The city’s basketball community is in mourning with the news that Troy “Escalade” Jackson died in his sleep at just age 35 in Los Angeles a few nights ago. The Queens native has been a staple in basketball in New York since putting his skills on display at Rucker Park. It’s sad that not enough sports blogs are really talking about and I just felt like honoring the life of Escalade here on the Bloglin.

Known for his smooth dribbling, Jackson toured with And1 Mixtape, the Harlem Globetrotters , and even enjoyed a full ride at University of Louisville while weighing an astonishing 500 pounds. And you thought Barkley, Big Baby and Robert “Tractor” Trayler were big!

His size never stopped him from doing what he loved most as his skill and stature (he was last listed at 6’10 375) was utilized to entertain the masses when And1 was in their glory days. Jackson was the younger brother of former New York Knicks point guard Mark Jackson but might have out shined him with his energy and community work as he was also a spokesman for STD prevention.

A big game and a big heart is what Escalade will be remembered for as the basketball world recovers from his death.

- Spartak