Sports

‘Legendary’ basketball photographer remembered by hoops community

The New York City basketball community has lost one of its most artistic members.

Robert (Surrob) Negron, known for his photographs and collages of NYC hoops from high school to street ball, died suddenly last Tuesday at age 46 of what is believed to be a heart attack. Negron was doing something he loved, playing basketball in a pickup game at the Fashion Institute of Technology, when he collapsed and had to be rushed to the hospital, according to his brother Willie.

The news shocked many in the city streetball world, since Negron, who had previous heart ailments, was seen taking photos just last weekend at Hoops in the Sun in The Bronx and at Tri-State in Harlem. In between games Sunday, officials at Hoops in the Sun had a moment of silence for the Bronx native, who touched many involved with city basketball.

“For me it was surreal,” said Joe Cruz, the Hoops in the Sun CEO. “I didn’t think it was true. I saw him last Saturday or Sunday in our tournament. I saw him at Tri-State, still doing his thing – photography and showing love and respecting the game. When I heard, it was surreal. I couldn’t really process it – like, damn he’s gone. It’s unbelievable.”

On Thursday, there will be a wake for Negron at McCall’s Funeral Home (4035 Bronxwood Avenue in The Bronx) between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Many expect an enormous turnout for Negron, who was involved in New York City basketball for more than 20 years.

“You’re gonna think it’s the Oscars or an NBA game,” said Willie, who coaches the Willie Howie All-Stars at Hoops in the Sun and is a scout for the ABA.

Negron, who went to Evander Childs HS and FIT, was famous for his breathtaking collages. Willie said he had just made a mattress-sized one of President Barack Obama. Many basketball players from the city – from the famous or the obscure – were subjects of Negron’s collages.

“His pictures told a story,” said Casey Ruzdinski, a reporter for Inside Streetball.

Watson Classic founder Lee Jones doesn’t just refer to them as pictures. They had much greater meaning.

“He gives you memories,” said Jones, who started the Bronx streetball tournament in 1999. “He had pictures of us when we first started that I thought I lost, that I thought I could never have. I go to Surrob, Surrob had [pictures] from the first time I started Watson.”

Negron never had top-notch equipment. But he was an artist and resourceful. He made the most out of what little he had.

“He was the kind of guy who set the tone for photographers in the hood,” streetball legend Tim (The Headache) Gittens said. “He did it with basically nothing, just what was around him and made it into art. He never used a $10,000 camera. That was the amazing part about it.”

Negron’s family is currently looking for donations to help give Surrob a proper burial. To inquire about donations, Willie Negron can be reached at 845-893-2030 or his cousin, Reggie Hunt, can be reached at 347-366-5867.

Cruz described Negron as “a legend in street basketball” and said there will be a huge void to fill in the New York City basketball community.

“Surrob has a huge fan base and I won’t be surprised if a lot of people do come out [to the wake] and show a lot of respect – from college coaches to ex-ball players, current ball players and aspiring young college players who are ready to make the jump to the NBA or overseas,” Cruz said. “Everybody in basketball in New York knows him. I expect a huge turnout.”

mraimondi@nypost.com