{"id":389769,"date":"2026-01-05T20:32:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T20:32:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/389769\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T20:32:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T20:32:10","slug":"best-around-central-honors-springfield-native-nba-alumnus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/389769\/","title":{"rendered":"Best around: Central honors Springfield native, NBA alumnus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former NBA player and Central High School alum Travis Best kneels next to his name on the floor at the dedication of the school\u2019s Travis Best Court.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen<\/p>\n

SPRINGFIELD \u2014 Springfield honored its native son and NBA star Travis Best by naming the Central High School court where he once played in his honor.<\/p>\n

The Dec. 22 ceremony was a full-circle moment for Best.<\/p>\n

The hometown hero played point guard for the Central High School Golden Eagles from 1989 to 1991, leading the team to an undefeated season in 1991 and setting a state record 81-point game. He earned McDonald\u2019s All-American honors, which recognizes the best high school basketball players in the nation.<\/p>\n

Best continued to rack up accolades playing college ball with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Over the course of his college career, he ranked in the school\u2019s top six ever in points, assists, minutes, 3-point field goals and steals.<\/p>\n

In 1995, Best was drafted by the Indiana Pacers 23rd in the first-round of the NBA draft. A key player in the 2000 NBA Finals, the 5-foot, 11-inch player gained a reputation for being fast on the court. He played for the Pacers for seven seasons, before moving on to play for the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets. Best retired from the NBA in 2005, going on to play professionally in Russia, Italy and Poland during the latter half of the 2000s.<\/p>\n

The court dedication came about when Executive Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreational Management Tom Ashe realized Best had no namesakes in the city and brought it to Sarno\u2019s attention. Ashe said Sarno told him to rectify the situation.<\/p>\n

At the ceremony, Central High School Principal Thaddeus Tokarz, who emceed the event, described Best as a \u201cgenerational talent\u201d and said, \u201cIt is only fitting that the place where greatness once ruled now bears the name of the man who defined it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Best was accompanied into the gymnasium by his former Golden Eagles teammates and sat next to his father, Leo Best, whom he recognized in his remarks. Tony Watkins, who coached Best at Central High School, also recognized the support Best\u2019s family provided for their son and how Best\u2019s mother, father and sister were consistently at his games.<\/p>\n

Sherman Dillard, who was the assistant head coach at Georgia Tech, said that when he came to Springfield to recruit Best, he thought, \u201cOh my God, we have to have this gentleman.\u201d Beyond Best\u2019s skill on the court and charisma, Dillard said, \u201cI never coached a young man that had so much talent that was so humble.\u201d<\/p>\n

A who\u2019s who of local and state elected officials came out to congratulate Best, among them were state reps. Carlos Gonzalez and Bud Williams, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Springfield Superintendent Sonia Dinnall and School Committee members Barbara Gresham, LaTonia Monroe Naylor, Denise Hurst and members-elect Rosa Valentin and Ayana Crawford. Crawford went to school with Best and brought her yearbook to show him. He later re-signed it.<\/p>\n

Recalling his first meeting with Best 40 years ago, Sarno said he was refereeing a basketball game at Warner School and saw an 11-year-old Best \u201ccarving through 16-year-olds like hot butter.\u201d Sarno told Best, \u201cWe used to watch every one of your ball games.\u201d Best did not forget about Springfield after making it to the NBA and has contributed to numerous community programs over the years, Sarno said.<\/p>\n

Dinnall laughed, saying, \u201cI\u2019m a little starstruck. I\u2019ve never met a member of the NBA.\u201d She was full of pride that the city and Springfield Public Schools were recognizing \u201cone of our own.\u201d She said she was \u201cmost impressed by the way he conducted himself with character on and off the court.\u201d Dinnall said, \u201cNothing but greatness comes from the city of Springfield,\u201d and urged the students in the stands to \u201csee yourself in this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Central High School student Malaysia Murphy said Best\u2019s legend is well known throughout the school. \u201cI think it\u2019s good that they\u2019re honoring him, giving respect and keeping his name alive here,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

In the bleachers, Abe Quiles sat with friends Noah Green and Xavier McCall. \u201cIt\u2019s the \u2018best\u2019 thing that ever happened here,\u201d Quiles said, laughing at his pun. Green added, \u201cSeriously, it\u2019s a great thing. I think it\u2019s going to be inspirational for the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

Addressing the students, Best encouraged them to listen. \u201cYou can\u2019t talk and learn at the same time,\u201d he said, adding, \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure no one ever listened themselves out of a job.\u201d He encouraged them to remember that they are walking the path of those who came before them. Before leaving the mic to unveil his name and player number on floor, he said, \u201cWhen you hear the name Travis Best, it doesn\u2019t mean perfect. It just means what I gave: my best.\u201d<\/p>\n

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