ABOUT US
Welcome to the Rucker Park Prep Foundation, where we are passionate about providing a safe and nurturing environment for young athletes to develop and link them to high-profile tournament opportunities. Our foundation focuses on cultivating socio-cultural skills to support our players' seamless transition into university life and beyond. Our mission statement reflects our core values and the essence of our foundation, primarily aimed at facilitating the overall development of our young athletes.
Rucker Park Prep Foundation is a youth sports and entertainment organization that caters to athletes ages 8-12 and 13-17. Our foundation is committed to bringing the best youth athletes in the tri-state area to feature in our basketball tournament. And what better place to host our games than at the legendary Holcomb Rucker Park located in Harlem, N.Y. at 280 West 155th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard. Throughout the years, many basketball legends and Hall of Famers such as Julius "Dr. J" Erving, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James have all competed and left their mark at Rucker Park.
With our passion, commitment, and dedication, Rucker Park Prep Foundation is here to serve the community and bring young athletes the best of both worlds. Our foundation will help develop skills that are not limited to the basketball court but will extend to other aspects of life as well. We proudly work with our players, coaching staff, and parents to ensure that young athletes have access to a positive and inclusive sports environment, which will help them reach their full potential. Join us, and let's help build a safe and nurturing space for our young athletes to thrive!
MEET THE TEAM
Who We Are
Aarian Punter, MS, LCSW
Founder & Executive Director
Aarian has over twenty-five years of experience in the nonprofit and entertainment industries. As a practicing licensed clinical social worker in New York City, she has dedicated herself to supporting and guiding young people and adults navigating the complexities of the justice system and the community. As an artist, Aarian strategically uses humor to improve the lives of others. Her unique approach as a stand-up comedian fosters resilience and encourages self-care. Through her work, Aarian aims to empower individuals to find their voice and embrace their potential, seamlessly blending her passions for social work and the arts.
Aarian's passion for advocacy and community engagement has also led her to develop theater-based training programs for social workers and artists, emphasizing the importance of trauma-informed care. She has worked on numerous projects promoting restorative justice for court-involved youth throughout her career.
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A. Haqq Islam
Founder & CEO
Mr. Haqq Islam is a seasoned entertainment industry executive with over 25 years of experience, demonstrating a strong track record of creating successful businesses and managing projects from ideation to realization.
Aside from having vast knowledge of the inner working of the entertainment industry, Mr. Islam is also a proud graduate of Howard University, and Founder and former CEO of University Music Entertainment, which is home to award-winning, multi-platinum-selling artists, Dru Hill, Sisqo, and Maya where his responsibilities included negotiating multi-million dollar deals with Fortune 500 companies and steering the careers of a roster talent that included artists, producers and songwriters that account for over $50 million record sales worldwide, while producing ten number one songs.
Mr. Islam has also honed his skills as a Real Estate Developer with several projects underway in Newark, NJ. As a partner in the Davidson, Abraham & Associates Company (DAA), Mr. Islam works as a liaison between city governments to move projects forward.
Aaron Eubanks
Vice President of Marketing
Aaron Eubanks is a 2000 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where he was recruited and played under legendary coach Sonny Smith during his freshman year.
During his sophomore year and throughout the duration of his playing career at VCU, Eubanks played under head coach Mack McCarthy. Eubanks ended his career at VCU with a 115 games played, 6.3 points per game scoring average and shot 35% from the field. During his freshman year, Eubanks was 3rd in scoring on the team.
A Philadelphia native, Eubanks graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Science and Information Systems from VCU where he was a member of the African American Male Initiative organization.
Kingsley Ledgister Jr.
Creative Director
As a videographer, photographer, and graphic designer since 2015,Kingsley has honed his skills in visual storytelling and creating captivating content. He has experience in event coordination and artist management, and is currently serving as a road manager for comedian Marshall Brandon as he tours with Dave Chappelle.
Outside of his work with artists, he is also the CEO of D244 media, a multimedia company that specializes in creating campaigns for brands and businesses. His team produces music videos, logos, and a wide range of digital design work that truly sets clients apart. With a passion for creativity and a dedication to excellence, he is proud to continue pursuing his dreams in the world of media production.
