Max's All Stars - Score For Autism

Max's All Stars is proud to submit this trick shot video in support of Score For Autism. Thank you to all the members of our team who participated - William Davis, Kaheem and KJ Davis, Adonai and Jason Lewis , Marvin Billups Jr, Daniel Jacas, BJ Warrington, Spencer Smith, and Nikola Djurdjevic. This is a tremendous cause that we are honored to promote and contribute to. 100% of the proceeds raised from Score For Autism will go directly towards Mass General’s Lurie Center for Autism and Nashoba Learning Group! Please visit https://because.massgeneral.org/campaign/scoreforautism/c291830 to learn more and make a donation! Thank you!

Also, special thanks to Yuly Margulis and ARTEMIS, Inc. for taking part and chipping in as well!

2020 Max's All Stars Community Service Award presented to Kaheem Davis

We did not induct any new members to the Max's All Stars Hall of Fame this year, but a very special new award was introduced. The first-ever recipient of the Max's All Stars Community Service Award is Kaheem Davis in recognition of his efforts to provide mentorship and resources to local graduating high school seniors this year. Hopefully this award inspires all of us to make an impact within our communities. Congratulations Kaheem!

2020 Max's All Stars Community Service Award
Presented to Kaheem Davis
October 24th, 2020

 

Third Annual Max's All Stars Hall of Fame Game/Open Run

Two weeks ago, on October 24th, 2020 - Max's All Stars hosted an unofficial Hall of Fame Game/Open Run at The Post BK. Thank you to Indoor Hoops for allowing us to rent the court. Jason Lewis and Spencer Smith were our two captains. Obviously this was not a normal Max's All Stars Hall of Fame Game. Unfortunately, capacity was limited so we were not able to have all members of the Max's All Stars family take part. There were no spectators, no referees or scorekeepers - but this was still a very special event. It was the first Max's All Stars basketball event held in 2020. Getting everyone together, catching up and playing some basketball was extremely gratifying during these difficult times. It should be noted that all the necessary precautions were taken. The Post BK and Indoor Hoops had very strict COVID-19 protocols that we all followed. All players were pre-registered online, temperatures were taken and masks were worn at all times when we weren't playing basketball. This was a fun and safe environment. As far as the competition is concerned, Team Spencer faced Team Jason for five games (first to 15 points, 1s and 2s). Team Spencer won and the aggregate score was 75-58. Spencer Smith was named MVP. Thank you to everyone who participated - Angel Gonzalez, Corey Orgias, Jason Lewis, John Simmons, Justin Cardenas, Kaheem Davis, Keone Billey, Kevin Major, Marvin Billups Jr, Nikola Djurdjevic, Patrick James, Rishawn Johnson, Shaun Diaz and Spencer Smith. It was especially wonderful to see two members of our youth basketball program who are all grown up now - Justin Cardenas and Keone Billey. They are both outstanding young men and we look forward to watching/supporting their journeys. Hopefully, we can all get together again soon to play some more basketball and eventually resume competing in leagues/tournaments.

Here are links to the highlight videos:
IGTV: instagram.com/tv/CIOMHZEBy0u
YouTube: https://youtu.be/xsd9DifaoMs

Saturday, October 24th, 2020
Third Annual Max's All Stars Hall of Fame Game/Open Run
Standing from left to right: Nikola Djurdjevic, Kevin Major, Shaun Diaz, Justin Cardenas, Angel Gonzalez, Corey Orgias, Max Margulis, Rishawn Johnson, Keone Billey, Jason Lewis, John Simmons, Patrick James, Kaheem Davis, Marvin Billups Jr, Spencer Smith (MVP)

Raise #5 to the rafters for George Floyd t-shirt fundraiser complete, movement continues

The "Raise #5 to the rafters for George Floyd" CustomInk t-shirt fundraiser is now complete and we sold 36 t-shirts. This raised $176.49 total. First off, thank you to everyone who bought a t-shirt and spread the word - Marvin and Mandy Billups, Spencer Smith, Sadia Alroabie, Alexis Ozoria, Bianca Lisa, Olivia Oyola, Kaheem Davis, Sandra Sanabria, William Davis, Shanyka and Beatrice Scott, Jermaine Lewis, Jason Lewis, Patrick James, TJ Schorr, Kevin Major, Corey Orgias, Jenee Johnson, Kevin Johnson and John Simmons. Also, shout out to our trivia contest winners - Branden Gibson, Marvin Billups Jr, Nkeba Baker, Spencer Smith, Corey Orgias and Daniel Jacas.

Our goal was to sell 50 t-shirts which was projected to raise $288.50. With Max's All Stars matching that amount, our donation to https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bail_funds_george_floyd would have been $577.00. Unfortunately, we fell short of our fundraising goal - but that's okay because Max's All Stars covered the difference and rounded up to make a donation of $600.00. Our contribution will be split among dozens of community bail funds, mutual aid funds, and racial justice organizers.

Even though our t-shirt fundraiser is now complete, the movement we have created will continue. Max's All Stars remains committed to using our platform to speak out on issues of social and racial injustice. We will continue to share historical facts, make donations and sign petitions. Whatever we can do to help make this world a better place, no matter how big or small, let's do it together. If anyone has suggestions for organizations to support and things we can do to help the cause, please contact us. Thank you.

Raise #5 to the rafters for George Floyd

Raising a banner to the rafters, to commemorate a championship or an individual player by retiring their jersey number, is one of the highest honors in sports. George Floyd was a basketball player, just like so many of us. In this article by Jerry Bembry, George Floyd's athletic career is detailed. Eddy Barlow is quoted saying “In basketball, he was a Dennis Rodman type, a blue-collar player." Barlow added "George was idolized by young boys living in the projects because he was the first guy that many of us witnessed get an athletic scholarship where we grew up. He was one of my role models. He was one of us. That’s why his death is so hard to take." The article goes on to mention how "Floyd accepted a basketball scholarship at South Florida Community College (now South Florida State College) to play for George Walker, who was in need of a power forward." "He was very athletic and had some ball skills big guys don’t have, so I offered him a scholarship," Walker said. "Those were the attributes I was looking for in a post guy." Floyd broke his foot early in his freshman year, but he came back and had a strong sophomore season. While the school didn’t track stats back then, Walker recalls Floyd averaging 14 points and eight rebounds that season. "Just a solid player for us," Walker said. "I could not have asked for more."

In honor of George Floyd and countless other victims of racial injustice, we are raising George's #5 South Florida jersey to the rafters with the message "Never Forget". We will never forget George Floyd and all victims of racial injustice.

All proceeds from this fundraiser will be donated to https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bail_funds_george_floyd. This donation will be split among dozens of community racial justice organizations and bail funds across the country. Max's All Stars will match our final total raised.

This fundraiser ends on June 20, 2020. Thank you!

Statement from Max Margulis

I have stayed silent regarding the atrocities committed towards African-Americans such as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless others. The main reason for this is because I felt it was not my place to say anything. Who am I to comment about this? I’ve lived a very sheltered and protected life. I have not faced the type of hate and racism directed towards African-Americans. I have not experienced the fear they go through. That being said, I am keenly aware of the situation at hand.

In April 2015, I was in Baltimore with my family at the Orioles/Red Sox game during the Freddie Gray protests. As we walked to Camden Yards that day we saw people marching and demonstrating. We walked along route with them on the way to the stadium. It was surreal. We did not feel like we were in danger. Honestly, we felt their pain and anger.

A few years ago, I was a passenger driving with John Simmons and Shereef Taylor to Washington, D.C. for a basketball tournament. We got pulled over in New Jersey for something minor. The police officer was kind enough to let us go with a warning. Afterwards, as we continued our trip to D.C. – John and Shereef mentioned how the officer likely saw me in the car and that was the reason he let us go with relative ease. I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. What if I was not in the vehicle with them? What if (God forbid) someone I know and love becomes a victim of this kind of senseless violence? The cruelty towards African-Americans, the police brutality, the racism, the hatred – it has to stop. It’s unconscionable that we are still dealing with this in the year 2020.

I always say that Max’s All Stars is more than a basketball team. We are a family and I am our leader. It’s my job to speak, especially in difficult times like these. Max’s All Stars must use our platform and resources to speak out on matters of injustice and make contributions to organizations that fight for what is right. Hopefully, whatever small difference we make will inspire change in the world that we so desperately need.

If anyone has suggestions for organizations to support and things we can do to help the cause, please contact us with that information.