Rafer Alston
Rafer Jamel Alston, a.k.a.
Skip To My Lou or
Skip 2 My Lou, (born
July 24,
1976 in
New York City) is a professional
basketball player currently with the
NBA's
Houston Rockets.
Alston grew up in
Jamaica, Queens as a
street basketball legend and has received most of his recognition for that aspect of his career. He first came into the public spotlight for his starring in the
And1 Mixtape Volume 1. Prior to playing for
Fresno State, Alston was regarded by many as the greatest streetball player ever. Alston was drafted after his junior year by the
Milwaukee Bucks in the second round, 39th pick overall, of the
1998 NBA Draft.
His nickname
Skip To My Lou stemmed from his tendency to skip while dribbling the ball upcourt. He played in several prominent streetball tournaments including the
Entertainer's Basketball Classic, the North American street basketball tour, the
And 1 Mix Tape Tour, and the
ESPN TV show,
Street Ball. It is said that, during a streetball tournament at the legendary
Rucker Park in Harlem, Alston once performed what most would regard as an impossible move: during a fastbreak, he supposedly glided in the paint for a layup attempt but made a change of plans in the air as he rolled the ball down his right arm, across his shoulder and down his left arm to a trailing player for a finishing dunk.
Following a recent tumultuous tenure with the
Toronto Raptors, Alston was traded to the
Houston Rockets for guard
Mike James on October 4, 2005. Although Alston frequently was criticized for his attitude while in Toronto, it is believed that Rockets coach
Jeff Van Gundy conferred with his brother,
Miami Heat coach
Stan Van Gundy, who coached Alston during the 2003-2004 NBA season, about Alston's work ethic and attitude. Jeff Van Gundy's reputation for toughness and his ability to get the most out of players previously considered "trouble-makers" or "temperamental" (e.g.,
Latrell Sprewell) should allow Alston to turn a new page in his career.
Alston was arrested in 1998 for violation of parole. Alston had pled no contest in 1997 to assaulting his former girlfriend and was required to complete a one-year anger-management course as part of his probation. Alston failed to complete the course and an arrest warrant was issued. Alston was released and completed his sentence.
* Played in the
Continental Basketball Association with the
Idaho Stampede.
* Signed by the
Milwaukee Bucks as a free agent in
1999.
* Played in the
NBA's developmental league for a year. He signed a 10-day contract to the
Toronto Raptors then signed a contract for the remainder of the season. (
2002-
2003 Season)
* Signed as a free agent with the
Miami Heat for the
2003-
2004 season.
* Signed as a free agent with the
Toronto Raptors through the
2004-
2005 season.
* Traded to the
Houston Rockets on October 4, 2005, for point guard
Mike James.
*
Streetball Player Page*
NBA Player Page*
ClutchFans.net Rafer Alston Profile - Houston Rocket Fan Site
*
NBA Fantasy Basketball Statsâ€"Rafer Alston
