After 48 years of serving as an educator and coach in New York City, and as a Canarsie HS Alumnus, I decided to retire in 2009. Immediately thereafter, I was appointed to serve as the PSAL Brooklyn Boys’ High School Basketball Commissioner. During my 10 year tenure, I discovered a void in the legacy of New York City High School Basketball. For years, New York City was considered the Mecca of basketball in United States.  As I traveled from school to school throughout the city, I notices the rich tradition and legacy of New York City High School basketball no longer existed.  Current student athletes did not know the amazing history and legacy of the schools they attended. 

When I was able to visit these schools, and I noticed many of the great schools no longer existed, such as Power Memorial HS, where the great Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Len Elmore attended, Rice HS, where Filepe Lopez and Kemba Walker attended; and then, there are schools that have been broken up into 4-6 smaller schools within that building, such as my very own  Alma Mater, Canarsie High School, the home of NBA players, World B. Free, Geoff Huston and John Salley.  The great histories of these schools have been practically wiped out!

It was these findings that motivated me, along with other high school alumni, love NYC HS basketball, to establish the New York City High School Basketball Hall Of Fame & Tech Center featuring the thousands of alumni, men and women of NYC High School Basketball Community.  My initial reach out was to several of my former players, NBA Stars Rolando Blackman (Grady HS), John Salley (Canarsie HS) and NBA Referee Derek Richardson (Canarsie HS), then I also introduced the idea to other well known NYC high school alumni, such as Hall of Famer NBA great Nate Archibald (Clinton HS), Royale Ivy (Cardozo), Kenny Anderson (Molloy HS), Mylven Davis (Boys HS) and a host of other former high school ball players.

I decided to pitched the idea to then, Brooklyn Borough President and present NYC Mayor Eric Adams.  Mr. Adams gave his full support to this initiative.  Unfortunately, as the momentum of this project was moving forward, it was abruptly interrupted by COVID 19.  Everything had to be put on hold.

By signing this petition we will inform our new Mayor that The Building of New York City High School Basketball Hall of Fame & Tech Center is greatly supported by the thousands of NYC High School Basketball Alumni!