"The Capital of Basketball," with Andrea Chamblee

A History of DC Area High School Basketball by John McNamara

Andrea Chamblee is the widow of John McNamara, a journalist at the Annapolis Capitol Gazette who was killed by a gunman during the mass shooting there on June 28, 2018.

Mr. McNamara's wife found the unfinished book in his files after his death, and she completed the work with the help of veteran D.C. sportswriter David Elfin. The book has been published by Georgetown University Press. Washington DC isn't celebrated for basketball. But the Washington area stands second to none in its contributions to the game. Countless figures who have had a significant impact on the sport over the years have roots in the region, including E.B. Henderson, the first African-American certified to teach physical education in public schools in the United States and Earl Lloyd, the first African-American to take the court in an actual NBA game. The District of Columbia's Spingarn High School produced two players - Elgin Baylor and Dave Bing - that are recognized among the NBA's 50 greatest at the League's 50th anniversary celebration. No other high school in the country can make that claim. These figures and many others who have been a part of Washington's basketball past are chronicled in this book, the first-ever comprehensive look at the great high school players, teams and accomplishments in the DC metropolitan area. Based on more than 150 interviews, The Capital of Basketball is first and foremost a book about basketball. But in discussing the trends and evolution of the game, the books also uncovers the turmoil in the lives of the players and area residents as they dealt with issues such as prejudice, education, politics, and the ways the area has changed through the years. Event will be held in the Library Multi-Purpose Room.

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