Adisa Isaac played for Canarsie High School in Brooklyn. At 6-5 and 220 pounds, Coach Brian Ellis’ defensive end was ranked the top college prospect in New York State and the 66th overall prospect in the country. Isaac completed his high school career with 198 total tackles, 38 sacks, eight forced fumbles, two safeties and one interception.

The Whitmore Group sponsors the Mr. Football New York City Player of the Year Award offered by the New York City Chapter of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame. I was honored to present this year’s award to a fine young man. Isaac is more than just a football all-star. He finished high school with very good grades and he has accepted a full athletic scholarship to play for Penn State University. He is going places on and off the field.

Along with Adisa, 11 other outstanding New York City high school football players were honored at the seventh annual “Elite Eleven” Scholar-Athlete Award Dinner hosted by the foundation. The event is managed by Marc T. Hudak, who is chairman of the local NFF chapter and a partner and member of Whitmore’s management committee. The awards recognize the players for their performance on the field, in the classroom and as leaders in their communities. The award criteria is 40 percent based on GPA and academic achievement, 40 percent based on football ability and achievement, and 20 percent based on leadership, school and community involvement.

I extend my congratulations to each of the “Elite Eleven” 2018 scholar-athletes:

The Bronx

• Antonio Corrado (committed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute) – St. Michael High School, Coach Mario Valentini

• Jalien Nias (college commitment pending) – DeWitt Clinton High School, Coach John Applebee

Brooklyn

• Tyrik Bethea (committed to Delaware State University) – Lincoln High School, Coach Shawn O’Connor

• Jason Blisset (committed to University of Miami) – Poly Prep Country Day School, Coach Kevin Fountaine

• Sean Hart (college commitment pending) – Fort Hamilton High School, Coach Daniel Perez

• Tariq Hollingsworth (college commitment pending) – Franklin K. Lane High School, Coach Jason Mollison

Queens

• Efrain LeBron III (committed to Utica College) – Jamaica High School, Coach Calvin Whitfield

Staten Island

• Alex Bashaba (committed to Lafayette College) –Staten Island Technical High School, Coach Anthony Ciadella

• Thomas Bossert (committed to College of Staten Island) – St. Peter’s High School, Coach George Mahoney

• Kolubah Pewee (committed to United States Military Academy at West Point) – Tottenville High School, Coach Brian Neville

• Michael Regan (committed to United States Merchant Marine Academy) – Monsignor Farrell High School, Coach Anthony Garolfalo

He was athletic during his boyhood years, playing sandlot baseball and basketball. Then, during his late teens, he got into the ring under the promotional name of “Lou King.”

It is not known if the young man would have continued to pursue a successful boxing career. The plan unraveled soon after his Uncle Pete brought the boxer’s father to see “this new kid in the ring.” The next morning, the father waited for his son to arrive at the breakfast table. Then, he lowered his newspaper and greeted his son with “Good Morning, LOU KING!”

So, the young man concentrated on basketball. He loved the game and played on a semi-pro team in Paterson, New Jersey. During an exhibition game against the Boston Celtics, Lou defended against Nate Holman, later a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. He held Nate to a few points and outscored him.

Though he was small in size compared to the other players, many teammates recalled that Lou was fast on his feet and performed foot and basket-throwing maneuvers similar to players for the Harlem Globetrotters. He even won a 1926 shooting contest with 24 baskets out of 25 shots.

Years later, after he had moved away from sports to build a successful career in the entertainment field, Lou’s athletic talent was featured in hit films such as “Buck Privates,” “Here Come the Co-eds” and others. He was so skilled that the directors never substituted a stuntman for his boxing and basketball scenes. But, for “Co-eds,” Universal Studios did hire a renowned basketball star to stage a game for the cameras. This star also “coached” the gifted athlete in a condescending manner. The entertainer played along, asking, “How do I hold the ball?” and “Can’t I throw the ball from here?” The basketball star just smiled indulgently, then stared unbelievingly as the actor tossed a perfect shot into the basket!

According to “Co-Eds” writer Edmund Hartmann, “a little fat man is the last guy in the world you’d expect to be an athlete.”

That little fat man was comedian Lou Costello, who, by the way, made it all the way to Cooperstown with partner Bud Abbott and their hilarious routine about baseball.