CULTURE

Dyckman Love | Slam Summer Classic by Hussein Abdullahi

Aside from the atmosphere, Dyckman’s competition is second to none. Kenny Stephens has created a top premiere basketball tournament in North American; his vision is to make Dyckman the best tournament in the world. Over the last 7 summers, Dyckman Basketball has shifted the culture for the NYC hoops. They call Dyckman "The Red Carpet of Streetball", Simply because you just never know who’ll be in attendance. You got the top celebrities, and NBA players coming to the Dyckman community to join in on the action. Ken Stevens has bridge the gap for the inner city kids who’ve been looking for a safe heaven; Dyckman has fulfilled that void. On August 18th 2018, the best High School hoopers will come to NYC’s Dyckman Park for the 1st annual SLAM Summer Classic. This will be a highly anticipated event has the potential to shift the culture for summer hoops. The summer stage is set, and what better place to have to it in than Dyckman "The Red Carpet Of Streetball".

Photo by: @nikebasketball

Photo by: @nikebasketball

You gotta be a different animal to play on these courts, especially in the tournament. You gotta have a different mindset, none of that cool stuff.
— Ken Stevens (Founder)

Slam Summer Hoops at Dyckman will be an epic night for NYC basketball, top-tier recruits such as: Cole Anthony, Cassius Stanley, Jalen Lecque, Tyrese Maxey, and more will compete for streetball supremacy and the ultimate bragging rights. The Authentic energy will definitely be in the air, as the bleachers will be packed from end to end; it don't get no better than that. August will be a hot month for summer hoops; you got Dyckman playoffs around the corner, the 2nd annual Jelly Day, and the main event Slam Summer Classic. Everybody knows when you play in the mecca you got to put on a show; when the lights are on, its time to perform.

Photo by: @_bryant_a

Photo by: @_bryant_a

The crowd gets into it which builds your confidence, the energy that the crowd gives you can take your game to a whole other level.
— Scottie Lewis (Team Rio)

One player that will headline this event is the premier guard Cole Anthony. The 6'3 guard has been ranked as the #1 point guard in the country, and has invited us his world.. "COLE SUMMER". Cole Anthony lead the USA Men's U18 team to a gold medal finish at the Fiba Americas, where he earned All-tournament team honours. Anthony has emerged as the best point guard in NYC, we seen familiar dominance with Harlem Native Isaiah Washington. Both guards had NYC on fire and now with Anthony gracing the blacktops at Dyckman, he looks towards taking the crowd by storm with his flashy moves and "freak of nature" athleticism. The Slam Summer Classic will be a unique platform for the top tier prospect to compete in a NYC's most popular outdoor court. Cole Anthony looks to keep the NYC basketball tradition alive as he represents a long list NYC legends such as: Isaiah Washington (Jelly fam) , Mohamad Bamba (Orlando Magic), Sabastian Telfair (Former NBA Player), Hamio Diallo ( Oklahoma City Thunder), and Pearl Washington. 

Photo by: Rayon Richards

Photo by: Rayon Richards

It’s definitely a crazy environment, the audience is pretty much on top of you. If you get expose, people gon’ make sure you know you got expose.
— Cole Anthony (Archbishop Molly)

This summer NYC hoops is at an all time high, with the emergence of prominent summer tournaments it has created an authentic buzz around the sport of basketball. In August, Nike will crown the champion of NY vs. NY, Dyckman tournament, but Slam will get the opportunity to end summer hoops on the right note. Dyckman is the home where stars are made, with that being said, August 18th Slam Summer Classic Vol.1. Let see if the nations top kids can come to Dyckman and make a name for themselves, or will the bright lights be too much?

Slam Summer Classic might be one of the biggest games out the last 5 years, just streetball alone.
— David "Cha-Ching" Teele (MC)
Photo by: @SLAM_HS

Photo by: @SLAM_HS

Thanks: @Slam_hs, @dyckmanbasketball, @nikebasketball

Athletes: Cole Anthony, Cassius Stanley, Jalen Leqcue, Scottie Lewis, Tyrese Maxey, Bryan Antonie

Founder: Ken Stevens (iamkenstevens)

Photography: Rayon Richards, Bryant Alexander (@_bryant_a)

The Drew Effect | 45 Years Strong by Hussein Abdullahi

The History runs deep for LA’s Drew League, In its 45th year The Drew has been home to perennial NBA stars such as Nick Young, James Harden, Javale McGee, and Demar DeRozan. Back in 1973, Alvin Willis had a vision he brought to the community of South Central Los Angeles. Alvin had high hopes for the Youths of LA; his objective was to create a platform that would attract the top HS players, College, and Pro's back to the community. In the span of a decade Alvin and Dino transformed the Drew League from a top tier Pro-Am in North America to a top Pro-am in the world. 40 years ago, nobody envisioned that a 6-team league would become the epicentre for Southern California hoops. On Saturday June 2, over 350 athletes will grace the hardwood for the opening weekend of the Drew. This season 26 teams will compete for LA supremacy; the highly anticipated Pro-am will feature Reigning Champs Birdies Revenge led by MVP Franklin “Nitty” Sessions. The summer hoop scene in LA never seems to fail their expectations; The Drew will provide high-level competition in stellar fashion.

Photo by:@Drewleague

Photo by:@Drewleague

This year's divisions will be named after brother’s Jonathan and Christopher Baxter, who've been former player’s of the drew. Unfortunately their lives were taken by a fatal car accident back in November of 2017; rest in paradise. Father Kenneth Baxter strives to make an impact this summer as he leans of his Drew League family, He Mourns alongside with 350 plus players who were friends, competitors, and peers of Chris and John. This summer all participants of the Drew are looking forward of keeping Christopher & Jonathan’s legacies alive.  No Excuse Just Produce.

You Know Chris and John loved playing in the Drew, they grew up in this league. That was their grind!
— Kenneth Baxter
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Each Division will include 13 teams that will compete against each, The JB division features both Hometown Favourites and Birdies Revenge; we will witness a rematch of last year championship during the regular season. In the CB division we got BB4L led by Casper Ware, and Van Girard. M.H.P. includes Nick "Swaggy P" Young and NBA All-star Demar DeRozan. It's an exciting time for Southern California, Musically, Entertainment, and Athletically; there's no place you'd rather be at. Less the 72 hours until the opening weekend kicks off at the Drew, let's continue to shift the culture of basketball on the west coast. It's been a blessing for the LA community to have sustained a reputable Pro-Am for over 40 year, 45 years to be exact. Dino and his team have high hopes for the Drew going forward as they look to witness another 45 years here in South Central, LA.

photo by: @drewleague

photo by: @drewleague

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If your a hooper, you love the essence of street ball. It’s just somewhere that represents where we come from. The Drew League represents where we come from. The struggle, the pain, just wanting to be sum.
— Tracy Mills (2017 Drew League Coach of The Year)

With national media attention around the Drew last summer, Complex decided to take a trip to LA and see what the fuss was about. The Drew never failed to provide great entertainment to the good people at Complex. Complex had the opportunity to capture various defining moments at the Drew, catching up with NBA stars, basketball icons, and more. Complex shared their Drew experience for the world to see if hopes of shedding light on the new aged basketball culture. Check out the dope video below. Be sure to come out and watch the world's #1 Pro-Am this weekend at King Drew High School; No Excuse. Just Produce.

photo by: @drewleague

photo by: @drewleague

Kids get to see a little bit of success, great basketball, NBA players, top College players. In the hood you don’t got that man, so I’m glad Nike helped bring this together and made it into what it is today.
— Franklin "Nitty" Session (Drew League MVP)

Thanks: @Drewleague, @Nikelosangeles, @complex

Event: 45th Annual Drew League

Sponsored by: Nike

Powered by: Body Armour, Monster, Time Warner Cable

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDhmqBrfzsc&t=79s