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| league =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|07|24}}
| birth_place = [[New York City]], [[U.S.New York (state)|New York]]
| nationality = American
| high_school = [[Benjamin N. Cardozo High School|Benjamin N. Cardozo]]<br />([[Queens]], New York)
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== Streetball legend ==
Alston grew up in the [[South Jamaica, Queens|South Jamaica]] neighborhood of [[Queens]], New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]] and was a standout [[streetball]] basketball player, known for his untraditional ballhandling moves that made him adept at outmaneuvering defenders.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tampabay.com/sports/basketball/nba/former-streetball-star-rafer-alston-has-stabilized-the-nba-playoff-bound/992972|title=Former streetball star Rafer Alston has stabilized the NBA playoff-bound Orlando Magic|first=Dave|last=Scheiber|date=April 17, 2009|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|access-date=December 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215142951/http://www.tampabay.com/sports/basketball/nba/former-streetball-star-rafer-alston-has-stabilized-the-nba-playoff-bound/992972|archive-date=2013-12-15|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was the inspiration in many ways for the [[AND1#AND1 Mixtape Tour|AND1 Mixtape Tour]]—a low-quality, jerky 1999 videotape of Alston's extreme playground moves, featuring helter-skelter crossover and other fast dribble moves faking out defenders, attracted a great deal of attention among players and basketball fans.<ref name="streetballin.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.streetballin.net/features/and1-mixtape-tour-history/ |title=Teams, Leagues etc |website=Streetballin.net |access-date=December 13, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830004715/http://www.streetballin.net/features/and1-mixtape-tour-history/ |archive-date=August 30, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.slamonline.com/nba/introducing-slams-legends-rafer-alston/|title=Introducing The SLAM Legend of the Week: Rafer Alston|date=2018-05-27|work=SLAMonline|access-date=2018-07-27|language=en-US}}</ref> His trademark skipping dribble when bringing the ball down the court earned him the nickname, Skip to My Lou.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jun/07/sports/sp-streetballer7|title=From 'Skip' to Rafer – his ultimate crossover|last=Wharton|first=David|date=2009-06-07|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2018-07-27|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref>
He also played under well-known high school coach Ron Naclerio at Benjamin Cardozo High School in Queens, New York. Naclerio is credited with circulating the Alston tape and getting it in the hands of AND1 staff.<ref name="streetballin.net"/>
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