OUR STORY

FERRIS WORLD BALL is a youth, high school boys’ and men’s summer basketball tournament hosted annually at Gardella Park in the Ferris Avenue neighborhood of White Plains, NY. Rooted in tradition and powered by community, Ferris World Ball has become a magnet for top talent and a widely respected force in New York streetball.

It was founded in 1983—and originally named the Ferris Avenue Basketball Tournament—by the late Jerome “Bump” Robinson, a visionary leader, mentor and director of the White Plains Community Action Partnership. His hope was to bring people together, showcase local athletics and instill a sense of pride within his community. His impact was so profound that today, Ferris Avenue is also known as Jerome “Bump” Robinson Boulevard.

Before his passing, Bump passed the baton to Gerard “Oopie” Seward, a Ferris native who grew up under his guidance and vowed to invest in the next generation of athletes and preserve the high standard of play established on Ferris Avenue.

For years, Oopie directed Ferris World Ball alongside Kevin “Higgszy” Higgs, a pillar of the Ferris Avenue neighborhood, an advocate for generations of White Plains youth and his childhood best friend.

Higgszy’s unwavering dedication and selfless leadership helped shape the spirit of the tournament. His passing in March 2025 marked a profound loss, but his presence remains felt—in the strength of his community and the continued growth of Ferris World Ball.

While the strides made in recent years have added to the tournament’s rising profile, our North Star is to remember where we came from. Ferris World Ball would not be what it is today without Bump’s vision and Higgszy’s heart—and as long as the tournament continues, so will their legacies.