The Backbone of The Jungle community
by Ethan Rosenberg, Future150 (4:17 PM CT, Mon February 2, 2015)

Marin City, CA (Future150) -- Marin City, California, also known as The Jungle, is located just North of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Bay Area.

The Jungle is home to many talented basketball players and is becoming a recruiting ground for local high schools, AAU teams, and some colleges.  Players from the city have played for many top AAU teams including the Oakland Soldiers, the Oakland Rebels, Lakeshow, and the Southern Marin Lightning. 

Every year, the city with a population of just under 3,000 people, has a few athletes continue on to play for college teams.

Being that Marin City is considered a hood; the youth in the city are often given a bad reputation.  The community rallies around its young athletes in order to stay positive and promote hard work and education.

“It’s unfortunate that they’re often shown in a negative light,” said Shakona Bowie, the mother of Malik Huff; one of the city’s top athletes.  “The youth of Marin City are very unique and talented and have been for generations.”

Unfortunately, because of the reputation the city has, the good that comes out of the city is often shadowed by reports of crime and other bad news.  Unfamiliarity with the city is a major reason why the city has this reputation.

““I’ve had the chance to talk to some of the young talent in Marin City and I can hear their passion and love for the game when they talk,” said professional basketball player, Rodney Carney.  “They are very passionate about sports and it is clear that being from Marin City has a lot to do with it.”

On game days, it is not uncommon to find the local stars working on their game and getting shots up in the local recreation center.  The people in the city arrange carpools to the games, have friendly arguments about who is going to win, and pack the stands in order to support their youth.

“The community supports us because we represent our community really well and we all work very hard to improve every day,” said sophomore Jordan Jackson, one of the city’s up and coming players.

Marin City’s local AAU team, the Southern Marin Lightning, is the only team in its county to win a National Championship.  In 2009, two years after the team’s coach, Jerry McIntosh, passed away due to heart problems, the city’s best players rallied together to win the West Coast National Championship in Las Vegas. 

The Lightning, which was originally established in 2002, continues to win tournaments under friend and former co-coach of Jerry McIntosh, Orlando Wiggins.

“The young people in Marin City have always had a bad image, but with the kids of today, they are staying positive and are dedicated to doing the right thing and living a good life,” said Wiggins.

The youth in Marin City continue to improve both on and off the court.  According to Marin City resident, Levester Williams, basketball serves as the backbone of the community.

"This generation of youngsters is exactly what our community needed,” said Williams. “It brings everyone together as one, which is hard to do in certain communities.”