“people are
lining up
two and a
half hours
earlier—just
lingering
around—
just to make
sure they
get in the
park and get
a spot.”
—pitts
SLAMONLINE.COM 67were among the first pros to watch the
city’s next generation from the sidelines.
“I think what happened was that when
the Nike rep walked away, the tourna-
ment directors just said [amongst]
ourselves, ‘Why not try it? We have
nothing to lose.’ We all came together
and we all put our egos aside. We all put
our personal feelings aside and just said
‘Let’s see where it goes.’ It was probably
one of the better things that happened
for New York City basketball,” says
Stevens.
Since the tourney runs through the
midst of the NCAA recruiting Live
Period—it starts in late June and ends
first week of August—the league
directors knew it wouldn’t be catered to
top-ranked, blue-chip recruits. Instead it
would serve the city’s rich local
talent—guys who hoop for some of the
top high school programs in the city and
although may not be nationally ranked
are still being offered scholarships by
Division I programs.
Yet, the buzz around the league grew
so much that now even those players
who originally weren’t the exact target
are now the ones reaching out wanting
in.
“Remember, these kids playing in
NYvsNY are not the top kids. They