New York Chapter President: Tom Hoover
Drafted by the Syracuse Nationals (now the Philadelphia 76ers) with the 7th pick in the 1963 NBA Draft, Tom Hoover played five professional basketball seasons. Teams included the New York Knicks and St. Louis Hawks as well as the ABA's Denver Rockets, Houston Mavericks, Minnesota Pipers and New York Nets.
Spending several off-seasons participating in kids basketball camps and clinics as a Knick, his interest in children and education flourished. Hoover began to run an anti-poverty program in New York City, wherein he and his partner Lane Howell (seven-year NFL veteran) helped place teenagers in summer jobs. Through his involvement in the program, he landed a position as an aid for Former New York City Mayor John Lindsay.
Recent New York Chapter Events
Thanksgiving Food Drive
The NBRPA’s New York Chapter distributed over 500 turkeys and turkey breasts at the Church of the Accesion on 107th St in NYC as part of its 10th annual Thanksgiving food drive, lending a helping hand to families in need in New York during the 2024 holiday season. Participants included NBA Legends Tom Hoover, Smush Parker, and Sam Worthen.
Globetrotters Legend Carl C. Green Street Naming
On Saturday, October 5, 2024 members of the NBRPA New York Chapter joined the community to celebrate Harlem Globetrotters Legend Carl C. Green with a street naming in his honor at the intersection of 113th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem. Among those in attendance were NBRPA Chairman Charles “Choo” Smith, NBRPA New York Chapter President Tom Hoover, Smush Parker, Sam Worthen, Albert King, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Nate “Tiny” Archibald, and Eric Jones, as well as Judith Green, the wife of the late Carl C. Green.
Following the event, Vanessa Tyler of the Black Land Podcast discussed the legacy of Carl C. Green, covering the street naming tribute to this basketball pioneer and talking with his wife Judith Green about their incredible love story. Listen to the full episode here.
Full Court Press
On Saturday, June 11, 2023 the New York Chapter of the NBRPA held a youth basketball clinic at the James Monroe Educational Campus in the Bronx, bringing out NBA and WNBA Legends to coach and mentor over 100 students. Legends in attendance included Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Adrienne Goodson, Kim Hampton, Tom Hoover, Charles Jones, Albert King and Sam Worthen. “We hope that they understand that education is the key to everything and anything you do, it’s going to be based on your education,” NBRPA New York Chapter President Tom Hoover said. “You get hurt, but they can’t take your diploma away.“