In the early 1960s the Boys Club of Highland Park, Michigan developed an excellent age group basketball program,
and we competed against other Boys Clubs across the Detroit Metropolitan area. At about the same time—when
I was 12-years-old—the Detroit Pistons established a league for junior high school boys called the
Detroit Pistons Knot Hole Basketball League,
Patch Given to Junior High School Boys
Knot Hole Basketball League
and we were a member of that league.
Our games started before many of the Pistons’ home games, and then we returned during their half time to complete the last quarter our game in front of thousands of spectators. Both the size of the crowd as well as the size of the court was frightening and almost overwhelming. I recall that dribbling across this grand professional court felt like trying to sprint across an entire football field.
For some reason we were also given permission to use the Pistons’ locker room—perhaps to allow us to use the rest room. I will never forget one amazing incident that occurred as I raced through the open locker room door just as 6’ 11” center, Walter Dukes, was racing toward the door heading out for the court. I didn’t see him and he didn’t see me, and at 5’3” or 5’4” I literally ran between his legs and into the locker room. I have to assume that we avoided a collision because I ducked just as he leaped up, but I was shocked and amazed at the close call. Just think what might have happened if I hadn’t ducked when I did. The great Piston center may have had to perform the jump ball that game while in great pain!
