The DAC was home to one of Philadelphia’s iconic basketball events earlier this month. The 20th annual Danny Rumph classic, an event which raises awareness towards hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, took place on Aug. 7-11 in University City.
Danny Rumph, a Philadelphia-born basketball player, spent his collegiate career at Western Kentucky. In 2005, Rumph passed away due to cardiomyopathy, a disease that weakens and inflames the heart, at just 21 years old. The Daniel E. Rumph II Foundation was established soon after his passing, and has held the classic every year since. The foundation additionally offers scholarships for local student-athletes, CPR and AED training for young people and have placed AED systems across the tri-state area.
The tournament features a high level of competition and has seen NBA stars such as James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, Jayson Tatum and Jalen Brunson play in the past.
This year’s classic was one for the ages. Across 18 games, the Blue Magic and TBB were the final two teams in contention, and matched up in the event’s final round. In the first half, former La Salle and Providence forward Ed Croswell gave the Blue Magic a strong lead as he notched an early game double-double.
In the second half, it seemed like much of the same, as the Blue Magic led by as many as 21 points. Powered by former Creighton guard Mo Watson and East Stroudsburg forward Lakeem McAliley, TBB forged a strong comeback, shrinking the lead to single digits.
In the final 30 seconds, Watson missed on both free throw attempts, allowing the Blue Magic to seal a 93-89 victory and take home the championship. Archie Goodwin, who played for the Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets, was named the game’s MVP. The guard scored 27 points in the contest, 21 of which came during crucial minutes of the second half.
The event continues to drive support for cardiomyopathy in underrepresented communities, while uniting Philadelphia through basketball.