Hagerstown's Monroe Summer Basketball League celebrates 60th anniversary in style
The Ruthann V. Monroe Summer Basketball League opened its 60th anniversary season Sunday at Wheaton Park in Hagerstown with a proclamation read by Hagerstown Mayor Tekesha A. Martinez.
"The league has been a beacon of hope and opportunity and opportunity for at-risk youth in our community; and over the past 60 years, the Ruthann V. Monroe Summer Basketball League had provided an exceptional and free summer basketball experience to the youth of Hagerstown and Washington County," Martinez read. "At the heart of this remarkable league are the exceptional young athletes who shine on and off the court. Their skills and dedication inspire us and serve as a testament to the power of youth sports in transforming lives."
League commissioner Eb Williams is a shining example of that power.
Williams grew up in Hagerstown and played basketball in both the Monroe summer league and the Hagerstown Junior Basketball League while attending Northern Middle School. She went on to play in high school at Notre Dame Academy in Virginia (now Middleburg Academy), at the time one of the strongest private-school programs in the country, and earned a full scholarship to Division I Seton Hall University, where she also studied music and business.
"This is where I played my youth ball. It afforded me a lot of opportunities," said Williams, who is in her seventh year as commissioner. "There's a lot of history in this league."
That history began with the league's founder and namesake. Ruthann V. Monroe also was the mother of Rodney Monroe, who starred at St. Maria Goretti and N.C. State and is Washington County's all-time leading scorer. Another Hagerstown native, Dennis Scott, played in the summer league before starring at Flint Hill (Va.) Academy, Georgia Tech and for seven seasons with the Orlando Magic in the NBA.
When Williams returned to the area, she had a vision for what she wanted the summer league to become.
"I've traveled the world and watched basketball played on some of New York (City's) best outdoor leagues," she said. "When I came back here, this league wasn't what it was when I (played) here. It was in shambles. So I decided to do something about it."
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League Sundays at Wheaton Park resemble a block party. DJ GIFTED SoN, a Hagerstown native who resides in Washington, D.C., provides his services for free. Kids can play in the splash pad area or on the playground, and several vendors offer food and drinks.
And of course, there's plenty of basketball to be played. At the start of opening day, two high school-level teams played on the main court, while younger teams played two half-court games on an adjacent court. In all, there are 180 youths signed up to play in the league this summer, all free of charge.
"With the rising cost of youth sports, we wanted to make sure everyone had an opportunity, no matter their economic background," Williams said.
The league will hold games at Wheaton Park each Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. through Sept. 3.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Hagerstown summer basketball league celebrates 60 years of opportunity
