They made free throws — and friends!
Pint-sized jocks from the Five Boroughs and beyond took to the basketball courts in Prospect Heights’ Dean Street Park for the Central Invitational Classic Basketball Tournament on Aug. 20 and 21, where coaches say hoop stars from four different leagues came together for some congenial competition.
“It was really cool,” said Rashien Little, who coaches teams in the Fun Sport league. “The kids were able to hang out, and it wasn’t too much on a competitive standpoint. We felt like we were at home kicking it.”
Teams from Fun Sport faced off against those from the Dean Street, Brooklyn Bridge, and Project Win leagues in two brackets for 10 and 12-year-old competitors. The sides started their respective final-four showdowns on Thursday, and the winners carried on in games on Friday.
But Fun Sport teams stole the show, winning both games in the 10-year-old bracket, and beating out Dean Street in the finals for first place.
Assemblyman Walter T. Mosley (D-Prospect Heights), whose office organized the event, presented a most-valuable player award to Fun Sport player TJ Robinson, who scored 16 points in the finals match — a prize that was well-deserved, according to his biggest fan.
“He plays with a lot of flash,” said TJ’s father Tarik.
The Robinsons hail from New Jersey, but come to Brooklyn to play basketball so they can play against the best, said Tarik.
“I think NYC basketball in particular, it attracts the best,” he said. “It’s the Mecca of basketball.”
