Rucker Park, the world’s most famous basketball park, is adding to its legacy by partnering with the Big 12 Conference.
Late last week, the conference announced a partnership with the iconic, Harlem-based playground that has raised and hosted many of the greatest basketball players on the planet.
The partnership will spread the park’s basketball tradition and legacy across the country. Most importantly to the Big 12, it will provide a pipeline of NYC-based talent to the conference.
“Rucker Park is one of the great landmarks in basketball and is a cultural icon – we are excited to be able to bring Big 12 Basketball to its court,” said Commissioner Brett Yormark in a statement. “We are committed to growing the Conference’s footprint in a variety of ways, and we want kids across New York City to experience Big 12 Basketball first-hand.”
The conference will operate youth clinics at Rucker Park for sixth graders and below in the community. The multi-day clinics will be hosted by both men’s and women’s head coaches from Big 12 basketball programs, the list of which will be released at a later date.
The announcement came during Kansas State’s heart-warming run in the tournament, one that was fueled by Harlem’s own, Markquis Nowell.
The 5’8 New York City point guard captured the hearts of tournament watchers, and brought the spotlight back on NYC basketball, particularly because he was balling out in his hometown fans at Madison Square Garden arena.
While the Wildcats’ bid for a Final Four berth came up three points short, the team has nothing to hang its head about. Especially Nowell, who showcased the importance of point guard play while setting the tournament’s new single-game assist record (19).
This is the type of talent the conference hopes to identify, foster and recruit. And Nowell, who only had a single college offer from Arkansas Little Rock coming out of high school, understands the importance of being seen, especially by one of the strongest basketball conferences in the country.
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