Jackie Knowles used to have the mid-night run every Wednesday at the Webster PAL in the Bronx.  Players like Gus Williams, Ray Williams, Mike Red, Julio Tappia, Kevin Williams, Cazzie, the McCray brothers, Chris Washburn (Golden State Warriors), Henry Wilmore, and Moe Head.  The run would start at 10 o'clock and end around four the next morning.  The gym stayed packed all night.  What was so nice about the run, everybody got to play, Jack would size up the teams.  He didn't care if you earn millions or not. You played whenever your time came.  Jackie Knowles coached them all in some of the most exciting tournaments in New York City.  - anonymous

My boy Patrick, a.k.a. Blue Link, always plays at the St. Ignatious Gym.  He's the best one there.  During halftime in a game, he called out to anyone in the stands to try to check him.  This 17 year old came, and BL put the ball between the dude's legs, came back around him, threw the ball up, and pulled the guy shorts down.  When the kid pulled them up, BL hit it off his head.  The kid got mad and started to play serious D. BL shook the dude so bad, he fell and his face hit the floor.  The kid lost a tooth. -  saintmarksplayer, Brooklyn

This goes out to Joe Hammond, the destroyer, Big Black Herman, the helicopter, Pee wee Kirkland and the whole uptown crew thank you for the memories.  There will never be any others like the first brothers of the black top running and gunning unstoppable, unbelievable, the best there ever was.  I wasn't around to see the way you controlled the court and who ever were on the other team.  I only hope that there are pictures of these great urban legends. This is a part of history for all those who lace up their sneakers and for one hour on Saturday morning shoot the rock and say this is old school baby! - cbw.lewis

What up Game Over?  This is your boy Davis from S.C. State College.  I'm writing to tell you to keep your ballplayer in New York.  No offense.  I meet this kid Kobe, a.k.a. Russell Williams from St. John's University. He came down for the Nike basketball camp this year and showed us how NY gets down. We thought that this kid was on drugs or something cuz when he jumps, it's over.  I put one of my best players on him. Russell shot him down.  This kid Kobe got the ball from half court, drove left, hit him harder than a car crash, he jumped off one foot in front of the free throw line and slammed it so hard he broke my rim.  It took me two days to get a new one.  He really holds it down for the New Yorkers.  When he came here and everyone found out that he was from NY, they disrepected the nine yard trash talking about him and NY. But it didn't take Russell a long time to shout them up.  The only way I was able to write this is cuz your boy Russell loves basketball so much he put GAME on one side of his arm and Over on the other.  Trust me, that came after his dunk - game was over. Russell Williams keep up the good work and keep working hard.  It will pay off.  Don't pay attention to people hating on you.  Trust me,  you will make it to the NBA. So long Game Over.  Holla at you later.   - Mr. Davis, S.C. State University

I've got one for everyone.  The best high school ball was during the 90's.  Canarsie High School was a site for the first round playoff game between Lincoln and Westinghouse.  Stephon Marbury vs. Ed "Booger" Smith.  I remember watching from the stands behind Lincoln's bench.  Lincoln was winning the game but Stephon Marbury as a freshmen was scared and crying cause he had too guard Booger who was dazzling the crowd with in and outs and crazy handle and passes we have never seen at the time.  I know Boog's is one of the best and is the toughest street ball player and one of the smartest on the court guards ever.....and I'm sticking to it - korr51176

There was a kid by the name of Corey Bingham (6-3) who could really shoot lights out and had hops (now plays for Memphis).  He and Jamaal Boyd (5-11) (one of the sickest defenders and passers around) were playing a play-off game in high school at Lynn Tech.  Corey needed one more point for a 1,000.  In the first 30 seconds of the game Jamaal threw the ball off the backboard, Corey jumped from almost the foul line, caught the ball and slammed it with two hands and hanged on the rim.  The crowd went wild.  That's the way to score your 1,000^th point.  Tech lost the state championship, going 32-1 that year.  Corey averaged a triple-double, 37-12-16. -   Ricky, Lynn, MA

Moe Head and Lonzo Jackson were two of New York's greatest  ballplayers in Harlem in the early 80's.  Moe Head played for Charles Even Hughes High School along with Pie, Eddie Lamb, and Henry Wilmore.  In the Rucker, he played against some of the best players in Harlem, such players as Boobie Green, Teddy Cambell, Harvey Young, Slim Humphey, Carlton Green, Cheyanne and Mike Moore.  Lonzo Jackson used to drop 40 points a game in the Rucker.  Bob Gillyard played high school basketball at Chavis HS in South Carolina.  He was one of Chavis H.S's top players.  He also played in the Rucker Tournament prior to going away to school.  Thanks for letting me showcase these forgotten ballers.  -  anonymous

1997, Lincoln Park, Queens Tournament, Two the Hole, Inc versus South Side All-Stars. Boogs playing with Two the Hole, Inc along with Junie, Biz, Mike Campbell, Mookie, Bam, Craig Carter, etc.  South Side throws on a full court press to start the second half, Two the Hole, Inc. inbounds the ball to Boogs.  Instead of trying to dribble and shake everyone, Boogs tell his team to clear it out, sending all of his teammates away from the ball during a press. One defender steps up, Boogs shakes him up with an in and out dribble move. Another defender steps up and Boogs hits him with a spin move, but before Boogs gets away from him cleanly, the defender pushes Boogs and almost makes him fall out of bounds, no call. Seemingly all of balance and about to fall, Boogs throws a bowling ball pass down the middle of the court all the way from one foul line to the other. The ball is rolling, not bouncing, down the middle of the court and no one can seem to catch up to it. Finally the ball reaches Malik (Jesus) Copeland who was cutting to the other basket, and like magic, the ball pops up and hits Malik in the chest!  Malik was so shocked he almost dropped the damn ball. Malik manages to get control of the ball and makes the lay-up with no one around him. The whole park just stayed quiet, announcers, players and crowd. Two plays later there was a timeout. I walked out on to the court to see if there was a lump in the ground or maybe a rock or tree branch, anything that I could attribute to that ball just popping up into Mali's chest from the ground like that.  Nothing there, just Boogs....    - twotheholeinc

Vernon Moore. Went to Jackson... In the summer he ran with the "Brew Crew" (Ronnie Williams, Twin, Howie Hudson) that rocked the Pro-Am (National Champs) and Summer League tourney's in the mid-80's. True Story!  Vern went up for a lay-up, dude went up for a block, Vern had the ball in his left, put the ball around his back while turning counter-clockwise, Vern then reversed field put the ball under his leg, rocked it back and forth before putting it up and the foul. Did it go in?  Hell No!  But it didn't matter.  Don't believe it?  That's on you... I've been watching ball since ‘75 my favorite team is still the New York Nets (ABA)... But if God were to ask me for the top 10 of all time, based just on talent alone. He's there!

Other players: Kevin Young (Stacey Augmen with o), Lloyd Daniels, Ice Reynolds, this cat named Air (6'6 freakin' incredible!) I saw up at OCP a couple of years back... gave DefJam (Alimoe et al.) the business and why he's not in the pros God only knows. Walter Berry, John Johnson, Rafer and I'll cosign on Booger (saw him at the BooWilliams in Va back in 92). Felipe Lopez was the truth, bad choice of school. Saw him "Ice Cream and Cake" people to death at the Golden Hoops. Stymie was his equal. Saw Steph @ 15 he had it then.

I know I'm long winded... Last one. I played against Rafer in the park, saw him at the Rucker on opening day in 95. Incredible! That being said there was this brother named SeanPree. Queens brother. Used to son BooHarv, Doug Harris and those guys at Jackson (Now Campus Magnet). Long story short. I was in the park with him and some dude who played in England rolled up.  Playing 21... Dude put Pree's stuff on the board. Next play! Pree shook-em up right quick, spun on him, and bounced the ball behind Dude's back. Check it.. he spun back, and broke to the basket. Dude most have thought Pree still had the ball so he followed him to the hoop... Pree caught the ball then clapped on him. It was a bounce pass to himself. Skill wise? I love Isiah. Rafer is the man. But the best handle of all-time goes to SeanPree.  Salam.  -  Cal from the Park, Queens