Prison Basketball

[worldbasketball]

Basketball is played in prisons as well. This is a thread dedicated to Prison Basketball.

[worldbasketball]

Here is a blog by BenMVP where he talks about Basketball Prison Ministry at San Quentin and his experiences in that team

http://www.benmvp.com/2008/09/san-quentin-basketball-prison-ministry.html

This is fascinating reading and I am sure it was a gratifying experience for the prisoner-players and the prison ministry participants

[worldbasketball]

There is a documentary entitled Prison Ball. It is directed by Jason Moriarty and written by Jeff Scheftel and was made in 2004. It is narrated by Ice-T and is about basketball in the American Prison System.

It features Cheeky Black, Jewels, Doo Wop, Headbussa, S-Man, Birdman, Shot, Marcus Clay, Diddy, Tyrodrick Brown, Vicious Black, Fatty.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0430487/

[stuart]

WB, just when I thought you couldn't reach and talk about basketball in any other way ...

Stuart

[worldbasketball]

WB, just when I thought you couldn't reach and talk about basketball in any other way ...

Stuart

Playing basketball in prisons makes the convicts far better individuals, disciplined and better equipped when they come out of prison. I dare say that in many cases, playing basketball is a therapeutic experience and teaches them necessary social skills and cooperation with each others and respect to others. and true camaraderie with teammates even outside the playing hours.

Jason Moriarty, director of "Prison Ball' documentary was in Montreal to show his movie and I noted to him that when he interviewed the players who were in a basketball league there was such sadness and true regret for doing the crimes and no attempt to deny as one would expect prisoners to do. They had real remorse, I felt.

And when he went on to discuss with them about basketball, suddenly their eyes light up and as if they are no more prisoners but happy indivduals. They admit that it brings so much joy to their hearts. At that split of a moment when basketball is brought up by Moriarty, they are no more prisoners... just that split moment.

Some security officers are also shown admitting the basketball playing prisoners were more behaving because they would lose the playing privilege for disorderly conduct. So they would truly behave well simply to keep their access to play. The documentary visits three prisons where they play basketball. It also shows semi-pro players visiting the prison to join in the prison league. Obviously both home AND away games are played INSIDE the prison. So prisoners have always the home court advantage for both home and away games.

There are even programmes now to provide them with proper jerseys rather than casual wear or prisoner wear, so that they look sharp and proper players. If you find a prison basketball mission charity, please provide donations, because it is so much worth the while.

This only brings more honour to the game we all love.

Basketball forever

[worldbasketball]

I write this with a sad heart, but basketball rims put in prisons sometimes are used in a very inhumane way.

Some Chinese prisoner reform committees installed basketball hoops in some prisons. But then there were news leaking out that in certain prisons, prison wardens would handcuff the rebelling prisoners for hours to the rims and let them hanging there on both sides of the court...

I was so emotional when I read that an honest scheme to help prisoners become better people was used to torture them...

[worldbasketball]

Here is a video from City of Hoops in a correctional center and some players talking abouth their experience:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-eLdxdBWn4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWewkK4Iafw

---

"American History X", a brilliant and touching movie has "prison basketball". The scene plays an important role in the lead role's transformation and the decision of his former buddies to rape him:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D780Xm8Tg4Q

[CKR13]

Anthony Hubbard

Anthony Hubbard was a star and dominated in Virginia State Prison for three years and 11 months after pleading to armed robbery in 2003. After being released in 2007, went on to attend High School at Frederick Community College. Today, Hubbard is 26 and is set to join the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Hubbard said that basketball and finding God through religion had led him to a straight path.

[worldbasketball]

Thanks for mentioning Anthony Hubbard. Here is a great story about his comeback entitled:

"Anthony Hubbard: Journey from prison to Iowa scholarship is ‘breathtaking’"

http://thegazette.com/2011/04/23/anthony-hubbard-journey-from-prison-to-iowa-scholarship-is-breathtaking/

[CKR13]

Ritchie Campbell talks about life in prison

Former Burgard Scoring Machine Ritchie Campbell talks about Life after Prison. Despite the article not mentioning any basketball activities, Campbell was recorded to having played basketball as a physical activity during the duration of his sentence.

Makes me wonder on what if Campbell and that fateful day did not transpired, maybe had made it into the NBA.

Former Buffalo Basketball Star On Life after Prison

Now, Campbell volunteers on summer camps and civic activities for the youth.

[worldbasketball]

The basketball courts for China's Jiansu Province Prison


==
Amended note:

Sorry.. picture was removed by the original source...

[sinobball]

Lee Benson, one of the best imports in China ever, spent 8 years in an Ohio prison. At 6'10'' his mid-range shooting is impressive, he says he had to rely on that in the prison league as compared to dunking on people, so as to not get into fights so often.

[Khalid80]

Lee Benson, one of the best imports in China ever, spent 8 years in an Ohio prison. At 6'10'' his mid-range shooting is impressive, he says he had to rely on that in the prison league as compared to dunking on people, so as to not get into fights so often.

Speaking of Benson, I asked some Champville players at the Arab Club Championship a few days ago whether they knew that Lee Benson spent many years in prison and they acknowledged that they knew this... When I asked so how is your relation with him they said he's very friendly and amicable but that you should never piss him off and they told me this...In their game against Sahel from Kuwait there was an altercation between Benson and of the players from Sahel so Benson told the player i'll be waiting for you at the hotel (since all teams were staying at the same hotel in Yas Island) and indeed once he saw the player at the hotel the Champville players had to restrain Benson from going to kick the other players' a$$

[sinobball]

haha he did this in China too, about 2 years ago. He had an altercation with a Chinese player Wang Bo in a game, tried to fight him after the game, and waited for him in front of the hotel. Once the team bus arrived he tried to storm the bus but they locked the door and everybody waited for more than 10 minutes before a bunch of coaches talked him out of it and he left.

[worldbasketball]

Great story about prison basketball

http://www.goshen.edu/news/pressarchive/10-20-08-prison164.html

HEADLINE
Goshen basketball players scrimmage at maximum security correctional facility

ARTICLE
IONIA, Mich. – As temperatures begin to cool down and leaves change color, college basketball swings into full gear as teams prepare for a grueling season with pre-season scrimmages.
Much like any other season-opening scrimmage, the Goshen College Men's Basketball Team loaded a bus wearing sparkling new warm-up uniforms and shoes evident of a fresh new season. Players studied, listened to music and rested while their stomachs churned in anticipation for their first contest of the season.

Meanwhile, the coaching staff sat toward the front discussing options for the game and season with many questions and expectations left unanswered.

That is where the typical scrimmage preparations ended for the Maple Leafs on Oct. 14, since the men's basketball team was not playing a similarly matched opponent from another university. Instead, they were traveling to play inmates at the Ionia (Mich.) Maximum Security Corrections Facility.

The facility in Ionia holds approximately 680 inmates, including about 250 Level 2 offenders – less serious offenses like drug charges – and the remaining inmates classified as Level 5, representing the most dangerous criminals in the state of Michigan. The Level 5 inmates are closed off from nearly all personal contact, but the Level 2 prisoners received rewards, like basketball, for good behavior.

"We thought it would be good for our guys to get this kind of unique experience and get them out of their comfort zone," said assistant coach Neal Young.

After arriving at the prison, players and coaches waited for their host, who upon entering the building and seeing the players, remarked, "Wow, it must be Christmas!" Dennis 'DC' Childs, a former lineman at Michigan State University, organized the contest for Goshen and helps inmates develop socially through a variety of recreational programs.

As players and coaches cleared through the security checks, they were greeted by the prison chaplain who explained more about life in the complex and behind bars. "The breakdown of the family has played such a huge role in the breakdown of our society, and is a major reason many of these guys are here," he said, explaining that most individuals he works with have never met at least one of their parents.

How unique is it, then, that the unofficial team motto chanted in Maple Leaf huddles is "family." Something that many of the inmates have little concept of because of their respective backgrounds, Maple Leaf players have found in their teammates.

While on a brief guided tour of the facilities, players saw inmates in the Level 5 complexes peering out at them through the iron bars. The walk through the prison yard and library was quiet and controlled.

However, in a moments notice, everything changed. As 15 players and coaches walked through the hallway into the compound's gymnasium, time seemed to stop.

Rap music was rattling the walls as the dozens of inmates playing basketball, lifting weights and standing around froze and stared at the newcomers. The Leafs, in turn, froze and for several seconds the room stood motionless.

Then, the power of competition took over. After an abbreviated warm up, players took to the court for a simple game of basketball. Like most other contests, fans and players disagreed with officials – also inmates in this case – timeouts were called, shots were made, players were heckled by fans and one team came out ahead – Goshen easily won the game 100-53 against the aptly named I-Max (for maximum security) varsity team.

At times, Goshen College players and staff almost forgot that the game was even taking place in a prison. They were forced back to reality when they looked around and saw guards standing with weapons and the crowd full of men, young and old, wearing the bright orange and blue with printed prisoner numbers on them.

But for those instances, fans and players – on both sides – could momentarily forget about the circumstances and focus on camaraderie and a simple game, even if just for a night.

In post-game handshakes, inmate team members words were that of: "God bless you," "Thanks for coming" and "Thanks for picking our spirits up."

"It is going to be all that they (inmates) talk about for the next month," said Goshen assistant coach Tim Williams. The same could likely be said for the Maple Leaf basketball players, as it became an experience everyone would not soon forget.

– By Josh Gleason, Goshen College Sports Information Director