Castro posing for upcoming show America's Next Sports Star

Four months ago, we featured Courtney Castro as one of New York’s best-kept secrets. Since then, he’s lit up tournaments like Hoops In The Sun, Rodney Park, and the upstart Lower Manhattan Classic. Castro has taken his game to the pro-level and even explored the Hollywood scene. He’s no longer a secret!

Read More »

John “Mookie” Thomas helped lead N.I.K.E. 1 to a Pro City title this summer. Photo: Kevin Couliau.

The first time I heard John “Mookie” Thomas talk, I knew what he was about.

“Terrence! You were supposed to call me at 9. Now I gotta call you back,” is what he left on my voicemail.

He wasn’t really yelling nor was he really mad. The tone in his voice simply said, ‘Yo, young man. Handle ya B-I !’

With many of Crooklyn’s finest calling Mookie an older brother/uncle figure, I guess it was only right that I got the same treatment. Mookie’s all about responsibility and earning everything given to him, which was never more evident than at the Nike TOC. Read More »

Throughout August, The Jim Couch Foundation sponsored workouts at Fordham University for boys and girls of all ages. Even though the workouts are technically free, the participants paid in sweat and hard work. The summer may be typically reserved for tournaments but it’s also a chance for players to refine skills they have and work on the ones they don’t. Instruction from experienced NYC ballplayers, including NBA Top 50 Greatest Player Nate “Tiny” Archibald, was just too valuable to pass up for a ton of players. Archibald said that he saw a lot of potential at the workouts and that a main reason he wanted to be apart of it was to give back and help the next generation learn.

Read More »

Nike reps, Bounce familia and the fans of NYC summer ball had waited for this day the way Lil’ Dez does when he sits outside Kobe and LeBron’s apartment– uncontrollably bopping around in excitement, just waiting to see their heroes.

The 1 train, The Village, Hunter College and Harlem World have all been watching and waiting to crown the team of the summer. After months of players getting after it on all surfaces in all locations, the city finally got its wish this weekend. Read More »

Basketball is a big part of my family. My pops played, my older brother plays, I get down and even though she never hooped, mom-dukes can tell a ref he missed a call with the best of them. Coming from a family of hoop heads, my little brother had no choice but to catch on early. This summer his AAU team, Delaware’s Finest Stars, made their third consecutive trip to Florida to compete in the AAU National Tournament. Read More »

Summer ball in NYC is all about watching our up-and-coming young guys emerge as players and mature as people. Seeing a kid labeled as a hothead take a teammate to the side after he commits a turnover, lets us know he’s growing. Watching a budding-big man grab an offensive rebound and finish strong with two hands means he’s ready to handle anything. This is the process one of New York’s best young talents had to go through. Read More »