Howard Garfinkel dies at 86

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

NEW YORK (AP) Howard Garfinkel, the creator of one of basketball's top summer camps and one of the sports true characters, has died. He was 86.

Garfinkel, known simply as ''Garf,'' died Saturday after being hospitalized with pneumonia, according to several close friends.

Garfinkel ran Five-Star Camp in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, from 1966 to 2008. It was a typical sports summer camp except the campers were some of the top high school players in the country and the counselors were college players and college coaches - when they were allowed to attend before NCAA rules ended it.

Among the camp attendees were Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Moses Malone and just about every player looking for outstanding competition in the offseason.

Garfinkel started ''High School Basketball Illustrated,'' a scouting service of New York-area players in 1965 and it became a recruiting tool for college coaches nationwide over the next 20 years as they looked for players in the city known for its hoops talent.

A graveside service is Tuesday in Elmont, New York.