Dyckman Basketball Tournament

The Dyckman Basketball Tournament is one of the premier summer streetball tournaments in New York City. It is located in Monsignor Kett Playground a.k.a. Dyckman Park in the Washington Heights/Inwood section of Manhattan. What was a one division, six-team tournament in its first season in 1990 is currently a tournament with six age divisions, containing a total of 77 teams. Its college/pro division is the most notable of them all, on any given night you are liable to see NBA, NCAA, and overseas professionals on the court.^[1]

History

The tournament was formed by Kenneth Stevens, Omar Booth, and Michael Jenkins in an effort to provide a positive outlet for the community. Inwood, like many other neighborhoods in inner cities during the late 1980s was plagued by the crack epidemic. The community was infested with drugs, crime and interracial turf wars between the emerging Dominican population and the existing black population in the area.

During this time Monsignor Kett Playground was in horrible conditions and free of basketball and any related activities. The park that was once known for being a Holcombe Rucker site during the 1970s was now an eyesore for the community and area residents. Stevens, Booth, and Jenkins painted the court and restored the park to conditions apt to host a tournament. The three believed creating a basketball tournament would spark positive relations through sport, community and goodwill, thus changing the culture in the community and furthering the effort to better the community. In its first season the tournament hosted a six-team, twelve-man roster playing in a five-game regular season leading to the playoffs.

The tournament continued to progress every year with help from local businesses who sponsored the tournament. On its tenth anniversary it landed its first corporate sponsor in Converse (shoe company). From there on they have received sponsorships from numerous corporate companies in addition to their local supporters. Their biggest sponsors have been Nike, Inc., who has been affiliated since 2004. In 2011 Nike formed a team in the tournament with the top street ballers in NYC and named them “Team Nike.”^[2] Coached by the legendary Maxwell "Bingo" Cole,^[3] they won the championship.^[4]

Divisions

College-Pro Division: 19 Teams
High School Division: 16 Teams
Junior Division: 16 Teams
Biddy Division: 14 Teams
Pee Wee Division: 6 Teams
Super Pee Wee Division: 6 Teams

Regular season/playoffs (College/Pro Division)

7 regular season games
2 Conferences
Teams are seeded 1-8 on both sides
Playoffs are one game elimination

Past champions (College/Pro Division)

1990 - Dyckman
1991 - Dyckman
1992 - Dyckman
1993 - Head Bangers
1994 - Regulators
1995 - Head Bangers
1996 - Big Tyme
1997 – N/A
1998 –N/A
1999 - Da Fundamentalz
2000 -The Wall
2001 - The Wall
2002 - Team and 1
2003 - Takes No Prisoners
2004 - Takes No Prisoners
2005 - 84th St.
2006 - Takes No Prisoners
2007 - Dominican Power
2008 - Bingo's All-Stars
2009 - Bingo's All-Stars
2010 - Takes No Prisoners
2011 - Team Nike ^[5]
2012 – Team 914
2013 - BodySnatchers
2018 - TMT/Showstoppers

Notable players

References

^ Zwerling, Jared (22 July 2011). "NY legends play in 'game of the decade'". ESPN. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^ Khorshidi, Eldon (14 June 2011). "Dyckman Summer Preview". Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^ Khorshidi, Eldon (12 October 2011). "Q+A: Maxwell 'Bingo' Cole". SLAM Magazine. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^ STASZEWSKI, Joseph (28 June 2011). "Loaded, unselfish Team Nike on mission for Dyckman crown". NY POST. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^ Khorshidi, Eldon (19 August 2011). "Dyckman Championship Recap". SLAM Magazine. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^ Begley, Ian (5 August 2011). "Michael Beasley shoves fan in face". ESPN. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^ Torres, Adry (13 August 2011). "Cuban makes appearance at Dyckman". ESPN. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^ Torres, Adry (14 August 2011). "Brewer wanted to stay with Knicks". ESPN. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^ Shwayder, Maya. "Dyckman Basketball Tournament Jumps Off to a Big Start". DNA Info. Archived from the original on 2012-06-17.
^ Phillips, Aron. "TAG: ADRIS DELEON PLAYGROUND, VIDADRIS "2 HARD 2 GUARD" DELEON & QUINTON "T2" HOSLEY ARE ALWAYS ON". Dime Magazine. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^ Jackson, Scoop (6 August 2011). "The Kevin Durantapalooza Tour". Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^ Moore, Matt. "Brandon Jennings is not very nice in streetball play". NBC Sports. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^ Zwerling, Jared. "J.R. Smith headlines Dyckman playoff finale". ESPN. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^ Torres, Adry (7 August 2011). "Jennings, Walker star in Bronx". ESPN. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
^ CAPUTO, Matt. "Killer on the Loose". SLAM Magazine. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

The Dyckman Basketball Tournament is also featured in the 2003 Billboard Magazine Sports & Recreation TOP 10 DVD-"STREETBALL CLASSICS. VOL. 1

[1] Zwerling, Jared (22 July 2011). "NY legends play in 'game of the decade'". ESPN. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

[2] Khorshidi, Eldon (14 June 2011). "Dyckman Summer Preview". Retrieved 20 August 2012.

[3] Khorshidi, Eldon (12 October 2011). "Q+A: Maxwell 'Bingo' Cole". SLAM Magazine. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

[4] STASZEWSKI, Joseph (28 June 2011). "Loaded, unselfish Team Nike on mission for Dyckman crown". NY POST. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

[5] Khorshidi, Eldon (19 August 2011). "Dyckman Championship Recap". SLAM Magazine. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

[6] Begley, Ian (5 August 2011). "Michael Beasley shoves fan in face". ESPN. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

[7] Torres, Adry (13 August 2011). "Cuban makes appearance at Dyckman". ESPN. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

[8] Torres, Adry (14 August 2011). "Brewer wanted to stay with Knicks". ESPN. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

[9] Shwayder, Maya. "Dyckman Basketball Tournament Jumps Off to a Big Start". DNA Info. Archived from the original on 2012-06-17.

[10] Phillips, Aron. "TAG: ADRIS DELEON PLAYGROUND, VIDADRIS "2 HARD 2 GUARD" DELEON & QUINTON "T2" HOSLEY ARE ALWAYS ON". Dime Magazine. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

[11] Jackson, Scoop (6 August 2011). "The Kevin Durantapalooza Tour". Retrieved 20 August 2012.

[12] Moore, Matt. "Brandon Jennings is not very nice in streetball play". NBC Sports. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

[13] Zwerling, Jared. "J.R. Smith headlines Dyckman playoff finale". ESPN. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

[14] Torres, Adry (7 August 2011). "Jennings, Walker star in Bronx". ESPN. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

[15] CAPUTO, Matt. "Killer on the Loose". SLAM Magazine. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

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