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GRASSROOTS WORDS. Kyle Henry PHOTO. Big Apple Basketball Big Apple Basketball
For three days each January, the Big Apple Basketball (BAB) Invitational takes over Baruch College in New York City, showcasing some of the nation's best high school talent under one roof. And while it is the most high-profile event on the calendar for BAB, there is so much more to the nonprofit organization that makes it stand out.
Jason Curry, founder of Big Apple Basketball, Inc., quit his nine- to-five gig as a college basketball color commentator to start BAB back in 1999. What started as one exhibition team traveling around the country playing top-flight college programs, has since evolved into a full-service basketball and community-outreach organization that touches every skill level from five-year-olds to ballers over 50.
Curry and his dedicated staff of coaches provide high-level workout sessions, as well as the Scholarship Games – a showcase for the top 40 unsigned academically qualified seniors in the New York area. Off the court, Big Apple Basketball also has programs educat- ing student-athletes on how to select the right college for them athletically and academically.
"I started Big Apple Basketball as a pro-am touring team and a way for guys to get quality workouts while home from overseas basketball," says Curry. "I even played on the team the first year. We expanded it to workouts for kids, the educational programs, then I decided to do a more formal high school tournament event. That has helped create a buzz about Big Apple Basketball."
A virtual who's who of the high school basketball world have shown out in recent years at the Big Apple Basketball Invitational, includ- ing Michael Beasley, Jonny Flynn, Sundiata Gaines, Lance Stephen- son, Tobias Harris, JayVaughn Pinkston and Brandon Knight. You name an elite prospect, and chances are they've done work – and in some cases, been exposed – on the Baruch College hardwood.
"Big Apple Basketball events are great," says West Virginia junior guard Darryl "Truck" Bryant, who went to St. Raymond High School in The Bronx. "The crowds are great and an environment any high school would want to play in. When I was at St. Ray's, we loved the public school versus Catholic school format to prove that we were the best league in the city."
Curry's on-court credentials are legit, which earns him respect among the young players he works with today.
"Growing up in Jamaica, Queens, I was a pretty good player," says Curry. "I learned the game from Vincent Smith, older brother of Kenny Smith. At that time, if you could play in Queens, you went to Archbishop Molloy [High School]. I followed Kenny Smith and Kenny Anderson and went to Molloy."
At Saint Michael's College (Colchester, Vt.), he finished his career ranked No. 1 all-time in assists per game and free-throw percent- age, No. 2 in three-point percentage, and No. 3 in steals. Curry was
inducted into the Saint Michael's Hall of Fame in 2009.
Looking toward the future, Curry has plans to take Big Apple Bas- ketball to the next level, to where the BAB brand is considered the one-stop shop to empower youth through education and basketball. While he admits funding and securing partnerships can be frus- trating, as it is for almost any nonprofit, there is no quit in Curry.
"One-hundred percent of my blood, sweat and tears are in Big Apple Basketball," says Curry, "and I'm devoted to making this the best organization that it can be. I'm doing this without a single spon- sor – 99 percent of the money comes from my pocket.
"Maybe I'm stubborn, but my belief is I really feel I have something special and I put in the hard work. It doesn't matter who gets on, I will continue to do it and get better as an organization. If they want to get on, great. If not, I still have a great product."
For more information on Big Apple Basketball, visit www.bigapplebasketball.com.
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