May 16, 2016 at 6:20 p.m.
Harlem Wizards visit schools prior to game against staff
Event benefits school activities departments
Harlem Wizards visit schools prior to game against staff
By Kayla Thomason-
The Wizards are a show basketball team akin to the Harlem Globetrotters. They perform basketball tricks at fundraisers across the country.
Two team members - Gerald "Sky-Walker" Warrick and Justin "High-Rise" Mitchell - demonstrated some of their unique skills for James Williams Middle School students Friday afternoon and even had a few students come up and try a few moves.
The players showed the students how to spin a basketball on one finger, with a head start from one of the players, pass it under their legs, toss it in the air and bounce it off their "derriere."
The students were suitably impressed.
"I really liked it," said seventh-grader Brett Benes. "I thought it was really impressive and I liked how they took some volunteers out (to try the tricks)."
Rebecca Lawrence also enjoyed seeing the Harlem Wizards.
"It was really funny to watch and really interesting to see how many tricks they can do and show us what they can do," she said.
Lawrence said she plays basketball and would like to try some of the tricks during practice, although she doesn't think her coach will let her try them during a real game.
Wizards players visited several local schools Friday. The visits helped build excitement for the Wizards game against the Hodag Hotshots Friday evening at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium.
The proceeds will benefit the Rhinelander High School and James Williams Middle School activities department.
Lawrence said she wanted to attend the game because she is appreciative of the Harlem Wizards raising money for their athletic curriculum.
"It's nice to see that they are going to raise money for all of us even thought they probably don't know the town of Rhinelander, they're just coming to support us and that's really nice of them," she said.
Schools that got to see the Harlem Wizards perform included Pelican Elementary, Crescent Elementary, Central Elementary, Nativity Catholic School and Northwoods Community Elementary School.
Kayla Breese may be reached at kayla@ rivernewsonline.com.
Comments:
You must login to comment.