Up until the early 90's, DC summer basketball leagues had spawned many legends that created everlasting memories in the minds of old school basketball heads but everything changed on a late Wednesday night in the summer of 1994 at McDonough Arena on the campus of Georgetown University. 

On that Wednesday night, a mercurial 19 year old guard nicknamed "Bubbachuck" from Newport News, Va entered into the building and after a torrid three day scoring binge that followed, introduced himself to the world as Allen "The Answer" Iverson.

Mike Baker, a regular to the Kenner League games the last 15 years remembers and recounts first laying eyes on Iverson that night very well.

"I got a call from a buddy of mine saying, You know Bubbachuck is playing tonight don't you?!" "I said, I said Bubbachuck?, who is that?"  My buddy said, "Allen Iverson from down Hampton, Va."

At this time, Mike said he had heard about Allen Iverson, the star high school quarterback and guard but hadn't seem him in person.  "I heard stories and knew he was in jail for a minute, but that's all I knew."

Baker goes on to recount how he and his buddy both attended the game that fateful Wednesday summer night.  "He came late to the gym.  Hardly anyone was here that night. It was only one section filled.  I was watching the layup line and asked my buddy where is Iverson? My buddy said, "I'm not going to tell you, but you'll know, just watch!"

Baker then said, "I saw this little kid, I know he was no bigger than 5' 10" and hundred fifty some pounds with a cutoff shirt suddenly throw a bounce pass on the floor and laid the ball up.  His hand looked like it was two feet above the rim!"  "It was the elevation and explosion that got my attention, from such a little guy!"

"The second bounce pass he caught it and dunked it.  I said to my buddy, that must be Iverson!" He said, "Yep, that's him!"

The game had just started and Iverson was going to work.  Baker said he was a man playing against boys.  Baker recalls a play early in the game. "Iverson was handling the ball between his legs and had his man on skates.  He then pulled up from about 30 feet out." I said to my buddy, "He has that kind of range?!!!!"

After two more plays, Baker said to his buddy, "Is what I'm seeing real?!! Is he that good?!!" Baker said that he had never seen anything like that. "He was quick and fast." "I've seen Pat, Alonzo, and Reggie and in my opinion, none of them was as good as Allen. Allen is just a special, special, athlete. Seeing Allen that night was something I'll never forget."

Baker said Iverson pumped in 35 points and something that he will always remember is that when he came back the following night, both sections of McDonough was packed with people. "Word traveled just that fast."  "That Friday, Allen's last day, was standing room only. By then they were doubling and triple teaming him and he still got 30."

"Let me tell you, I've never seen McDonough that crowded since Pat Ewing was here."

Donald King, who managed to attend the Friday game, vividly remembers and recalls seeing Iverson for the first time. "It's something I will never forget." I try to explain to my son that the one thing I noticed about Allen that Friday night was his intelligence.  He was smart! Not only was he gifted with the physical tools, he was smart."

King said "Allen was three steps ahead of everyone else on the floor.  Unbelievable.  He seemed to know where the ball was going to be and beat his man to the spot either to steal the ball or create for himself.  He had a tremendous feel for the game. I'm from New York and have seen a lot of basketball but I hadn't seen anything like that."

Iverson scored 99 points in three games that summer and wasn't seen again until the 1995 season began. Washington DC, the country's 7th largest market had gotten a taste before the world took notice of a sign of things to come.

Iverson went on to earn all rookie honors in the Big East in 1995 and All America recognition in 1996 before turning pro and becoming the #1 draft pick of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Before the all star appearances, scoring titles, braids, tattoo's, & Hall of Fame numbers, it was the Kenner League that launched him into a national stage and turned what could have been a passing legend into a reality. 

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