“The History of the iS8”
Regular Season Teams & Standings Playoff Teams & Polls
By Maurice Wingate
The iS8 actually began 35 to 40 years ago as a local unlimited league, located in Intermediate School #8 in South Jamaica Queens, NY and run by the late Rudy Lee. It was later run by Billy Medley and Ray Gillespie. Participants included pros & street legends such as “Fly” Williams, Lloyd B. Free, Al Skinner, George Johnson, Kenny Charles, Greg “Jocko” Jackson, Jeff Houston, Reggie Carter, Alfred King, Wayne McCoy, Sam Worthen, and Mel Davis just to name a few. Because of the intense rivalries The IS8 became known over the years as a place where the best of the best came to throw down. To put up or shut up. “To bring your game, not your name.”
Then there was a lull in the action because schools where closing and there were cut backs. In 1983 - 1984, Phillip “Abadab” Kelly and James Ryan, realized that the iS8 was vital to the community and went to Solomon Goodrich of the Southern Queens Park Association and Councilman Archie Spigner to get the iS8 gym reopened for three nights a week. Because they were unable to run the event themselves on a consistent basis, they approached Pete Edwards who grew up in the neighborhood and use to enjoy watching the IS8 himself as a kid. As a result of basketball, Pete got a free college education and had return to his community so when he was tapped to run the IS8 he gladly accepted as a way of giving back.
Disenchanted with the neighborhood violence, in 1986, Pete changed the iS8 into a high school and junior high school tournament, as a way to give talented kids the opportunity to be seen.
Today, the iS8 Tournament is the place where top ballers come to get exposure or to get exposed. It is and always will be known as a place to put up or shut up. “To bring your game, not your name.”
Active NBA players who have come through the IS8 include:
Ron Artest (Sacramento Kings), Dorell Wright (Miami Heat), Speedy Claxton (Atl. Hawks), Royal Ivey (Atl. Hawks), Sebastian Telfair (Bos. Celtics), Wally Szerbiak (Bos. Celtics), Allen Ray (Bos. Celtics), Ben Gordon (Chi. Bulls), Rafer Alston (Hou. Rockets), Hilton Armstrong (N.O. Hornets), Andray Blatche (Wash. Wizards), Elton Brand (LA Clippers), Samuel Dalembert (Phil. 76ers), Quincy Douby (Sac. Kings), Julius Hodge (Den. Nuggets), Lebron James (Cle. Cavaliers), Kyle Lowry (Mem. Grizzlies), Stephon Marbury (NY Knicks), Darius Miles (Port, Trailblazers), Troy Murphy (GS Warriors), Lamar Odom (LA Lakers), Smush Parker (LA Lakers), Peter Ramos (Wash. Wizards), J.R. Smith (Den. Nuggets), Chris Taft (GS Warriors), and Charlie Villanueva (Mil. Bucks).
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