{"id":324939,"date":"2026-08-19T14:30:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T14:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/324939\/"},"modified":"2026-08-19T14:30:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T14:30:50","slug":"26-years-later-brooklyn-coaches-keep-conrad-mcraes-legacy-alive-through-free-basketball-summer-camp-brooklyn-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/324939\/","title":{"rendered":"26 years later, Brooklyn coaches keep Conrad McRae\u2019s legacy alive through free basketball summer camp \u2022 Brooklyn Paper"},"content":{"rendered":"

Conrad McRae Skills & Development Basketball Camp<\/a>, held at the Dean Playground basketball courts on Bergen Street in Prospect Heights, is a \u201chome away from home\u201d for young people ages 7 to 15 during the summer months, according to basketball coaches Troy Douglas and Patrick Alphonse.<\/p>\n

The duo launched the summer camp more than a decade ago in memory of their friend, the late professional basketball player Conrad McRae, a standout who played for Brooklyn Tech in high school and Syracuse University. McRae died in 2000 at the age of 29.<\/p>\n

After playing professionally in the Continental Basketball Association and in Turkey, Greece, France and Italy, the Orlando Magic signed McRae as a free agent. During the team\u2019s first summer league practice, he collapsed and died while running sprints. An autopsy revealed that he had an enlarged heart caused by a condition known as idiopathic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe grew up with Conrad; played AAU basketball with Conrad when we were in high school,\u201d Alphonse, a former McDonald\u2019s All-American nominee, who works as a basketball consultant for TV shows and movies like \u201cThe Tracy Morgan Show,\u201d \u201cNew Amsterdam\u201d and \u201cLittle Brothers,\u201d and is working on a documentary about the Rose Classic<\/a>, said. \u201c26 years after his death, we still keep his name alive, and his mother comes here every time we have a family day. She can\u2019t believe that, 26 years later, her son\u2019s name is still around and relevant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Douglas, a basketball coach with Castle Athletic, added, \u201cHis mother was proud. We were proud of him because we all had that dream. But he was the only one that made it [to the NBA]. Conrad stood about seven feet, so he had a greater chance than us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The free summer hoops camp kicks off after July Fourth and runs Monday through Friday until Labor Day weekend for players ages 7 to 15.\n<\/p>\n

\"\"Coaches Douglas and Alphonse launched the camp in memory of their friend Conrad McRae. \"\"The Conrad McRae Skills & Development Basketball Camp gives young players a summer home where they can sharpen their skills, build friendships and learn lessons beyond the court.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

Douglas and Alphonse, who attended high school together, explained that the young people not only learn the fundamentals of basketball and build their skills so they can eventually participate in more advanced tournaments, like the Conrad McRae Youth League<\/a>, which also takes place at Dean Playground during the summer, but also learn teamwork, positivity and respect.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of the kids are local from the area, so they are within walking distance from their house, and the parents feel safe just leaving them here with us,\u201d Alphonse explained. \u201cWe have a kid here that\u2019s been here for seven years, and he keeps coming back. Just to keep them off the streets and away from their phones and the violence that\u2019s going on in the streets out here, especially in the summertime, it\u2019s a great feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Douglas added that it is easier to get into trouble than it is to get out of it.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cI figure if I can get [the young people] here for a couple hours to keep them off the streets, playing basketball and learning something that they like to do, and keep them away from the stuff they don\u2019t need to be around,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019d rather see them here playing with us than somewhere getting in trouble. Now, if we take away the court from them, they got the streets to run to, you know. I\u2019d rather them be in here playing with us than running those streets and get themselves in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dean Playground basketball courts are legendary, attracting top local talent over the years. Identical twins Julian and Justin Champagnie have played there, with Julian now playing for the San Antonio Spurs and Justin for the Washington Wizards.<\/p>\n

Notable NBA and WNBA players, including former Knicks player John Wallace, former Nets player Kenny Anderson and Epiphanny Prince, have stopped by for pep talks and to teach the young players some hoop tricks. Anton Marchand, an NBA scout for the Cleveland Cavaliers and founder of the Conrad McRae League and the Rose Classic, has also visited. New York Liberty player Jonquel Jones even checked in with the kids while walking her dogs, Douglas and Alphonse said.<\/p>\n

Two camp alumni, Richie Springs and Khalil Brantley, now play professionally in Europe. Springs plays in Finland, while Brantley plays in Hungary, Alphonse proudly declared.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels great to see them here at such a young age and learning and listening to Coach Ra and me, and 6, 7, 8 years later to see them playing professional ball in Finland and in Hungary; it\u2019s just the best feeling in the world,\u201d Alphonse said, noting that they haven\u2019t forgotten their roots. \u201cWhen I post, I tag them, and they hit me right back, like, \u2018Thanks, coach. Love you, coach.\u2019 They appreciate everything. So, it\u2019s the best feeling in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"For young basketball players in Prospect Heights, the Conrad McRae Skills & Development Basketball Camp offers a place to play, learn and grow.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann \"\"Young players from the Conrad McRae Skills & Development Basketball Camp put their summer training to the test against another Brooklyn hoops camp.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

Twelve-year-old Santino, who has been coming to the camp for six years, and 13-year-old Melo told Brooklyn Paper that the practice has not only improved their game but also kept them away from their electronic devices.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really fun and taught me a lot. You get to meet new people, play with friends, and it\u2019s fun. [My parents] feel happy because they don\u2019t want me on my devices all day,\u201d Santino, who aspires to become a professional basketball player one day, said.<\/p>\n

Melo, who the coaches said was probably the best player they had seen in the past nine years, told Brooklyn Paper that the skills he learned during camp became second nature.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt translates to real game situations, you know, because when you get trapped half-court, you gotta dribble back, pass, kick out, cut, and we learn all those things at camp,\u201d he explained.\n<\/p>\n

The players also have the opportunity to practice their newly learned skills by playing scrimmage games against other basketball summer camps, including Team Scoop, which meets three days a week at P.S. 282 on Sixth Avenue and Lincoln Place in Park Slope. Team McRae beat Team Scoop, 41-36.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Conrad McRae Skills & Development Basketball Camp gives young players the chance to test their skills in competitive games against other summer programs.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n

Coach Obie told Brooklyn Paper that Team Scoop was all about nurturing the young players\u2019 skills.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs soon as I see that a kid has a talent, we put a magnifying glass over it. Let\u2019s make it bigger, and then we say magnify their excellence because it was already excellent when you started. Now we make it bigger, and it becomes excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Prospect Heights resident Anthony, whose son is one of the campers, the basketball courts have remained a constant in a neighborhood that has changed over the past few decades due to gentrification.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my neighborhood. I grew up playing basketball here myself. I won a couple of trophies here and there,\u201d Anthony said. \u201cThings have changed throughout the neighborhood. This is what little we got left of our memories growing up.\u201d<\/p>\n