In what is always one of the best nights of basketball this area has to offer, the Basketball Old-Timers of America hosted its 66th annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony May 2 at Sirico’s Caterers in Dyker Heights. The event honors the legacy of local basketball lifers who have dedicated most of their existence to the city’s game.
Brooklyn-Queens CHSAA President Ray Nash and “Mr. St. Francis” himself Dennis McDermott have kept the tradition alive and well. With now 238 members — 29 of whom are also enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame — the Old-Timers Hall of Fame celebrates former players, coaches, administrators, and officials who eat, sleep, and breathe basketball.
Brooklyn’s own Dick Bavetta, a Naismith Hall of Famer and former CHSAA and NBA referee from St. Saviour, Park Slope, was on hand to captivate the audience with stories — the theme of the night. The event always shapes up to be a who’s who of memorable names in the local basketball scene.
Mike Fratello
A native of Hackensack, New Jersey, Mike Fratello has carved out an impressive career in basketball. He was an NBA head coach for 16 years for the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Memphis Grizzlies. He’s ranked 23rd all-time in head coaching wins with 667.
Following his coach- ing career, Fratello established himself as a distinguished broadcaster, even earning the nickname the “Czar of the Telestrator” for his innovative use of on-screen play diagramming. He’s called games for NBC, TNT, Fox Sports, and the YES Network.
“I was so fortunate to be involved with this game for so many years,” Fratello said.
Art Kenney
Art Kenney’s journey began at St. Jude’s School in Manhattan, where he was a teammate of the great Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). He was part of the famed 1963-1964 Power Memorial High School squad that won 71 straight games and was named “High School Team of the Century.”
Kenney then played at Fairfield University in Connecticut, where he’s now a member of its Hall of Fame. He played in Europe for many seasons, and in 2013, his No. 18 jersey became the first one retired in Olimpia Milano’s history.
“My friendships that I made through basketball have endured almost 60 years and are priceless,” Kenney said.
Evan Pickman
Evan Pickman enjoyed a long basketball journey as a player, coach, educator, scout, and mentor, and it all started in Brooklyn, where he attended Brooklyn College and later coached there, as well as Staten Island Community College and the College of Staten Island.
He played a prominent role as a lecturer at the Five-Star Basketball Camps and was later a professional basketball scout for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers. He’s a member of the College of Staten Island and Staten Island Jewish Community Center Halls of Fame.
“I never really wanted to coach basketball, but it turned into 18 years,” Pickman said. “Right after my first practice, I fell in love with coaching.”
Ed Pinckney
Ed Pinckney played basketball at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, the Bronx, before moving on to Villanova University, where he was the cornerstone player on the school’s famed 1985 NCAA championship team, coached by Rollie Massimino. He earned Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors as the No. 8-seeded Wildcats upset the No. 1-ranked Georgetown University.
He was the 10th overall selection in the 1985 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. He played for seven franchises in his 12-year career and later coached for three NBA teams as well as Villanova. Currently, Pinckney is in his fourth year working in the front office for the Houston Rockets.
Mitch Buonaguro
Born in Richmond Hill, Mitch Buonaguro played Catholic Youth Organization basketball at Holy Child Jesus. His passion for hoops blossomed at Bishop Loughlin High School, Fort Greene, where he was named to the Daily News’ First Team All Brooklyn-Queens as a senior.
He played at Boston College, where his 42-year coaching career began as a graduate assistant. His collegiate coaching career spanned six stops, including the 1985 Villanova NCAA championship team as an assistant to Massimino and head coaching roles at Fairfield and Siena College.
“The best decision of my life was going to Bishop Loughlin,” Buonaguro said. “For me, this is coming home.”
Steve Lappas
Steve Lappas won a New York City basketball championship as a player at Bronx Science High School in 1971 and as a coach at Harry S. Truman High School in 1984. He launched his collegiate coaching career at Villanova, where he joined Buonaguro as an assistant on Massimino’s championship staff.
He then embarked on a 17-year collegiate head coaching career with stops at Manhattan College, Villanova, and the University of Massachusetts. His teams made four NCAA Tournaments, and his Villanova squad won the Big East Tournament in 1995.
“To grow up in New York City at that time and to learn what it’s like to be a part of the basketball scene,” Lappas said, “I fell in love with something there that was special.”
Contact Jim Mancari via email at jmmanc@gmail.com.