By Trevor Kapp

Tommie “Gunz” Eddie scored 25 points and Mike Campbell added 18 as the X-Men advanced to their second consecutive West 4th final Saturday afternoon, knocking off Pick & Roll, 95-87.

The X-Men led virtually the entire way and took a five-point lead into intermission.

But Miguel “Miles High” Millien netted all 20 of his points in the third quarter to bring Pick & Roll back. Read More »

By Trevor Kapp

At 3 p.m. yesterday, the time the game between the #5 Generals and #1 Rosedale Trail Blazers was set to start, the Generals were inside the Cage at West 4th Street going hard through warm-ups. Their opponents strolled in leisurely 20 minutes after and as a tournament director got on their case for showing up late, one player remarked, “Man, that’s no way to treat an undefeated team.”

If he thought a little yelling was bad, that wouldn’t even compare to what the Generals had in mind for the next 90 minutes. The underdogs jumped out to a 35-18 lead with about six minutes left in the 2nd quarter, controlling the pace and showing that once August comes around, regular-season record means nothing. Read More »

Prime Time talks it over. Photo: Casey Lee.

Miguel “Miles High” Millien hit a teammate with a no look dish for an and one. He altered X-Men shots all night and even drilled multiple 15-footers. The 6-9 high-rising forward is showing he’s more than just a catch and dunk stud, and his all-around play Tuesday at Pro City is the main why Prime Time’s playoff hopes are still alive.

Millien shot 11-for-19, scoring 24 points and grabbing 6 rebounds, as James Ryan’s team defeated the X-Men, 127-121. Read More »

Defending champion PDG Queensbridge staved off a rally to win Tuesday night.

After a missed-shot and turnover-ridden last summer in which he was heckled relentlessly at Pro City, Memphis Grizzlies guard Marko Jaric seemingly would’ve received a warmer welcome at a Duke game wearing Carolina gear than on 68th Street and Lexington. Yet there walked Jaric onto the court at Hunter College Tuesday night, big smile on his face as if he was a singer performing in front of his home-town fans.

While Jaric was far from looking like an NBA star, the former first-round selection appeared more comfortable than he was last year, scoring 18 points to help lead Dyckman past Prime Time, 111-100.

New Jersey Nets forward Yi Jianlian showed great touch around the basket with both hands and paced Dyckman with 30 points. Donnie McGrath poured in 21. Read More »

Steve Burtt. Jr., seen here after a game at Tri State last summer, led Gold’s Gym to victory. Photo: Sean Couch.

After confusion and conflict, uncertainty and unrest, another summer of Nike Pro City began Thursday night at its same location with the same tournament organizers patrolling the sidelines and the same marquee talent getting after it on the court. The rumors of the tournament no longer being sponsored by Nike: false. The speculation that games wouldn’t be played at Hunter College: false. The talk that there would be no league at all: just that. Arguably the best tournament in the city is back, and if Thursday night’s action was any indication of what this season will hold, we’re in for another great summer at 68th and Lexington. Read More »

John “The Franchise” Strickland was almost perfect from the line Sunday.

John Strickland’s free throw hit the front rim, then the back rim, where it sat for a couple seconds, before rolling through the net at West 4th Street Sunday. It was that type of day for the “Franchise,” who is back to add another season to his already storied NYC basketball career.

Strickland dropped 30 points, including 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, for United Brooklyn in a 105-92 win over the Gym Rats.

Darren “Primal Fear” Phillip added 29 as the Gym Rats had no answer for the veteran bigs. Read More »

Millien (center) at West 4th this Summer. Photo: Trevor Kapp

40: What’s Your Full Name? MH: Antoine Miguel Millien Jr. 40: How Did Summer 2008 Go For You In The Streetball Circuit? MH: I did well. I won three championships, received four MVP awards and one sportsmanship award. Read More »