Friday, March 28th, 2008 at 1:34 pm  |  65 responses

Shooting is fundamental with Jack Ryan

and rebounding with Matt Caputo

By Matt Caputo

Those of you who read our magazine may remember the name Jack Ryan. A Brooklyn native, Ryan is considered to be one of the best shooters outside the NBA and probably the best shooter from New York City hands down. His career on the city blacktop made him legendary and his career as a Harlem Wizard helped him transition into a new audience. Ryan, who scored 60 points in a quarter versus a team of middle school teachers once, now spends a lot of his time running clinics and performing in trick shows for kids all across the country.

Right after the NBA All-Star break, Matt Sheridan and I once again loaded up my Jeep and met Ryan at a community center in Clark, New Jersey. Ryan had just come back from New Orleans where he set three new world records in the Guinness Book of World Records. One for longest time spent spinning the ball on his nose, another for longest time spent spinning the ball on his toe and another for making the most free throws blindfolded.

Considering his storied streetball shooting exhibitions and sharp mechanics, we thought “Black” Jack Ryan was the perfect person to break down the finer points of shooting the basketball for our second installment of THE reincarnated “SKILLZ” series.

To learn more about or contact Jack Ryan, visit hoopwizard.com

-Matt Caputo

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  • http://www.nba.com hursty

    meh

  • http://www.nba.com hursty

    MC link your name up to some of the stuff. not trying to be a smart @ss but im interested. no, that work wasnt great but it works with the visual. link it up i wanna hear your stuff :)

  • Alistair Jones

    Black jack is a legend, I hope slam make more videos on the fundamentals. How about having bobbito talking about dribbling next!

  • BIG STEVE

    Maybe, Black Jack and Hopla in a charity shootout, with Slam, ESPN, and other sponsors pitching in. Now that would be nice, at a great outdoor venue, just in time for the summer.

  • http://www.whiteshadow55.com White Shadow

    That’s why he’s the best shooter that never made the nba! Black Jack is the real deal! Good to see SLAM show him some love

  • Seldom Seen

    Simply stated and to the point Jack Ryan shot is off the charts. I’m sure there may be a few out there who claim to have seen or even be better for that matter but I’m a victim and and witness to his sharpshooting talents. He’s been doing it so confidently and effortlessly for years so watch the tape and follow along you mere mortals…lol! Also look out for the next great young and uupcoming shooter “The Flyest on 2 Feet” out of the LES who will hopefully follow in Jack’s footsteps one day.

  • http://www.bouncemag.com bobbito garcia

    aaa-ight! great to see jack up on here–nice job matt! i’ve known jack for 20 years, and heard about his exploits a decade before that. all the accolades he’s receiving now are well deserved. amazing that in his mid-40s he’s gettin more shine than ever. just goes to show so long as the love is there, it’ll carry you.

    peace,

    bobbito a.k.a. kool bob love

  • PMG

    I have played with and watched Jack for 25 years.. since his days running Ryan’s Lions in the league on Fort Hamilton Parkway in Bay Ridge…

    Such a wonderful story and the best part. . this is a an EXCELLENT video for any young player to watch on the fundamentals of shooting..

    p.s. – a poster above mentioned Jack playing the Coors Light League above… we were on the Pipins Pub team (only Brooklyn team) and went undefeated that year and won the championship… another great shooter on the team. . Jimmy Riches…

  • http://www.slamonline.com louis

    Wow that was a great show!That man never misses a shot!

  • http://www.slamonline.com Anderw

    This guy is crazy he never misses a shot!!!!

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  • http://myspace.com/muhnamezachormyspace.com/NBASUPERSTAR94 zachh

    yo matt r u gonna get us in the magazine or not??????

  • Lee

    I’m a few years younger than Jack and had never heard of him until one day at a run we used to have at the Madison Sq Boys Club in the ealy 90′s. Guys like Gerry Hobbie, Dan Callandrillo, Mike Dunleavy’s brother Kevin and some other name brand guys. He literally did not miss a shot and threw a couple of spectacular passes.

    The next game Gene Smith, the tough defender from Georgetown roughed him a little and denied him the ball and Jack couldn’t get off in quick game to 8 points but his rep was already cemented in my mind. I ran into him occasionally at W 4thSt and it was an event when he was on the court and this was after he had destroyed his knee. BJR is the real deal and I’m happy to see him doing his thing after all these years.

  • http://www.207ent.net Scott

    It’s about time the greatest Basketball Magazine in the World shows Black Jack some love! Matt, way to step up and represent one of the best players to never get the big show.

    Best Regards,
    SJ

  • Pingback: SLAM ONLINE | » “Black Jack” Ryan to be Played by Justin Timberlake?

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