Many of us remember the great players and mind blowing plays that they made.  But we must also pay homage to the coaches, our urban coaches, who are in the pits, and where the majority of players attained their basketball skills.

Whereas today, the talk is about the lack of team ball and solid fundamentals that is exhibited in today's game, but it was just the opposite for Coach Ted Gustus.   Back in the 70's, which was filled with (as is highlighted by so many urban legends, with phenomenal one-on-one skills), Coach Ted Gustus, would take and mold his players into a cohesive team.  And not just on the court, but in the classroom.  Ones' results in the classroom, were just as important, (if not more important), to Coach Gustus, than how many points someone scored.  Coach Gustus never cut anyone from his Ditmas All-Stars teams.  Players who didn't want to adhere to the playing team and fundamentally sound basketball, cut themselves.  And thru all of his fundamental teachings, many great players were created.  Everyone knows, Rolando Blackman, John Salley, but it's the other guys, who went on to acting careers, executive positions in corporate America, coaches, police officers, teachers, college graduates . . . now those are the guys that he and many of us are very proud of.  Everyone in the Ditmas All-Stars family is very grateful for God placing that vision within Coach Gustus.  How else does one explain how a young man, could just decide to coach youth in the game of basketball, in a public park like Ditmas Park (now known as Rolando Blackman Park), making men out of boys . . . having an integral hand in countless numbers of student/athletes to personal and career success.  Yes, now that's an Urban Legend.  God Bless you Coach Ted Gustus, Jr.  -  georgeamay, Manassas Park, Virginia

There is a story near the bottom half of this page that about the Gasman Darling that somewhat has some accuracy.  I am a 14 year military veteran and army basketball player.  I played with a guy named Dwayne Darling.  I don't know much about him, I know he was from Florida, and I have witnessed the shooting displays he's put on.  Around 1997 we were playing in a intramural league while being stationed in Germany.  The team we were playing against had to have at least two girls on the team (league rules).  Well his team had only 4 people, 2 were girls, and the other was a sorry fat kid.  Well needless to say we thought we had the game in the bag when out of nowhere this kid name Darling caught fire in the 2nd half.  We were beating them by 18 points at the half and I think Darling may have had 12 or 13 points, when one of my teammates started talking big SH*^%,  then Darling said I'm not even really playing and to make a long story short he ended up with 64 points in the game and we barely escaped winning by 4 points.  He hit from everywhere on the court, left hand, right hand, glass, and net.  One memorable point in the game was when he hit 4 back-to-back-to-back-to-back 3 pointers ALL from within one step of the halfcourt circle.  The crowd went off the hook.  He single-handedly tied the game at one point.  Through my 14 years in the military and 25 years of playing ball that has to be one of the most spectacular shooting displays I have ever witnessed.  After the game my whole team had respect for him and the even painted his name on that gym wall.  I looked him up, I think he's at FT Jackson, South Carolina.  He was still playing ball, but knee injuries and his weight caught up with him. You can still see flashes of a playground legend within in him . . . now that's a true to life story  -  SSG WASHINGTON, US Army

What about Larry Washington, Brownsville, Brooklyn, Canarsie H.S 1978, NYC HS PLAYER OF THE YEAR, Texas Tech and St. Johns.  Larry definitely had mad game back in the 70's early 80's.  Earl Fuller and 90 were great guards from Brownsville but Larry was the best guard to come out of Brooklyn during that era.  Larry played for coach Dean Bentley in the early 70's and for Riverside Church in the late 70's in the same park that Artie Green and the LA ALL-STARS played at on 139 and Lenox.  He had incredible handles, a jump shot and creative moves that enabled him drop 25 and at least 10 dimes on the regular.  -   lmcguirejr, Iraq

Great Site! Keep up the good work.
I'll title this: FROM BACK IN THE DAYS

Best backcourt from the Bronx: Mike Bright, Columbus H.S. and Mike Lawrence, Clinton H.S. Just ask Mr. Jim Couch!

Unguardable guards: Arnold Duggar, Clinton H.S.; Jeff Mingo, Columbus H.S.; Joe Holman; Construction worker Artie Green (not the one from Taft); Artie Green from Taft High School; Dennis "Blye" Boyd, Roosevelt H.S.; Carlton Green: A.K.A. "MoJo; Shot-Gunn, Columbus H.S.; Russel Grant; Vernon Kitchen (R.I.P.), Clinton H.S.; One of the best Hispanic Guards ever Jackie Acevedo; Bobby Willis, Monroe HS.; Boobie Eldridge (R.I.P.), Taft HS.; Butch Lee, Clinton H.S.; Kenny Johnson, Clinton H.S.; "Kool Aid",  Morris H.S.                                   

Unguardable Big Men: Cheese Johnson; Steve "The Bear" Sheppard, Clinton H.S.; Anthony Price, Taft H.S.; Dean Peterson, Evander H.S.; Dudley Biggs, Columbus H.S.; Rich Silvera, Clinton H.S.; Charlie Ford, Columbus H.S.; "Pinochio", Morris H.S.

High Risers: Artie Green; "Milky Way"; Tony "Red" Bruin; Mel Hubbard; Dudley Biggs; Horace Mincey; Kenny Johnson; And the man I will put against anyone in any lifetime-Alan Green.

I have stories for most of them. But that's for another time.  -  coachvic, Bronx, N.Y.

One time at Cromwell, Swiss did a windmill dunk on an 11ft. rim.  It was the craziest thing I ever seen!!!  Air Albert is still the king though!!!  -  ec200488

Brooklyn needs to stand up and let all know that there is a name that is constantly never mentioned in the pantheon of NBA players from Brooklyn.  Everyone saw him put it down on nationwide TV with Marquette.  Even Al McGuire called him one of the best guards ever to come from NYC.  Who is it?  NONE OTHER BUT SAM WORTHEN.  Sudden Sam was one of the best point guards ever . . . period.  I see a lot of names being tossed about, but SAM WORTHEN's pops up every once and a while. 

Sudden Sam's handle was incredible.  I saw him shake Bo Edwards ( from the Ballin' South Side Edwards Fam) out his sneakers at the Jackson HS Gym.  Coach Gramby (all props due) was running his patented three guard offense to try and slow Sam down.  Bo, Day-Day, and Craig Pendergrass tried to trap Sam at the half court line on the right side.  Sam broke Day's ankle and made Bo's shoe fly off.  Craig was left reaching as Sam put the ball between his legs, spun left and then reversed right and went around him to throw a sweet assist.  The Crowd went BANANAS for so long the Refs had to call a time out.

To be fair, Sam was a senior and Bo was a freshman.  Also Craig Pendergrass was another cat whose handle was phenomenal!  He held his own with Sam.  Craig was the silent assassin.  He broke many ankles all over Queens.

In closing another cat that folks let fly under the radar is TY LADSEN, the other half of the Canarsie back court which was ranked the Street and Smith #1 HS in America.  -  kkev113one

I want to give props to my man Big Roy Beekman from The Bridge.  He did his thing at Niagara and is now the coach at Hostos in the Boogie Down.  Back in the day Roy put in work with Kenny "The Jet" Smith all over the city.  -  kkev113one

Yo this is your boy J-Mike.  Much love for all y'all players out from the street of urban legend.  So holla.  -  j-mikeouttakes

Just a comment the Paul "Snake" Atkins was a very good urban player.  However there has been better players out of Stamford (CT).  Just to name a few Enoch Gainer one of the best players never to play in the NBA.  The other player Alvin "Skinner" Frederick.  Skinner took the MVP at the Ruckers open division one year.  Do your research and let me know.  I played against all three.  -  wilsow

Nice web site.  I grew up in the 60's, when dope ruled the streets.  Coming from the west side of Manhattan's Douglas Projects,  I remember a guy name Ronnie Ryder a.k.a. Black Pearl.  I used to go down to 99 Street Park behind P.S. 163 and watch him run the floor.  It was always Ronnie and Reggie Carter.  Growing up they where the guys I looked up to as far as playing ball went.  What ever happened to him?  I also remember the GOAT too.  At the time he wasn't playing ball that much but was always at the park.  This was in the early 70's. -  sharkless