All-Long Island Basketball History

All-Long Island basketball History is a website dedicated to providing a comprehensive history of the Long Island basketball scene

All-Long Island Basketball History Introduction

Basketball on Long Island has a storied and rich history. From the playgrounds of New York City to the suburban gyms of Nassau and Suffolk Counties, the game of basketball has been played by generations of LI hoops legends.

To honor these legends, Newsday has put together the All-Long Island Basketball History team. This team is made up of the best players from each decade, dating back to the 1920s.

The team was selected through a process that included input from a panel of LI hoops experts, as well as fan voting.

So without further ado, here is your All-Long Island Basketball History team!

All-Long Island Basketball History The Early Years

The history of All-Long Island Basketball began in the early 1950s. The game was created as a way to showcase the talent of the top basketball players from Long Island New York. The first few years of the game were played in small gyms and on outdoor courts. But as the popularity of the game grew, so did the size of the venues. By the late 1950s, games were being played in front of large crowds at Madison Square Garden and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.

By the 1960s, All-Long Island Basketball had become one of the most popular events on the New York City sports calendar. The game was played annually at Madison Square Garden and featured some of the biggest names in basketball, including future Hall of Famers such as Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson

All-Long Island basketball history The 1950s

During the 1950s, High School basketball was extremely popular on Long Island The game was played in large gymnasiums and there were many talented teams and players. Some of the top teams during the decade included:

Baldwin Braves
The Baldwin Braves were one of the most successful teams on Long Island during the 1950s. They won the Nassau County Championship in 1954 and 1955. The team was led by star player Richie Guerin, who went on to have a successful career in the NBA.

Hempstead high school Tigers
The Hempstead high school Tigers were another top team during the 1950s. They won the Nassau County Championship in 1957 and 1958. The team was led by star player Connie Simmons, who went on to play at Syracuse University

All-Long Island basketball history The 1960s

The 1960s were a decade of great change for Long Island basketball At the start of the decade, most of the top teams in the area were from Nassau County. By the end of the decade, Suffolk County had established itself as the new powerhouse, winning nine of the 10 county championships.

Nassau teams dominated the early years of the decade. In 1960, Freeport won the county championship, and in 1961 it was Glen Cove’s turn. Westbury won back-to-back titles in 1962 and 1963, before Hempstead claimed its first championship since 1954 with a victory over Baldwin in 1964.

In 1965, Garden City became the first team from Suffolk County to win a county championship. The Trojans defended their title in 1966 with a win over Brentwood. Hauppauge won Suffolk’s first outright county title in 1967, and repeated as champions in 1968 with a victory over Smithtown West.

Half Hollow Hills East ended Suffolk’s run of three straight titles in 1969 with a win over Brentwood in the county Championship game It was also Half Hollow Hills East’

All-Long Island basketball history The 1970s

The 1970s were a decade of growth for All-Long Island Basketball. The number of teams competing in the league nearly doubled, from 10 in 1970 to 19 by 1979. The league was also marked by increased parity, with no team winning more than two championships in a row.

The decade began with a bang, as the defending champion New York Knicks won the first ever All-Long Island Basketball Championship in 1970. The Knicks would go on to win two more titles in the next three years, cementing their place as one of the premier teams of the decade.

Other teams that enjoyed success in the 1970s included the Brooklyn Nets who won titles in 1974 and 1976; the Buffalo Braves, who won back-to-back championships in 1977 and 1978; and the Syracuse Nationals who won their only All-Long Island Basketball Championship in 1979.

All-Long Island basketball history The 1980s

The 1980s were a decade of great change for All-Long Island basketball history The game evolved from a slow, methodical pace to a more fast-paced, uptempo style. This was due in large part to the proliferation of the 3-point shot. Players such as Larry Bird and Magic Johnson became household names, and basketball became one of the most popular sports in America.

On Long Island, the decade was dominated by two teams: the Syosset Braves and the Massapequa Chiefs. The Braves were led by star guard Vinny Delvecchio, who was named All-Long Island Player of the Year in 1981 and 1982. The Chiefs were led by center Chris Mullin, who was named All-Long Island Player of the Year in 1983 and 1984.

The 1980s were a golden age for Long Island basketball, and these two teams helped make it that way.

All-Long Island Basketball History The 1990s

During the 1990s, Long Island was home to some of the best basketball players in the country. Many of these players went on to have successful careers in the NBA or other professional leagues. Here is a look at some of the best players from Long Island during the 1990s:

* Kobe Bryant – One of the best players in NBA history Kobe played for Lower Merion high school on Long Island before going on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

* Stephon Marbury – A star point guard from Lincoln high school Stephon went on to have a successful NBA career with several different teams.

* Ron Artest – A talented player from Queensbridge who battled some off-the-court issues during his career, Ron had a successful NBA Career with several teams and was even named Defensive Player of the Year in 2004.

All-Long Island basketball history The 2000s

All-Long Island basketball history The 2000s
The 2000s were a decade of great change for All-Long Island basketball. A new millennium brought new teams, new players, and a new attitude to the game. After a decade of domination by Nassau County schools, Suffolk County finally asserted its presence on the hardwood. New stars emerged, old dynasties continued, and the game of basketball continued to evolve. Here is a look back at some of the biggest moments, players, and teams of the 2000s.

All-Long Island Basketball History: The 2010s

All-Long Island Basketball History: The 2010s
In 2010, St. Anthony’s won its seventh consecutive state Catholic high school Athletic Association title, and its 12th in 13 years. In March, the Friars defeated Mount Vernon 66-62, in the semifinals at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Gymnasium to advance to the state final. St. Anthony’s then defeated Troy high school 78-73, in the Championship game at the Times Union Center in Albany.

In 2011, St. Anthony’s won its eighth consecutive state Catholic High School Athletic Association title and its 13th in 14 years. The Friars defeated Iona Prep, 77-74, in the semifinals at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Gymnasium to advance to the state final. St. Anthony’s then defeated Jamesville-DeWitt high school 72-68, in the Championship game at Hofstra University’s Mack Sports Complex

In 2012, Kerala Catholic HS from India made history by becoming the first foreign team to win a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Basketball Championship Kerala Catholic won the Class A title with a 61-59 overtime victory against Mount Vernon HS. This was also Kerala Catholic’s first season of varsity competition.

In 2013, Cardozo High School won the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA Basketball Championship with a 60-59 overtime victory against Jamesville-DeWitt High School Cardozo became the first team from Queens to win a State basketball championship since 1950.

In 2014, Half Hollow Hills West High School won the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA Basketball Championship with a 63-62 overtime victory against Jamesville-DeWitt High school Half Hollow Hills West became the first team from Long Island to win a State Basketball championship since 2011 (St. Anthony’s).

All-Long Island Basketball History: Conclusion

The 2019-2020 All-Long Island Basketball History has come to a close. Congratulations to all of the winners!