Peace to all. Yesterday morning you should have received an email summarizing the great games we had at Dyckman Basketball Friday night — about how good Dominican Power looked in their season opener, and how International Grind just edged out Earn Your Leisure in a game that went down to the final buzzer. But once I got home, I learned about the tragedy that occurred at another street ball tournament, and suddenly those recaps didn't matter. One of our brothers' lives was taken doing what he loved. And that's not okay. A Google search can tell you what happened, but Kinu Rochford deserved better than that. The entire NYC basketball community is mourning his loss — this is truly a sad time.
I want to take the time to share my personal encounters with Kinu. I'm not going to say we were the best of friends, but after a while these players become more than a name in the book. We are all part of the NYC street ball brotherhood. The first time I saw him play was at Dyckman in the mid-2010s. He was an integral part of a young squad out of Brooklyn called the BK Stompers. Although they never won a chip in Unlimited, that team was special and one of my favorites to this day. Constructed by Coach Ronnie, their core featured Branden Frazier, Sean Armand, JayVaughn Pinkston, and Kinu Rochford. If you watched Kinu play, you know he had a motor on him. He played with so much passion and grit. Every board was his, and he was happy if you fed him in the post every couple of possessions. After graduating from Division I Fairleigh Dickinson University, he played several seasons professionally overseas. Most recently, I got to see him in the Clash Pro League. He was in the later stages of his career, but he was a vet's vet — the type of guy every team needed. I'll always remember him for his big personality and a smile that lit up a room. Rest in Peace, Kinu. 🕊️💙
Editor's note: Friday night's recap is coming along with this weekend's 14U and 16U action.
As always, thank you for tapping into the Dyckman Dispatch! 🗞️
-Miguel signing out, Peace ✌️