The basketball court is painted blue with a checkerboard border and a side view of Hussle at midcourt.
Ansom said he felt the urge to push forward the initiative12 to create a basketball court mural in honor
of Hussle as a “thank you” to the rapper who he says was “starting to reach his peak.” He and his
partner, Michael McLeod, drove around South Los Angeles looking for possible schools before Crete
Academy founder-principal Hattie Mitchell agreed to embrace13 the idea.
Afterward, Ansom drew his vision for the mural on paper and called artist Gustavo Zermeno Jr. to
design it. He said about 40 people gathered to paint and touch up the mural in a week’s time frame.
Hussle’s father and sister attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil it just days after the rapper’s
public memorial service, which drew more than 20,000 people to the Staples Center.
“Nipsey was an advocate14 and passionate (about) the game (of basketball),” said Ansom, who started
his basketball league in 2006 after he moved to Los Angeles from France. He called himself a big fan of
Hussle’s music and visited his clothing store to purchase apparel.
“He used to host charity games at Crenshaw High School,” he said. “He was always around the game.

1. Which statement best expresses the central idea of the article?
A. People are still interested in Nipsey Hussle’s music.
B. People admire Nipsey Hussle for his support of basketball.
C. People are creating murals to remember and honor Nipsey Hussle.
D. People are creating murals to show the role of music in the community.