The last few Nike streetball player of the summer awards have gone to guys with larger-than-life personas and legendary names. Last year, it was Antawn (Anti-Freeze) Dobie. Before that, Adris (2 Hard 2 Guard) DeLeon took home the crown.
This year’s winner? A guy nicknamed “The Purist,” who played Division II ball at little-known Eckerd College in Florida.
Greg Plummer averaged 41 points per game in the West 4th Street Classic playoffs. He led the X-Men to the title there and in the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic at Rucker Park. His sweet stroke from beyond the arc had people buzzing on the streets all summer. Yet before two months ago, few people had heard of the Brooklyn native.
“I went to a D-II JUCO that nobody ever heard of,” Plummer said after his X-Men team lost to Team Nike in the Nike Tournament of Champions final Sunday at Gauchos Gym in The Bronx. “I went to a Division II college that nobody ever heard of. You got Kee Kee, Dobie, Kenny Sat, Anthony Glover – these guys are overseas making money, making a good living. I’m trying to get there.”
Plummer arrived in such obscurity because of an ankle injury that kept him out of streetball action for two straight summers. The Transit Tech grad didn’t even play professionally anywhere this past season because of surgery, instead teaching in Westchester to earn an income. In the past, he has played in Mexico, Europe and the CBA.
While rehabbing the bad right ankle, the 6-foot-4 Plummer feels like he evolved as a player. He worked on different parts of his game, developing postup moves against smaller guards, tweaking his jump shot. At 28 years old, Plummer feels like he’s better than he’s ever been and it’s hard to argue with him after an incredible summer.
“He stepped up his game when it was time,” X-Men coach Dytanya Mixson said. “Without him, we wouldn’t have won two championships. There’s more coming from him.”
Plummer had 15 points in a losing effort Sunday. He got off to a slow start and never found his rhythm against a team filled with superstars. The scoring machine didn’t begin the summer as one of those, but he’s developing into one.
“He is very underrated,” Team Nike coach Bingo Cole said. “He’s a premier shooter, a premier ball handler. He is just the ultimate pro.”
Mixson said at worst Plummer will have a spot playing in the ABA with his team, the Staten Island Vipers. There are also opportunities in Australia and perhaps Hungary.
“If this isn’t proof that I can play with anybody,” he said of the award, “then I don’t know what is.”
The trophy didn’t mean a whole lot to Plummer after the loss, though. He thought the X-Men were just as good as hand-picked Team Nike. They did beat a similar-looking squad, Bingo’s All-Stars, in the Rucker championship game.
“I’m still upset about losing the chip, regardless of any individual award that’s won,” Plummer said. “I got this sour taste in my mouth until next year. Next year, I’m starting off the summer picking up where I left off. All those dudes in my way, until I’m satisfied I’m not stopping.”
