Most basketball and streetball fans from around New York City and the tri-state area tend to think they can only see great action on the court at a few parks. Rucker Park in Harlem comes to mind, as well as the Dyckman summer league uptown and even the leagues downtown at the West 4th courts. But there is a place that has been supplying action just as good if not better for years now and it has been the best kept secret in New York until now. Let me introduce you to the Hoops In The Sun tournament at Orchard Beach in the Bronx. Trust me some of your favorite NBA players already know. Hit the jump.

@IamJoeSports

I recently spoke with Joe and Randy Cruz, the two dedicated guys who run this event every summer. It was started by their father “Joe Pops Cruz” who got together with New York City legend Earl “The Goat” Manigault for a tournament back in 1998 called the Walk away from drugs tournament. Pops Cruz was so excited with how that turned out that he set his focus to running his own league, and with his passion for basketball and for doing things for people, it was bound to succeed. Randy told me the following”

“H.I.T.S. is more than just basketball, it is an event for individuals and families. Since it is located at Orchard Beach, families can come enjoy some great play on the court and then take a walk over to the beach. They can enjoy the weather, the water and the fun and make an entire day out of it”

He went on to say “It is a great environment for people of all ages. The safe, friendly nature of the league is what keeps fans and families coming back for more throughout the summer. While they are there, they can also enjoy seeing some NBA players as well as elite college level players for free instead of having to shell out money for NBA games. This is big especially for families that otherwise wouldn’t be able to see such great basketball in person”.

Some of the NBA players who have stopped by include Tracy McGrady, Joakim Noah, Metta World Peace ( Ron Artest if you prefer ), Lance Stephenson, Kemba Walker, Ben Gordon & others. Not too mention the countless streetball legends local to NY and the tri-state. Check the gallery for pics.

This summer the league will have about 40 teams ranging from youth ages to men’s divisions with games on the weekends for everyone to enjoy. They have been sponsored by Adidas, powerade, boost mobile and countless others with Nike and Mountain dew being the main sponsors for this summer.

You may have read or heard about Hoops In The Sun in Slam magazine, Dime Magazine, ESPN, New York Daily News and the New York Post. Anyone interested in putting a team in for summers in the future should definitely contact these guys. They now attract some of the best talent from as far away as Washington D.C. and everywhere in between. Check them out on twitter @HoopsInTheSun and Instagram under the same name. In the mean time check out the trailer for this upcoming season which starts June 7th. If you didn’t know, now you know!