On Saturday morning, Five Star co-founder Howard Garfinkel fondly known as “Garf” to many, left the basketball community and the world at 86 years young. Garfinkel was hospitalized over the past week and lost his battle with pneumonia.

He touched everyone life he came in contact with many scouts, coaches, and players learned from him, Garfinkel changed lives.

Reaction in hearing of the icon passing ranged from nostalgic to humorous from many former five star campers and coaches. “My career, and many others were started by him in the Five-Star Basketball Camp,” coach John Calipari.”

During my early days as a coach Howard was my “Shining Star” and mentor. Today’s great coaches were guided by Garf,” said coach George Raveling.”

"Thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of the great Howie Garfinkel! Gave me a chance as a young H.S. camper! God Bless," said Mark Jackson.

“Garf asked me, you want to coach? Ok…Clean the tables…So I did?,” coach Chuck Martin.

“RIP to a legend always gave me great advice and was a great person to me was just talking to him,” Isaiah Whitehead added.

A few weeks ago, Garfinkel attended the annual NIKE EYBL event held in Brooklyn, NY. There, he looked on quietly and speaking with a few coaches in attendance. As I passed him in the media room by the bathroom. He shuffled by me very slowly. I stop and said hey Garf! He looked up at me and said hi but he face look weary as if he should be home resting not at the event.

But it would be very unlike Garfinkel if he missed an elite event held in New York he was a constant staple on the sideline. Five Star former players and coaches now read off as a list of who-who in basketball. From Moses Malone, Lebron James, Patrick Ewing, Chris Mullin, Mark Jackson, and Michael Jordan to name a few. The camp was an instructional one with volunteer coaches working stations teaching basketball skills. Garfinkel’s lasting legacy will be that he helped so many kids reach their college dreams.

Today, the basketball community lost its grandfather a great teacher a man who taught each person he touched the art gift of giving back.