MeanStreets basketball was started by Tai Streets in 2001. Tai was still playing in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, but during the off season he was committed to mentoring young men. He chose basketball because he loved the game and wanted to push young men to be great on and off the court as his old coaches did for him. The overall concept of MeanStreets Basketball began in when he decided to build a championship brand in the Chicago area. In year three MeanStreets won the AAU National Championship. The brand rose to the top of the basketball world when they won the ever elusive Peach Jam championship in 2006 led by Derrick Rose.