LYNN – The gymnasium and its surroundings at St. George Greek Orthodox Church are a virtual shrine to Harry Agganis as people scurry around making last-minute preparations for the four-day basketball tournament that?s about to commence.There?s a bust of the “Golden Greek” on one of the columns that separate the gym from the foyer. There is trophy upon trophy, plaque upon plaque … there are framed newspaper articles mounted on the walls detailing Agganis? many exploits.And why not? If it weren?t for Agganis, there would be no gym.When Agganis died in 1955, the new church on North Common Street was in the process of being built. Agganis was very active in the old one, on Boston Street.?He loved St. George?s,” said Father George D. Tsoukalas, pastor of the church today. “His love of this church lasts to this day. He embraced St. George?s all his life.”Originally, the area that houses the Agganis Gym was supposed to be a recreation center, says Bill Booras, director of the Harry Agganis National Hellenic Invitational Basketball Tournament.?But after he died, it was decided that there had to be something in his honor,” Booras said. “It was decided to build a gym, and name it for him.”Thanks to tournaments like this, as well as the weeklong festival of Agganis sporting events each June, the “Golden Greek?s” legacy transcends his heritage. He was the kid from Lynn whose exploits sold out the brand-new Manning Bowl; who put Boston University football on the map; and who — after being an All-America for the Terriers — chose to play baseball for the Boston Red Sox so he could be closer to his family and his community.He also died at the age of 26, just as he was coming into his own as a first baseman for the Red Sox.?But he never forgot where he came from,” said Booras. “Every time he got any kind of a gift from the AHEPA (American Hellenic Education Progressive Association) he?d bring it back to the church. It?s just unfortunate he wasn?t able to live to see this (the new church).”Booras was 12 (and Fr. Tsoukalas 13) when Agganis died of a pulmonary embolism in Sancta Maria Hospital after falling ill with a respiratory ailment. Booras remembers details of his funeral vividly.?I remember all the Red Sox dignitaries who were there, including (late owner) Tom Yawkey,” he said. “The Red Sox were in Washington that day to play the Senators, and the game was delayed until the funeral had ended.”He also remembers seeing Georgia Agganis — the athlete?s late mother — at church week after week.?She?d come,” Booras said, “and sit in the last row, corner seat. Every week. Black outfit and white hat. People would point and say ?that?s Harry Agganis? mother.?”Fr. Tsoukalas says that thanks to the memory of Harry Agganis, boys and girls from succeeding generations had a place to go — a safe haven. And that was the gym.?The spark that he ignited is still going strong today, in this gym,” he said. “It keeps young people together in the spirit of fellowship and friendship … Christian friendship.?Lifelong friendships have been made in this gym,” he said. “This was their second home … their extended family.”?The Harry,” as the tournament is called, began Thursday night and will conclude Sunday evening. Sunday, the annual George Mazareas “Maz” Award will be presented to the founding members of the Lynn Heat (later, after Mazareas was diagnosed with ALS, “the Maz Heat”). The team consisted of Mazareas and a group of his friends who had been playing together since they were children at St. George.