As a top basketball player and born in a family with a legacy in basketball, Terryl Coombs strived to pass on his passion for basketball and inspire the youths to education. In a big family with him being the oldest, Terryl acted as the pride for his father and grandparents, the role model for his siblings, the pillar for his children, and the inspiration for the young adults he mentored. He established a basketball program in the Ingersoll Center and created various basketball clubs in the Fort Greene Community. His inspiration was not only limited to Fort Greene though, but to all of those who had met him including Omar Cook, a player in the NBA. As Gerald C-Allah Coombs, Terryl’s father, states  “He contributed his basketball skills in every way that he could”.

Mr. Cee pushed him into a two-week basketball camp, where he started his journey in basketball. He began playing at Shady Rest under the BQE Expressway. Due to practice, he eventually developed a lethal outside jump shot and became too big, and too good, for his dad to beat anymore. His skills against top players of the city caught the attention of major people of the basketball community and he earned the opportunity to take his talents to the college level. He attended Junior College in California, and St Francis College in Brooklyn, where he shot an amazing 65% FG percentage on mostly outside jump shots. He excelled against Rick Smitz at Marist College and of Indiana Pacer fame. 

Basketball was far more than just a hobby for Terryl, it shaped his personality. “ He was a little quiet and shy” but on the basketball court “it exposed him and opened him up because everybody admired and knew his basketball skills”. It opened up a new world for him as he traveled to play in games.

After the Civil Rights Movement, which his father and grandparents had experienced, doors began to open up in terms of access to education. Terryl became the first person to go to college in his family. Well aware of the importance of education, Terryl advocated for young people to strive for higher education through basketball. By inspiring and encouraging them, he hopes to open the door of opportunities to our future generations.

This passion for basketball was passed down from Terryl’s father and generations before that, as Terryl’s children now are also playing basketball. Their family believes that basketball knit the community together. Terryl’s influence will be honored, and he will always be remembered by the people in which he inspired. Terryl was born in a family with a love for basketball and community sports. His father played for Sands Junior High where his mother Marietta Hill was a cheerleader before they both went to Fort Hamilton High School.