BBC News
Essex Police/Essex Rebels BasketballAn “outstanding” basketball player who was killed in a car crash could be memorialised as part of plans to renovate an outdoor court in north London.
The Argyle Kings, a group of regular players in King’s Cross, want to upgrade Argyle Square court and include include a tribute to Anthony ‘TJ’ Hibbert at the site which they call the “mecca of grassroots basketball in London”.
The group have identified funding and have the backing of Basketball England, which said the court was in “desperate need of renovation”.
In a statement Camden Council said it was “keen to work with the Argyle Kings to build something special for Camden’s basketball community”.
Ray AkpofureMr Hibbert, from Camden, played at Argyle Square as a youngster and went on to play with Essex Rebels.
The 24-year-old student died in a car crash in Colchester on 1 February, alongside three of his University of Essex friends.
At the time the university said it had been “torn apart” by the deaths of its students, and remembered Mr Hibbert as an “outstanding” basketball player.
Ray Akpofure – who plays with Cobham Cobras – has led the Argyle Kings’ efforts to get the court renovated and install a memorial to Mr Hibbert, whom he first met as a youngster at Argyle Square.
Mr Akpofure said: “I remember TJ running round here when he was 12 years old. He went from a boy to a man here at the court.
“We are all still devastated he has gone, and we miss him so much. We share videos of him every day.
“He was a bundle of joy. He didn’t take anything too seriously. He was the best. He really left a mark on the area. I was lucky that I was graced with his presence.
“I can’t think of a better place to remember him than here at the Argyle court. This place used to be the mecca of grassroots basketball in London, and it would be wonderful to restore it to its former glory in his honour.”
Having first won the support of the Friends of the Park group, the Argyle Kings then got backing from governing body Basketball England through its ProjectSwish campaign, aimed at improving outdoor courts.
The Kings are also being helped by the not-for-profit Hoopsfix Foundation and social media influencers Simply British Ballers (SBB) who share videos highlighting the poor state of the UK’s outdoor courts.
Having identified funding, the group claimed all that was standing in the way of the redevelopment was a failure to engage Camden Council.
Earlier this month Behrad Bakhtiari of SBB told BBC London that Camden Council had ignored their approach.
“We went to the council, and they didn’t say no, they just didn’t respond”, he said.
“You have the community, you have social media, you have the basketball federation, you have everyone telling you this is the court that needs to be renovated, and we have money to renovate this court and you’re ignoring us.”
In a statement Camden Council said: “Redevelopment of the park is still in early stages.
“We’re keen to work together with the group to build something special for Camden’s basketball community and encourage more residents to join in.
“We are open to discuss how Anthony Junior ‘TJ’ Hibbert can be memorialised in line with our guidance on artworks and memorials in Camden’s public realm.”
Basketball England’s interim facilities manager Toby Wilkinson said: “Argyle Square is much loved, but the equipment is well past its best and in desperate need of renovation.
“We, alongside the project group for Argyle Square Basketball Court, want to work collaboratively with Camden Council to put together a strong funding application and plan to create another beautiful outdoor space for its community, where basketball can be enjoyed safely and keep people fit and active.
“The project is also set to be done in remembrance of Anthony ‘TJ’ Hibbert a local player.”
