All-around game
Slam Magazine called him the King of Cali streetball. And for real this dude has been doing it nationwide. The kid from California with the sick handle has played on the And1 tour, played against the best in the country every summer at UCLA as a Magic Johnson All Star, played in the CBA, NBA summer league and the NBDL. He’s shared the court with NBA players like Paul Pierce, Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Sam Cassell and Derek Fisher. He’s also played overseas in the Bolivian League, where he was named MVP and earned the nickname The Roadrunner for his speed and quickness with the ball. The 6-foot point guard is like that and his game has a NYC-ish flair. And you know the LA native was down with the Showtime LA Lakers of the 80’s, but let him tell it.
“My name is Jay Brantly and I’m old enough to remember when basketball was a team sport and when Showtime ruled the league,” says the South Central, Los Angeles native. “Magic Johnson and the Showtime Lakers during the 80s era of NBA basketball were my basketball idols when I was younger. I liked their fast-break, run-and-gun style of play. I try to replicate that same style on the court today.”
The name J. Boogie was given to him because people always said that he looked like he was dancing on the court or boogin’ down. His quickness and speed allow him to blow by opposing players and get to the basket easily. Spectators are often left speechless and amazed by his ballhandling skills and tricks.
“My game is flashy, but at the same time has substance to it,” Jay says. “I model my game after the Showtime Lakers’ style of play, where it is entertaining for the crowd while still using fundamentals. I learned by playing in the parks and at various courts at the beach – legendary streetball court Venice Beach is one of them.”
And Jay started balling young learning the game from his family and other dudes from the neighborhood.
“My uncle Kenneth and my cousin Vincent taught me how to play when I was around 3 years old. I really got into playing basketball when I was younger through pickup games at Hawthorne Park,” Jay says. “I began playing ball at Rancho Cienega Park, located in the Crenshaw District of LA, when I was 7 years old. At the age of 9, I learned the fundamentals of the game.”
And from there Jay went on to star at Granada Hills High School.
“I attended Granada Hills High School. My senior year I was voted 1st Team All-Los Angeles, All-City and Valley Player of the Year. I was also selected for the 2nd Team All-State and received honorable mention for the High School All-American Team,” Jay says.
That senior year he averaged 24 points, 11 assists and 3 steals per game including a 52-point game vs Montclair Prep. After high school Jay attended Southern Idaho Junior College for two seasons and then transferred to UNLV, where he played for the Runnin’ Rebels for two years averaging 10 points, 6 assists and 2.4 steals per game.
Jay didn’t get drafted but briefly flirted with the NBA.
“I played in the NBDL and when I attempted to enter the NBA I was told by NBA insiders that I was not what they were looking for.” Jay says. “They wanted a big guard. At the time I was like 5-foot-11. Like any other basketball player, you aspire to make it to the NBA, to be seen by millions and to make millions. But I am happy with what God has given to me now. I get to play the game that I love and still positively affect people’s lives with my talents.”
And Jay has affected people in many ways.
“Streetball has always been a part of my life,” he says. “Before all the And1 mixtapes – which I was on volumes 2-4 – and their tours I was balling on the blacktop. I’ve played with my idol, Magic Johnson, on his traveling team also.”
So like Slam Magazine said, J. Boogie is the King of Cali streetball. But Jay wanted to give back more to his community, he wanted to do more for the kids. First he started the Running J’s program to work with kids and to enrich and bring confidence to youth’s lives. Through the program, Jay holds clinics for kids where he teaches them basketball and life skills. And from that Jay has moved forward to create the LA Hooptainers, an entertainment basketball group for the new era of basketball that consists of streetball legends and celebrities that tour the country combining hip-hop and basketball. They are known as the modern day Harlem Globetrotters and their website says, “The Hooptainers are here to change lives and to make a positive imprint in someone’s future.”
“In conjunction with Macleem Sports Wear, we have been touring to several different countries,” Jay says.
They’ve been to China, Central America and the Caribbean. Jay has also gotten involved in movies.
“I am involved in the filming of Sweetwater,” Jay says of the film that chronicles Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, a Harlem Globetrotter and one of the first black players signed to an NBA team.
“I will be playing the role of Marquis Haynes, Nat’s teammate during his days on the Globetrotters,” Jay says.
And the streetball legend is staying busy. The LA Hooptainers will participate in the World Streetball Championships this summer.
“The WSBC is a series of full court 3-on-3, no-holds barred single elimination tournaments played in five major cities across the United States,” Jay says. “If you lose, you go home. This tournament will showcase the best known streetball players across the globe.”
Besides that Jay will be hosting the Hooptainer events.
“The events always have an up-tempo style but we play with discipline and honor. Its not like a video game,” Jay says. “For those that can recall the good ol’ days of the NBA, we play exactly how the Lakers played in the 80s. Of course, I’m the MJ of the team.”
Enough said. Check J. Boogie out.
alfredo velez Said,
July 23, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
please some one sign him he sounds nice even doe i dont like cali that much someone sign him he might have a chace he can be a rafer alston
Paul Luchter Said,
July 23, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
What year did he graduate Granada Hills?
m Said,
July 23, 2007 @ 11:53 pm
Southern Idaho Junior College? probly had a 1.3 gpa coming out of high school…
haneef saleem Said,
July 24, 2007 @ 12:01 am
For more information about Jay & the LA Hooptainers, check out his official apparel line at Macleem Sports Wear
Click here - http://www.Macleem.com
Giacomo Said,
July 24, 2007 @ 3:00 am
2 things:
alfredo velez. your an idiot. no-one is going to sign a player to an NBA team(or any basketball team) because “he sounds nice”. thats just some silly shit. you clearly know very little about basketball.
also, nice grammar, punctuation and spelling
Seth- nice article man, i always try to read your work, keep it up.
jayb00gie Said,
July 24, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
giacomo, if YOU’RE going to get on someone about THEIR punctuation, grammar and spelling, make sure YOUR shit is clean by comparison. the correct usage is “you’re an idiot”. a conjunction of you + are. not “your” which is possessive. for example giacomo, you’re a schmuck. as oppose to no girl will hold your schmuck, giacomo.
curtis johnson Said,
July 24, 2007 @ 4:06 pm
J.Boogie was a coach at my school two years ago. He’s a heck of a basketball player and a coach.
scott Said,
July 24, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
owned ^^^
marquis Said,
July 24, 2007 @ 5:56 pm
j. boogie is making a movie with The Professor. Check ou this link… http://www.elevationmag.com/basketball/index.php?itemid=307&catid=1
billy Said,
July 24, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
so many out there who think they can ball. so many never get a chance. just be happy he did not get a bullet in a drive by
steve Said,
July 24, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
if hes so good than why hasnt any nba teams looked at him whlie he was a younger man, im guessin hes around 30 since he remebers watchin the 80’s lakers talent decreces without proper training even if he could of played in the nba he has no chance any more
marquis Said,
July 26, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
Here’s jays thoughts on west coast and east coast streetball. http://www.elevationmag.com/basketball/index.php?itemid=306&catid=1
haneef (Macleem Sports Wear) Said,
July 28, 2007 @ 1:05 am
Steve, Jay did get looked at by several NBA teams earlier in his career. Unfortunately, he did not get picked up by any of the teams. Not every talented player can make the league and sadly there are some who have little to no talent (example - Jerome James, Pervis Ellison) and still make the league.
It is good to read/see an individual not throw in the towel just because the League turned him down. He is not a quitter.
eric Said,
July 29, 2007 @ 7:39 am
Does this guy work, I watched your little video and have seen all that stuff before. You look like average high schoolers. Theres a car wash with your future waiting for you.
big curt Said,
July 30, 2007 @ 10:28 am
A homey i am a hooper my self. And im glad ur getting ur notice dog. Sometimes being known as that dude in the hood is just as good as being and nba star. Im from the hood and known as one of the best hoopers in my hood. And sometimes it leaves a bitter taste in some of the peoples mouths when they wonder if j-boogie could have played among the elites. there are a lot of stipulations that comne with playing in the nba it is not all about talent.
big curt Said,
July 30, 2007 @ 10:32 am
I bet most of these guys making these comments couldn’t beat me and j-boogie in a two on two if you feel good about it 10 stacks to u big man. http://www.curtcgj@yahoo.com
HOLLA AT ME!
GET AT ME J-BOOGIE WHEN U IN THE A
SPYDA WHAT UP!
Vince Said,
July 31, 2007 @ 2:21 am
at the time he was like 5-foot-11? What, did he have a growth spurt at 25?
Coach Ted Said,
July 31, 2007 @ 10:33 am
Hey man,
Keep pursuing your dream. As you can see, there are a lot of haters who probably sit on their butts all day at their momma’s house. You’re doing something special working with those kids and they will appreciate you (hopefully) one day.
"Dan the Man" Said,
September 12, 2007 @ 1:00 pm
Yeah, Jay Boogie can really handle the rock and is fun-da-mentals with flash!! But, I can really shoot the perimeter “J” !!!!! Check-me-out
at…www.myspace.com/actordantheladiesman and at
http://www.darcydonavan.com/news.html?news_id=48&type=News
D-Man
Dan Bazarian Said,
September 17, 2007 @ 5:43 pm
This is D-Man again:
Kudos and a Big Shout-Out to Seth Ferranti for being such an exceptional writer. Your work is not going unnoticed !!!!!
Take it to the hoop,
. “Dan the Man”
P.S.
Don’t forget the ones that paved the way before you…like
Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton http://movieset.com/sweetwater
Dan Bazarian Said,
September 25, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
This is “Dan the Man” giving kudos to Jay “Boogie” Brantley who has followed in the footsteps of the WORLDS GREATEST DRIBBLER the one the only…Marques Haynes !!!!!
See him in the hoops hall of fame http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/bhof-marques-haynes.html