Held at Smithtown East High School on Thursday, March 12, 2026, the Harlem Magic Masters played a fun-filled game with the AHA coordinators, student-athletes, faculty, and staff. The event served as a special opportunity to celebrate the life of our Legendary AHA trainer, Tim Bassett.

Tim was a professional basketball player for the New York/New Jersey Nets. He was Dr. J’s teammate and protector. While Julius Irving got the points and accolades, Tim got the rebounds and tough defensive assignments. He was the ultimate team player: a captain of the Nets, a quiet leader, and an unsung hero.

Tim Bassett was one of the first African-American athletes to attend and graduate from the University of Georgia. He was the first African-American member of the men’s basketball team and became an All-SEC center before a professional career in the ABA and NBA.

Tim was an Athletes Helping Athletes trainer for 30 years. Although he passed away from cancer in 2018, his legacy lives on; many of our AHA student-athletes have been recipients of the “Tim Bassett Award” over the years. He had an ability to connect and inspire the lives of thousands of student athletes and gas left a lasting impact on the entire AHA Program.