NYCHoops.net - iS8/Nike: Historic Tourny Makes Changes

September 9, 2009

Maurice Wingate
NYCHoops.net Publisher

The 2009 iS8/Nike Fall Tip-Off Classic is offically slated to begin on Wednesday September 16th with the schedule (dates, times & locations) coming later this week on NYCHoops.net.

iS8/Nike has evolved to become the place where top ballers come to get exposure or to get exposed. It is and always will be known as a place to put up or shut up." To bring your game, not your name.." This season the most things remain the same in the iS8/Nike but there will be a few firsts.

iS8/Nike commissioner, Pete Edwards, says that he has instituted some changes to accomodate the popularity of the tournament. First, there will be 65-70 teams participating this year, up from the 54 teams in last year's tournament. Pool play will be from Wednesday to Sunday. Second, there will be four high school team divisions comprised of players from the same high schools. The winner of each HS division will now be playing against the winner of another HS division winner in the first round of the play-offs. Lastly, there will be new pool play game locations added and one removed. This years game locations will be Intermediate School #8 (Main location) in Jamaica, NY, Holy Cross HS in Flushing, NY, Gershwin HS in Brooklyn, NY and New York Tech in Old Westbury, NY. The BRC will not be utilized. As always, the top two teams in each pool (division) will advance into the do-or-die playoffs where the competition gets stiffer and even more competitive

Many people nationwide are aware of the iS8/Nike, however most don't know the rich history and roots of this extremely influential and highly competitive tournament. A tournament that has generated over 35 active players in the NBA stars, most recently including J.R. Smith LeBron James, Brandon Jennings, Hasheem Thabeet and Michael Beasley. This does not include the hundreds of top college players who are also iS8/Nike alums.

The iS8 actually began 35 to 40 years ago as a local unlimited league, located in Intermediate School #8 in South Jamaica Queens, NY and run by the late Rudy Lee. It was later run by Billy Medley and Ray Gillespie. Participants, back then, included pros & street legends such as "Fly" Williams, Lloyd B. Free, Al Skinner, George Johnson, Kenny Charles, Greg "Jocko" Jackson, Jeff Houston, Reggie Carter, Alfred King, Wayne McCoy, Sam Worthen, and Mel Davis just to name a few. Because of the intense rivalries The IS8 became known over the years as a place where the best of the best came to throw down. To put up or shut up. "To bring your game, not your name."

There was a lull in the action because schools where closing and there were cut backs. In 1983 - 1984, Phillip "Abadab" Kelly and James Ryan, realized that the iS8 was vital to the community and went to Solomon Goodrich of the Southern Queens Park Association and Councilman Archie Spigner lobbying to get the iS8 gym reopened for three nights a week. Because they were unable to run the event themselves on a consistent basis, they approached Pete Edwards who grew up in the neighborhood and use to enjoy watching the IS8 himself as a kid.

As a result of basketball, Edwards got a free college education and had return to his community, so when he was tapped to run the IS8 he gladly accepted as a way of giving back.

Disenchanted with the neighborhood violence, in 1986, Edwards changed the iS8 into a high school and junior high school tournament, as a way to give talented kids the opportunity to be seen. It has since grown in spectrum and scope to the point where it has become the accepted barometer of how good are player really is. Today, the iS8/Nike is followed by almost every D-1 program in the country and viewed globally via webcast.

NYCHoops.net will, as always, bring you wall to wall coverage of the iS8/Nike and The High School Basketball Network will bring you teams, updated schedules, standings plus exclusive full game webcasts of the semifinals and championship games complete with play-by-play.

Go to NYC Hoops for all the late breaking NYC basketball news and rankings.

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