LYNN– It isn’t rare to see Lynn’s best high school basketball teams match up against one another. With the annual Walter J. Boverini Tournament and in-conference clashes between Classical-English and KIPP-Tech, local hoops fans are treated to crosstown rivalries each season. But what if Lynn’s top talents came together in an all-star game format?
That’s the thought that crossed Simmie Anderson’s mind as he organized the 2nd annual “Big Tyme Ballers Event,” which is scheduled for Thursday night at Thurgood Marshall Middle School.
“My goal, No. 1, is to make a difference in my community,” Anderson said. “Basketball brings a lot of people together. I’m hoping that kids strive to play in this event by doing the right thing. My goal is to bring the community together with these events. I’m big on bringing everyone together. I think Lynn has the best ballers. We want to make a difference in these kids’ lives. Growing up I didn’t have anything like this. We’re giving them a platform and that’s what it’s all about with me.”
The event starts with an elementary school game at 7 p.m. followed by the high school game at 8. Last year, Anderson opted for a contest between the top players in the Merrimack Valley and Northeastern Conferences in the high school game. This year, he’s keeping it an all-Lynn game.
“This year we’re doing all Lynn kids,” Anderson said. “I feel we have a lot of talent here. I call it the ‘Sweet 16.’ We had about 24 kids to pick from and we picked 16.”
Both teams feature two teams of eight players. The elementary game features the following players: Rowan Merryman, Andy Batista, Marvin Avery, Cameron Weaver, Gio Jean, Travis Sanchez, Sam Phelps, Jason Perry and coach Calvin Johnson (Team “Celly Bucks”); Kameron Rucker, Eddie Lewis, Jahivan Martinez, Camron Thornton, Darryl Reynolds, Keith Chandler, Izzy Pierre-Saint, Dashawn Rucker and coach Brian Diaz (Team Lil’ Jon Jon).
The high school game features the following players: Jalen Echevarria, Jack Rodriguez, Jeffrey Barbosa, Alonzo Linton, Joey Abate-Walsh, Josh Perez, Malik Anderson, Wallace Reed and coach Jamal Boyd (Team “Celly Bucks”); Jarnel Guzman, Dyrell Rucker, Mason Jean-Baptiste, Justin Fitzpatrick, Ademide Badmus, Jeffrey Hill, Robert Wallace, Chibuikem Onwuogu and coach Jeffrey Brito (Team “Lil’ Jon Jon”).
Anderson said selecting players and putting teams together weren’t easy tasks.
“When I say ‘Big Tyme Ballers’ I need players that can play,” Anderson said. “At the elementary level I was looking for kids that can play. It all comes down to skills. At the high school level, I was looking for other things as well, character, who was going to school, who was doing the right thing, who was being a team leader. I reached out to coaches. I wanted to make sure I was bringing good people into the situation.
“We split them up to try and give different scenarios,” Anderson said. “Alonzo and Jarnel from English are on two different teams and they’re going to play against one another. We took everything into consideration. It took us two weeks to come up with this.”
Anderson praised his sponsors for making this year’s event possible. Sponsors include School Committee Member John Ford, State Representative Pete Capano, Ram Electric, Perkins Properties, John’s Oil, Congress Insurance Agency, G&J Towing, Lynn Teachers Union, Advance Physical Therapy and Sports Rehab, Center Board, Lynn Auditorium, Coach O. Athletics, Hood Ink Tattoo, Harrington Trophies, Lynn House of Roast Beef, Ward 2 Councilor Rick Starbard, Council At-Large Brian LaPierre and Ward 6 Councilor Fred Hogan.
“This doesn’t happen without the sponsors, point blank,” Anderson said. “I’m so grateful for the businesses in these communities. I also do the ‘Protect the Streets’ game in late May/early June and the Shoe City Classic. They always ask ‘when’s the next event?’ Everyone wants to be a part of making things better for these kids.”
