Suspend logic for a moment… Imagine… somehow, someway… In the heart of Camden, where basketball is akin to religion, a peculiar and remarkable event unfolded, intertwining the spirits and DNA of the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship Game held annually at the Palestra with the soulful HBCU clashes between Lincoln University and Cheyney University. After a few drinks at Victor’s Pub on the Camden waterfront, they are feeling one another and decide to take the short stroll over to the Hilton Garden Inn. A serendipitous encounter, fueled by the convivial atmosphere and seemingly endless libations culminated, 9 months later, in the birth of what would become the Camden City Middle School Basketball Championship.

I had no idea… Seriously… I had not a fuckin’ clue…

For local hoopheads, this is a bucket list event.

While recent discussions lamented the tepid support for the Philadelphia Public League High School basketball playoffs, the Camden Middle School Championship garnered fervent community backing, evoking echoes of tradition and festivity reminiscent of the hallowed Catholic League tournament games of grounds of the fabled Palestra. Although on a much smaller scale, the same sense of tradition and pageantry that surrounds the Catholic League Finals at the Palestra permeated the Camden Eastside Gymnasium.

Shit was intense. As it should be…

The City of Camden, the actual “day to day” home of the Philadelphia 76ers, has three very strong scholastic boys basketball programs. KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy, led by Head Coach Antoine Miller, reached the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 1 championship game. National power, Camden High, led by Maalik Wayns, will play in the Group 2 State Championship game after “kinda, sorta, sumthin-like” defeating (but to really beating) Manasquan in a highly controversial semifinal contest. Camden Eastside, under the direction of Head Coach Kenny Avent, fell to Ocean City in a NJSIAA Group 3 semifinal matchup.

These esteemed high school coaches, stationed in along the baselines in separate corners of the gym, bore witness to a spectacle brimming with intensity and promise.

While the tradition and pageantry of the Camden Middle School Championship game is similar to that of the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship, the culture is decidedly Black. Amidst the echoes of cheers and the scent of sweat, there lingered a distinct cultural resonance. I kept waiting for the Kappas and Ques to emerge and start stepping on the sideline. The essence of the game reverberated with shades of epic HBCU Lincoln/Cheyney and Morgan/Coppin showdowns.

Mayor Vic Castarphen, a highly regarded former Camden High and Temple University PG sat midcourt with Arthur Barclay a former Camden High and Memphis University PF. Aaron Walton-Moss, a Panther legend and 3-time small college All-American at Cabrini came to witness the youngbuls battling for the chip.

These luminaries came to watch a new generation of Camden hoop talent emerge, eager to etch their names into the annals of Camden basketball lore. Guiding the proceedings with a deft hand was Woodrow Wilson standout Nelly Perry, who played for Dawn Staley at South Carolina after three years at Clemson.

I take great pride in seeing Perry provide such a platform for young middle school students. As a high school junior, Perry and I spent somewhere between 30-40 hours in my office along with Temple great Alliya Butts preparing for their transition from high school to college. Today she coaches and helps middle school student-athletes make the difficult jump too high school.

A full circle moment… #bigGIRLbasketball.

And in a testament to generational continuity, Camden Eastside senior point guard, Jalen Long, the great grandson of legendary Temple Hall of Fame coach John Chaney informed me that he will be playing collegiately at Cheyney University. Long will be playing at the university where his great grandfather amassed a dominating record of 225 wins and 59 losses and led the Wolves to the 1978 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship. The commitment of Long to Cheyney underscores the timeless allure of the sport in Camden.

Another full circle moment… #bigBOYbasketball

The championship game itself was highly competitive albeit sloppily played. There were some very quick small guards with crafty handles. There were plenty of killer crossovers, followed by badly missed layups. There were some aggressive wings with decent athleticism that lacked an understanding of basic basketball principles and concepts. Overall, the actual quality of basketball was far from polished.

None of that mattered… Not even a little bit… I loved it…

These kids played extremely HARD for their respective schools, families and for themselves. As the game unfolded with a mix of tenacity and raw talent, it became evident that the true essence of basketball transcended mere skill. These young athletes, driven by pride and determination, epitomized the spirit of competition in its purest form. Their fervor for victory rendered the nuances of polished play inconsequential, as they battled fiercely for the honor of their schools and communities.

They wanted to win. This game mattered for that reason.

If you enjoy the Catholic League at the Palestra, you will definitely find the Camden Middle School Championship entertaining. Just know you will not find many Northeast Philly Irish or South Philly Italian faces in the gym.

This is Camden, New Jersey…

The gym will be full of those that prefer fried chicken, ribs, collard greens and candied yams. Of course, there will be more than a few Puerto Ricans players and their families munching on plantains, pork, and sofrito.

Over the next few years, we will see many of the kids in this game don Eastside, KIPP Cooper Norcross and Mastery High School of Camden jerseys. The purple and gold uniforms have proven elusive for Camden’s native sons in recent years. They seem to be reserved for highly ranked passengers traveling to Camden via the transfer portal on the underground railroad from locales near and far.

As the final buzzer sounded, and the victors from Kipp Lanning Square Middle School celebrated their win over Morgan Village amidst a chorus of cheers, it became clear that the legacy of this championship would endure far beyond the confines of the gymnasium. For in the hearts and minds of these young athletes, the spirit of competition burns brightly, igniting dreams and aspirations that transcend the boundaries of the court.

Camden basketball is some good shit, it’s not just a game that’s celebrated, but a community united in its passion for the sport.