The Champions

One of N.S. Hillyard’s fondest pleasures was the development of his basketball teams through the early years. Much of the passion evolved from the fact these teams were assembled in memory of his deceased son, Marvin, a young basketball star in his own right as a teenager. The proudest moments for the founder came in the mid-twenties when the Hillyard Shine-Alls captured back-to-back National AAU Championships. These teams were feted throughout the nation, including a VIP trip to Hollywood and Universal Studios. The title teams established a Hillyard basketball tradition that even included the Olive Street Girls team where N.S.’s daughter, Marie, was a star performer.