Ed Kuhn-West Reading Basketball

When Ed Kuhn started the West Reading Summer Basketball League, The Sound of Music was the highest-grossing movie, the Beatles released “Help!”, and the average price of gasoline in the United States was 30 cents/gallon. Since its inception in 1965, the league has continued to grow while giving countless players the opportunity to improve their skills. Former players, coaches, and officials joined family members near the West Reading courts this weekend to honor Kuhn, and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the West Reading-Sacramento Cultural Exchange. Kuhn spoke about the talented 1972 West Reading All-Star team that traveled to California for the first time. The star-studded roster included Stu Jackson (Reading), Dave Angstadt (Gov. Mifflin), Fred Wittich (Mount Penn), Bobby Reese (Holy Name), Cliff Durham (Reading), and Mike DeCusatis (Wyomissing). Jackson scored 1,563 points in his high school career before playing college basketball at Oregon. Kuhn explained that Jackson was far from a standout as a kid, but he had a tremendous work ethic. “He was driven. He wanted to be good. He was a very good student too which helped,” said Kuhn. We also discussed former Red Knights’ legend Donyell Marshall who participated in the West Reading Summer League. Kuhn was impressed with the 6-9 forward’s ability to shoot from the perimeter. Marshall piled up 1,581 points at Reading. He was the fourth overall pick out of UConn in the 1994 NBA Draft. Marshall spent fifteen seasons in the NBA. Kuhn played with Ron Krick, the all-time leading scorer in Berks County history. Krick finished with 3,174 points and led West Reading High School to Class A state championships in 1959, 1960, and 1961. Kuhn said, “I thought he was a player ahead of his time. He was 6-8 and he could really shoot for a big guy. If we had the 3-point line, I don’t know how many points he would’ve scored. We knew he was the ticket.” The guest speakers on Saturday included Reese, Wittich, longtime Albright men’s basketball coach Rick Ferry, and former Reading guard Kashif Reyes, as well as Kuhn’s wife, Lynda, and son, Andy. Kuhn noted that his wife has been extremely understanding for many years. Andy, who scored nearly 1,100 points at Wyomissing, took part in the West Reading-Sacramento Cultural Exchange. Ferry, a Wilson graduate, was on the 1981 West Reading All-Star team. Reyes spoke candidly about how the trip to California changed his entire life. After attending a junior college, Reyes went on to play at Chaminade. He was a second team All-Pacific West Conference selection as a junior and senior. His ten points helped Chaminade defeat Villanova 52-49 in 2003. Reyes averaged 12 points as a senior and shot 87% from the free throw line. He still stays in touch with the family that hosted him in Sacramento. The cultural exchange program is about much more than basketball. The student-athletes from California get to visit New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. while they’re staying in Berks County. Kuhn mentioned that one of the highlights for the kids is a stop at Rucker Park. Kuhn announced that Adam Ressler will be in charge of the West Reading-Sacramento Cultural Exchange after this year. Meanwhile, Sal Raccuglia will become the new director of the three leagues that utilize the West Reading basketball courts each summer. Kuhn told me that he’s never been a big fan of long speeches. However, he was extremely grateful to everyone who attended Saturday’s event. A lot of old stories and laughs were shared while acknowledging Kuhn’s wide-ranging impact on the local basketball community.