Alexis “Flex” Foyle, Ira Miller, Nate Brown, Shanod “JFK” Burton, Solomon Bamiro, Jason Burton and Coach Lil Ra. Read More »

Lil Ra giving Team New York instructions. Photo:Jonathan

Friday afternoon I took a ride with a team of New York City all-stars to the Nike Hyperdunk Challenge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. The squad consisted of Mike “King of New York” Campbell, John “The Franchise” Strickland, Nate Brown, Darryl “Showtime” Hill, Ira Miller, Mark McCarroll, Ron Yates, Shanod “JFK” Burton, Solomon Bamiro, Alexis “Flex” Foyle, Jason Burton and Coach Lil Ra. The Hyperdunk Challenge paired a team of New York all-stars against Philly and D.C.’s best. Read More »

The Glover brothers at Dyckman. (photo. Samera Marsh)

First, on Friday night clutch free-throw shooting by Quinton “T2” Hosley and Anthony Glover in the final 43.5 seconds propelled the Dyckman (204th St. and Nagle Ave., Inwood, Manhattan) past a scrappy Philly All-Stars. The select team, who started Kareem “Big Game” Reid and Adris “Too Hard To Guard” DeLeon in the backcourt, took control of the game early on the strength of their tremendous guard play. Read More »

Smush Parker after his game winner against Uptowners. Photo: Kyle Henry

Last night at Nike Pro City (68th and Lexington) I watched probably the best game of basketball I’ve ever seen. It had everything, star power, an intense atmosphere, a game tight MC and it ended with a buzzer-beater. Smush Parker hit a deep 26-footer as time ran out to list his Gold’s Gym squad to a 115-112 victory over Adris “Too Hard To Guard” DeLeon’s Uptowners team. Read More »