Chapter 07: The Court
The Boys Club
Julian’s haven. He practiced daily, played against white boys from public schools all over northern Westchester. When no one else was available, he used his brothers as practice opponents — one on two, one on three, pushing himself to overcome the odds.1
18-0
He coached the younger boys: Norman, Mark, Robert, Jimmy Ferguson, Keith Underwood, Roger McKee, Michael McKee, Doug Hall. He told them if they stuck together, they’d get beaten now as ninth graders but their time would come.1
Eventually, as seniors, they had the only undefeated year in Fox Lane history — 18-0, finishing 20-1 after losing to the number one team in New York State, Mount Vernon.
“For sure the greatest basketball team Fox Lane ever had. They should be inducted into the Fox Lane Hall of Fame.”
Jamaica
Julian’s ultimate dream was to be the beachcomber from the James Bond movie Dr. No. He wrote every school essay about Jamaica. His English teacher Mr. Bosak, on the last day of class, said: “I hope you get to Jamaica.”1
At eighteen, Julian saved his earnings, got a passport, bought a one-way ticket to Kingston, Jamaica, and packed everything he owned in a Pullman suitcase. His brother Butch carried it to the train station and waited for the train with him. Butch had no idea where Julian was headed.
Stay Forever
At customs, when Julian said he wanted to stay forever, they thought it was a gag. He negotiated down to six months.1
He returned one week later, feeling defeated but determined to go back.
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