Holcombe Rucker
Encyclopedia
Holcombe Rucker was a playground director in Harlem
for the New York City
Department of Parks & Recreation from 1948 to 1964. He founded the New York City pro-am basketball
tournament that still bears his name, and is the namesake of a world-famous basketball court
in Harlem.
Rucker, who grew up in Manhattan, started the tournament in 1947 at a playground on 7th Avenue between 128th and 129th streets. He insisted that education be a fundamental part of the Rucker League, in keeping with its motto — "Each one, teach one." Through his efforts, over 700 individuals were able to obtain basketball scholarships to help finance their education.
The tournament grew into the stuff of legend in the 1960s, when many NBA stars such as Wilt Chamberlain
participated.
Rucker attended City College of New York
and graduated in 1962 with a degree in Education. He went on to teach English at J.H.S. 139 before he died of cancer in 1965 at age 38.
In 1974 the city renamed P.S. 156 Playground, located at 155th Street
and Frederick Douglass Boulevard
, as Holcombe Rucker Playground
in dedication to his community efforts. Rucker's basketball tournament had moved there in 1965, and Holcombe Rucker Basketball Court — now arguably the most famous street court in the world — remains a proving ground for the region's most talented players.
Chris Rucker, Holcombe's grandson, currently continues the family tradition at Rucker Park with the Rucker Pro-Am, a men's division summer basketball league. He is currently trying to have Rucker enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor to the game of basketball. His other grandson, Darius, is a country music star who is the former lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish.
Holcombe Rucker is also known for his efforts in mentoring Earl Manigault
some go as far to say that if he did not pass away so early Manigault may have been an NBA legend.
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
for the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Department of Parks & Recreation from 1948 to 1964. He founded the New York City pro-am basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
tournament that still bears his name, and is the namesake of a world-famous basketball court
Rucker Park
Rucker Park is a basketball court in the Harlem neighborhood of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard across the street from the former Polo Grounds site...
in Harlem.
Rucker, who grew up in Manhattan, started the tournament in 1947 at a playground on 7th Avenue between 128th and 129th streets. He insisted that education be a fundamental part of the Rucker League, in keeping with its motto — "Each one, teach one." Through his efforts, over 700 individuals were able to obtain basketball scholarships to help finance their education.
The tournament grew into the stuff of legend in the 1960s, when many NBA stars such as Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain was an American professional NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers; he also played for the Harlem Globetrotters prior to playing in the NBA...
participated.
Rucker attended City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
and graduated in 1962 with a degree in Education. He went on to teach English at J.H.S. 139 before he died of cancer in 1965 at age 38.
In 1974 the city renamed P.S. 156 Playground, located at 155th Street
155th Street (Manhattan)
155th Street is a major crosstown street in the Harlem neighborhood, in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is the northernmost of the 155 crosstown streets mapped out in the Commissioner's Plan of 1811 that established the numbered street grid in Manhattan.155th Street starts on the West...
and Frederick Douglass Boulevard
Eighth Avenue (Manhattan)
Eighth Avenue is a north-south avenue on the West Side of Manhattan in New York City, carrying northbound traffic. Eighth Avenue begins in the West Village neighborhood at Abingdon Square and runs north for 44 blocks through Chelsea, the Garment District, Hell's Kitchen's east end, Midtown and the...
, as Holcombe Rucker Playground
Rucker Park
Rucker Park is a basketball court in the Harlem neighborhood of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located at 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard across the street from the former Polo Grounds site...
in dedication to his community efforts. Rucker's basketball tournament had moved there in 1965, and Holcombe Rucker Basketball Court — now arguably the most famous street court in the world — remains a proving ground for the region's most talented players.
Chris Rucker, Holcombe's grandson, currently continues the family tradition at Rucker Park with the Rucker Pro-Am, a men's division summer basketball league. He is currently trying to have Rucker enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor to the game of basketball. His other grandson, Darius, is a country music star who is the former lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish.
Holcombe Rucker is also known for his efforts in mentoring Earl Manigault
Earl Manigault
Earl Manigault was a famous American street basketball player nicknamed "The Goat."-Early life and career:...
some go as far to say that if he did not pass away so early Manigault may have been an NBA legend.