NEW YORK, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) — For 70 years Holcombe Rucker Community basketball League has kept young people off the streets by using the sport of basketball as a way to engage and educate.
This year due to COVID-19 the league will not fulfill that mission. Executive Director Alan White came to the conclusion that with everything going on nationwide, Holcombe Rucker will not host its annual summer tournament.
“Even if the state allowed us to do it, I wouldn’t do it this year because I feel this pandemic is not being taken seriously by a lot of individuals in this city,” White said.
There were many factors that made him decide to cancel the tournament. Some factors were the increase of COVID-19 cases, people dying, voter registration, 2020 census and an increase in AIDS amongst young people. Taking this into consideration he questioned himself, is it worth having the tournament?
Prioritizing the community and the youth is the leagues focus. Basketball is a passion for White, it saved him and kept him off the streets. Therefore, he will continue to improve the program and make it a safe environment for the youth to come back time after time.
“There are so many obstacles, things that can transpire with the kids getting sick and with the increase this past weekend with cases of people having the COVID-19. There’s no way I was going to do it,” White said.
COVID-19 cases in New York City have continued to rise, social distancing is being practiced and mask are required. Even though White is passionate about the youth enjoyment of basketball it burdens his heart that he cannot satisfy that desire of his heart which is to make young people express themselves through the game of basketball.
