LOS ANGELES — Just inside the entrance to the gym at King Drew Magnet High School, seven chairs sit a few feet away from the meeting of sideline and baseline. It’s a Saturday afternoon in June, and that means the intermittent squeaks of sneakers, the pounding of a ball, the muffled verbal jabs, the reactionary yelps of spectators, and of course the free-flowing, booming voice of public address announcer George Preciado are customary sounds. To so many, they’re also comforting sounds.

View photos The Drew League was established in South Los Angeles in 1973 (Nike/Drew League) More

To the man who looks on from the leftmost chair of the seven, they’re especially customary and especially comforting. His name is Carl Munns. Forty-three years ago, Munns won the first ever Drew League championship with Horney’s Hornets. Five years ago, he looked on as Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant put the pro-am summer league in national headlines. Today, he wears a grizzled grey mustache, grey shorts that cover his knees, white mid-calf socks, and a lanyard around his neck. From the lanyard hangs a credential. But it doesn’t say “Media.” It doesn’t say “Staff.” It has a more important word.

“Legend.”

Next to Munns on legends row is Tommy Bates. He, too, was there 43 years ago at Charles Drew Middle School and at Washington Park between 2006-2011.

“We had no idea that this is what we were setting the ground work for,” Bates said, a hint of pride in his voice.

Nor did anybody else.

“The Drew,” as it’s often called, was founded in 1973 by Alvin Willis. Willis, at the time, worked at Charles Drew Middle School. At Charles Drew, lunchtime was basketball time. The cafeteria was the playground. Students would line the outdoor court. Each homeroom had a team. Each team had a coach. One of them was Willis. So one day, Willis decided he was going to start a league. Six teams. Drew Middle School. One season per summer. One champion.

“The teams we had back then," Munns said. "These teams [today] couldn’t touch ‘em.”



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Late in the fourth quarter of a tight game, repeated whistles suddenly pierce the air, followed by shouts. Right in front of the far bench, anger briefly prevails. Players from both sides come together. Refs intervene. A coach slides in between them.

Over by the scorer’s table, a head instinctually snaps around. Dino Smiley, in his white “Drew Crew” T-shirt and tight-fitted black Nike cap, senses a bit of trouble. Calmly, he steps out onto the floor. Immediately, the argumentative voices die down. His composed, reassuring nature attracts attention. Now it’s other heads turning towards him. Amid the fleeting chaos, he talks to a few players — players who were talking over one another before, but who now listen.

View photos Dino Smiley has been the Drew League commissioner since 1984. (Nike/Drew League) More

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