Every large metropolitan city has them. The basketball playground legends. Players whose exploits on city playground courts have grown into almost mythical proportions.
A few of these players, like Connie Hawkins, Tiny Archibald, and Julius Erving went on to become NBA superstars. Most, however, never made it in the NBA.
No city is more well known for its playground legends than New York, the mecca of basketball. Names like Rafer “Skip to my Lou” Alston, Joe “The Destroyer” Hammond, “Jumpin” Jackie Jackson, and Herman “Helicopter” Knowlings made their reputations on playground courts, including the world famous Rucker Park in Harlem.