Westside Pro-Am is Carving out it’s Place in Chicago Basketball
Photo courtesy of Chicago United Instagram
Chicago United, a pro-am based on the West Side of the city, is capturing the attention of NBA players like Jabari Parker and Alfonzo McKinnie and amateurs alike.
Willie Harris, a co-founder and commissioner of Chicago United, joined forces with fellow co-founder and commissioner Edmond Pryor to start the pro-am held at Quest Multisport, 2641 W Harrison St., in the city’s East Garfield Park neighborhood.
“We started during the pandemic last year. EP [Pryor] had his own pro-am and I had mine but it didn’t make sense, with COVID-19, to keep splitting the gym so we just came together and started Chicago United,” said Harris, who noted there were complications when starting the pro-am.
“It was tough getting people to come out and be together because some people didn’t like EP and some people didn’t like me,” he said. “It was just tough getting people together to play but we got it together.”
Harris said he realized that the pro-am would be sustainable due to the attendance at the games despite the pandemic.
“Just seeing people lined up to watch let me know we could keep this going,” Harris said
Players like former UTEP and New Mexico State point guard Evan Gilyard and former Northern Illinois University point guard Eugene German were among the league’s stand-out performers, according to Harris.
“Evan Gilyard right now is averaging 34 points a game and he just dropped 40 something. Another guy is Eugene German, who in my opinion is the best player in Illinois and Indiana, should’ve been drafted,” Harris said.
Quest Multisport Gym