Grayson Boucher aka The Professor is a 5’10″ basketball player who has never played a minute in the NBA but has a bigger following than most of the players in the league. He’s been on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He's been on the cover of a video game. He's been in multiple movies and was the lead actor in a film with Ludacris and Academy Award winner Melisa Leo. He has a basketball card. He's one of the biggest reasons why "Streetball” became marketable and profitable for it's players and the show STREETBALL became one of ESPN’s most viewed shows ever. He's appeared in numerous commercials. He's traveled around the world playing alongside NBA legends like Allen Iverson and Tracy McGrady. He was the star and co-creator of one of the most popular viral sports videos of all-time: Spider-Man Basketball. And he's been doing this since the early 2000s.

How is that for a resume?

That resume owner turns a year old today and still looks like that kid who used to break ankles while wearing shorts that would almost come down to his ankles. To celebrate the favorite player of Doctors and rehab centers that get to treat his victims for ankle and knee injuries, here's our 10 favorite videos of The Professor.

The post The Top 10 Videos of Grayson Boucher aka The Professor appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

The post The Professor Is The MASTER BALL HANDLER! No Defender Is Safe! CRAZY Mixtape! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Philip Champion, better known as Hot Sauce to the basketball community, is probably one of the three most recognized "streetballers" of all-time and for the past 12 years he's been breaking ankles and inspiring kids and ballers across the world with his ground breaking moves and events via And1 & Court Kingz.

It all goes back to February of 2001, when And1 followed up the disappointing ?And1 Mixtape Vol2 with the landmark Volume 3 that introduced the world to Hot Sauce and streetball to the masses. ?Soon after the release of the free VHS tape, Streetball was a TV show on ESPN, And1 was touring the United States and kids were even playing with their favorite streetballers on gaming systems.

Since then the popularity of streetball has faced it's ups and downs and many of the original popular faces and names on the original mixtapes are as relevant as the technology they were featured on but Sauce is still here. Still everywhere. ?In the US and overseas and he wants the world to know that he's not only relevant but he's "the greatest streetball player in the world."

In this latest (conceptually ambitious) video/film by Court Kingz, Hot Sauce takes on challengers and introduces us to his little man "Lil Sizz" who he says will be taking the crown one day.

Check out the following videos of Hot Sauce and Lil Sizz and it's pretty obvious this is a case of "Like Father Like Son."

Also be on the lookout for upcoming events with the Court Kingz

The post Streetball legend Hot Sauce & Lil Sizz - Like Father Like Son appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Rafer Jamel Alston was born in 1976. Most basketball fans had no idea who he was until SLAM magazine put the 21-year-old hooper on the cover of their December 1997 issue with this headline: "The Best Point Guard In the World (you have never heard of)." Then in 1999, the hoop world witnessed the birth of a new basketball star named Skip To My Lou.?The birth happened in the opening minutes of the And1 Mixtape Vol.1 VHS tape aka "The Skip Tape."

These VHS mixtapes combined grainy EP quality footage with hot hip-hop tracks from the late 90s were produced by the up-and-coming brand and sent to basketball camps, clinics, records labels and influential people in the hoop world as a promotional gift. After an overwhelmingly positive response from the recipients -- including NBA players like Darrel Armstrong, Larry Hughes and Raef LaFrentz(!) -- And1 decided to make a second print run much larger than the initial 50,000.

And1 took their massive next run of mixtapes to FootAction stores to give away for free! Free with the purchase of anything in the store -- Jordans, Adidas, Reebok, Fila, a starter hat, whatever. After 200,000 whatevers were sold in a span of three weeks, the first volume of the And1 Mixtapes became a sought after treasure in the basketball community and its teenage streetball star, Rafer Alston (who was playing college ball during the release of the tape) from Jamaica, Queens, became a cult hero.

Hoop fanatics, like me, were searching eBay and chat rooms on a daily basis waiting for someone to post a bootleg of the free promo item to sell. I've even heard rumors of kids in schools and bootleggers on street corners selling copies of the tape. I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of those bootlegs and a legit copy about 10 years later (and six more since).

Although all six of the tracks on the 18-minute masterpiece were?good, it was the first three minutes of Skip to My Lou embarrassing defenders to the sounds of Common and Sadat X that turned me (and many others) into a streetball fiend that needed multiple doses of the tape on a daily basis and had me impatiently waiting for another volume (the follow-up and it's remix were disappointing).

After a couple of years of playing ball at community colleges and a year at Fresno State, Skip was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2nd round of the 1999 NBA draft. He rode the bench for years and bounced around a couple of times until landing and blossoming in Miami in 2003. By this time, the And1 Mixtapes were more popular than any retail videos the NBA was putting out and streetball went from the streets to the mainstream as the ESPN Streetball show became the network's highest-rated original program ever. Major companies like Mountain Dew poured in millions to sponsor the Mixtape Tour, which discovered and showcased the best streetballers in the US, like Hot Sauce, The Professor, and Air Up There.

Despite all of the jaw-dropping and ankle-breaking highlights generated by those names and players (from streetball to the NBA) that were inspired by their highlights, the first three minutes of the original 1999 And1 Mixtape remains the best three minutes in the history of not only those analog mixtapes, but arguably all mixtapes -- and that includes everything we digitally do.

Damn! All this talking about "the best point guard in the world (you've never heard of)" has me feeling nostalgic. I think I'm going to pop my VHS copy into my 4-head Hi-Fi VCR that I paid $300 for back in 1997.

BONUS VIDEOS

Skip To My Lou Tribute
I'm assuming the ref at the end wasn't as big of a AND 1 MIXTAPE Vol. 1 fan as I was. pic.twitter.com/EZaoka5pZV

— David Astramskas (@Redapples2021) July 25, 2021

Source: Streetballin.net

The post Rafer Alston & The Best 3 Minutes In Mixtape History appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

If you remember the original And1 VHS Mixtapes then you probably remember rewinding over and over again, until you damaged your VCR heads, the moves of players like Rafer Alston and Harlem's Tyrone "Alimoe" Evans aka The Black Widow.? You might also remember the NBA vs Streetball arguments from those days and Alimoe was one of the names that was often mentioned when people would say which streetball players could play against NBA talent. Kenny Smith even said, "He was the only guy I ever watched that I said ‘he should have been in the NBA and didn’t make it and didn’t attempt to make it.'"

Yesterday was a sad day for all of us that remember these days as news broke that the streetball legend had passed away from a seizure.

Everybody at the Ballislife family would like to send our deepest condolences to his family.

The following are statements from other people that knew him.

R.I.P to a good friend of mines Alimoe Evans aka "The Black Widow". one of the greatest NYC streetball players ever! Just talked to him b4 Allstar weekend #sad about this!!
- Phillip "Hot Sauce" Champion

R.I.P. Alimoe.....im at a loss for words...you will be missed bro....my heart goes out to his famly!...
Larry "Bone Crusher" Williams

I can't explain how I feel right now... I Just got word my MAN "BLACK WIDOW" AKA "ALIMOE" has died...
- John High Octane Harvey

My HEART IS WEAK!!! I WAS JUST WITH ALIMOE OVER THE WEEKEND!! RIP ALIMOE AKA THE BLACK WIDOW
- Shane "Dribbling Machine" Woney

I remember like it was yesterday... 6th park in Bakersfield first time I played against him I was a youngsta that got crossed up lol... Never forget how raw his game was, then again he came out to the Slamball courts in 08. Hoop in Peace Black Widow.
- Myree Reemix Bowden

Rest in Peace, Tyrone "Alimoe" Evans aka the Black Widow.?Another talented baller left us.
- Kevin Couliau, Director of Doin It In The Park)

R.I.P. to my boy Alimoe Evans aka Black Widow
- Jerry Dupree

Sad news.. RIP Streetball Legend Alimoe aka Black Widow
- Grayson "The Professor" Boucher

RIP Alimoe. I loved getting to know you and will miss you. You're a legend and will always be remembered.
- Michael Khun, videographer/editor on And1 Mixtapes

R.I.P to?Alimoe Evans?when i was young and new to streetball he was one of the first players to cosign for me and give me my props as a Hooper! He was by far one of the best players in streetball history! We see Lebron and KD 2day and to be 6'8 with a handle Alimoe evolutionized the game! You will be forever missed and hopefully now at?AndOne Live?we can carry on your legacy and keep the movement you started going! Thanks for being you.....
- Alonzo Miles

Alimoe Evans was as close to a true to life legend as are made. He was enigmatic, reclusive and great. Magical on the blacktop. RIP?Alimoe Evans
- Matt Caputo, Writer Slam

Rest in Peace Tyron Black Widow Evans AKA Alimoe... One of the best 2 eva do it on that blacktop in NYC....
- Corey Williams

THE BLACK WIDOW
HBD to the late streetball legend Tyron "Alimoe" Evans

Kenny Smith: “He was the only guy I ever watched that I said ‘he should have been in the NBA & didn’t make it & didn’t attempt to make it.” pic.twitter.com/F4mUaQ1Dxy

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) October 15, 2022

https://youtu.be/lZTeUMd-DV0?si=EQJskp7VAUva3_gi

The post Tyrone "Alimoe" Evans, And1 Streetball legend, Passed Away From A Seizure | Streetball world reacts appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Terrence Jones, one of our most favorite players we have ever covered at Ballislife was the latest victim to Kobe's pump-faking.

The post Kobe Bryant's Ridiculous And 1 Shot! Don't Bite Rookie! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

We met up with Porter Maberry to see for ourselves if this was true...and believe me- believe us- it's a fib!

I think it is official to say that there is a new Spud Webb in town.

The 22-year-old, also known as 'What's Gravity?', stands at 5-foot-5 but his nickname explains it all- the man can fly.

This past week, Porter decided to visit Los Angeles, CA to seek his options and look for opportunities to make a name for himself. Besides from the sunny California weather which he found to be a plus, compared to back home in Michigan, Porter now plans on officially moving to LA to further his career.

"I do plan on moving to LA because of all the opportunity. I mean, I've only been here for a week and so much has already come out of it. But most of all, it's all the networking and the lifestyle that I experienced here is what seems to motivate you to be something. To be who you want to be."

When asked about his past, Porter shared memories about how he first started dunking and made his first Tip Dunk at only 5'2, which encouraged him to keep going.

"I remember being younger and wanting to dunk so bad. So I would grab a stepping stool and jump off of it to dunk. Now I don't need it."

And he sure doesn't!

Porter has now come a long way from his stepping stool, as he is now in the final stage of signing a product deal with AND1 as well as joining the 2013 AND1 Live Streetball Tour.

To top it all off, being featured in the LeBron James 'Samsung Galaxy Note II' commercial, has motivated Porter to also look into furthering his career by putting his acting skills to use as he now has his SAG (Screen Actor Guild) certification.

The Samsung commercial was released on Tip-Off day for the 2012-2013 NBA season, summarizing a day in LeBron James' life with the Samsung Galaxy Note II, which also shows his reaction to Porter Maberry's dunking skills.

"When I finally move to LA, I do plan on taking some acting classes so that I can branch off into the commercial industry or even acting in general because as much as I'd like to, I know I won't be able to dunk forever."

Beside his passion in dunking and his interest in acting, Porter really emphasized on how much he enjoys giving back and reaching out to people- especially kids- that are in the same shoes that he once was.

Starting early next year, Porter will be involved in an Anti-Bullying campaign in the East coast, starting with New York, to travel around to speak to the youth and share his story.

"I remember when I was about 12, I signed up to play in a tournament with the guys that were in their late teens, but no one would pick me up because I was so small." Porter shared.

"I really just want to reach out and talk to the kids and let them know that you shouldn't let anything or anyone discourage you from going after your dreams. Just keep pushing, stay in school, stay away from drugs, and just be as positive as you can be. You never know, there might be someone that's looking up to you."

Porter will be in our Ballislife 3-on-3 tourney dunk contest this upcoming Saturday, November 10th, held at the American Sports Complex in Anaheim, CA, as well as performing a halftime show, December 8th, at the University of Louisville.

If you haven't done so already, here is your chance to check out Porter from when we met up with him earlier this week as well as the Samsung Galaxy Note II commercial that his dunk was featured in.

What's Gravity?

The post Spudd Webb Has Company - 5 foot 5 Porter Maberry aka What's Gravity? appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Blake Griffin doing Blake Griffin things...

The post Blake Griffin Skies For The Nice Left Hand Dunk On Sacre And1 vs Lakers! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Check out the highly anticipated match-up between Ball Up Streetball and And1 Live that took place this past weekend in Indonesia. Ball Up easily won the first battle between the 2 squads led by newcomer G-Smith as well as team veterans Air Up There, Bone Collector, Special FX & co.

The game took place as part of the LA Lights Streetball event in Indonesia, which over the years has become THE spot for the year's biggest and most start studded streetball game. We look forward to see future games between these 2 squads and what this rivalry turns out to be.

Check out highlights from some of Ball Up's games from their USA tour.

Chicago:

The post Ball Up Easily Beats And1 Live In Asia! G-Smith, Air Up There, Special FX & Bone Collector Show Out! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Check out the re-cap mix of the championship game of the 2012 Ball Up season as the Ball Up team takes on all the MVPs from previous cities. The Ball Up team finished the season undefeated in front of the sold out crowd in Las Vegas. Make sure to catch the Ball Up TV show on Fox Sports. Check your local listings!

The post G-Smith & MVPs Show Out In Ball Up Championship Game Vs Ball Up Streetballers In Las Vegas! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

The post Air Up There Dunks ALL OVER Defender; Bone Collector Ends A Career! Ball Up Chicago Re-Cap Mixtape! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Ball Up Streetball is back! The first game took place last night at Cal State Dominguez Hills and was full of crazy highlights like this clip here. Check out Mr. Afrika as he drives down the middle and throws down the nasty windmill to ignite the crowd.

The post Mr. Afrika Drives Down The Lane And KILLS The Windmill During 1st Ball Up Game Of The Season! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Check out arguably the BEST dunker ever, 6'2" Air Up There aka Taurian Fontenette. Taurian to this day is still the only human being ever to complete a full 720 dunk and single handedly revolutionized the dunking world. His body control in the air is only matched by Vince Carter, his hops are ridiculous, and his style is as good as it gets.

The post Air Up There: The BEST Dunker Ever? Legendary Dunker Official Ballislife Mixtape! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

[tabs tab1="Strengths" tab3="Player Type"]

[tab id=1]Strengths: Aquille is one of the quickest and most explosive players in the country, regardless of class, and plays the game with tremendous confidence and style. He is a blur in the open floor with a gear beyond most others but also starts and stops on a dime[/tab]
[tab id=3]Overall: Aquille has the most handles in high school period. There's no doubt about it. The only other guy that can compete handles wise is PeeWee Gardner up in the bay. If these two faced off in a game, it would need to be televised around the world because everyone would want to see it. [/tab]
[/tabs]

The post WTW: Aquille Carr appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

The Rivals.com #1 ranked player, Shabazz Muhammad had a frustrating game yesterday evening against Indiana Elite. Today he took that frustration out on his opponents by burying his defenders in the rim. Check out the UNLV fans in the crowd.

The post Shabazz Muhammad DESTROYS Defender; 2 Poster Dunks @ Adidas Super 64!!! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Check out one of the best dunkers ever, 6'1" Myree "Reemix" Bowden with a legendary dunk exhibition in New York this summer as part of the Sprite Slam Dunk Showdown tour. Reemix threw down at least one variation of every dunk you could possibly think keeping the crowd at awe with his display of gravity defying athleticism. With the combination of his size, hops, style, power and finesse Myree has made a great case of being arguably the top dunker in the world.

The post 6'1 Myree "Reemix" Bowden LEGENDARY Dunk Exhibition In New York! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.