The world-famous Harlem Wizards will visit Manhasset Secondary School on Friday, Nov. 1 for an evening of great fun and fundraising. The Wizards will play a game against a team of Manhasset administrators and teachers. Proceeds will benefit Manhasset Coalition Against Substance Abuse (CASA) community programs.
The event will feature a variety of fun interactive extras to complement the Wizards’ dazzling demonstration of hoops artistry: pregame “Wiz Kids” warm-up, contests, comedy, awesome slam dunks, audience participation and more. The game will conclude with the Wizards’ signature dance extravaganza that will have the crowd on their feet.
“We are delighted to host the Wizards,” Connie Bruno, CASA, project director, said. “They are superb showmen who deliver fantastic all-ages entertainment for a great cause.”
Founded in 1962, the Wizards have played over 15,000 games throughout the U.S. that have raised over $25 million for schools and charitable causes. The Wizards have also played in over 25 foreign countries on five continents.
Advance tickets are priced as follows: student and senior citizens admission $15, general admission $18, reserved $30, court-side plus $50.
Court-side plus ticket holders receive first or second row seating and meet privately with selected Wizard players before the game for a meet-and-greet and show. Only 50 court-side plus tickets are available.
To purchase tickets, and for more information, visit www.harlemwizards.com.
The home team players will be thrilled to play in front of family, friends, and fans and spectators will delight in seeing their beloved teachers, principals and community leaders run the court. Come out and cheer—you will not want to miss this fantastic experience that will benefit our most precious resource: the kids.
About the Harlem Wizards: Howie Davis was a larger-than-life entrepreneur, impresario, promoter and visionary whose passion for sports, entertainment and philanthropy culminated with his creation of the Harlem Wizards in 1962.
The idea for the Wizards started in 1959, when legendary basketball showman Goose Tatum approached Davis to organize a tour for Goose’s “Harlem Stars.” The Stars had a short but successful run that opened Howie’s eyes to the enormous potential of “show” basketball. Three years later, Howie launched the Wizards.
Under Davis’ leadership, the Wizards grew into a choice basketball destination for some of America’s best basketball talent. As the team’s reputation spread, professional athletes from across the sports spectrum took notice and joined the Wizards’ roadshow:
• Connie Hawkins, one of the top-50 NBA players of all time
• Nate “Tiny” Archibald, a member of the NBA Hall of Fame
• Elvin Hayes, one of the top-50 NBA players of all time
• Hawthorne Wingo, a New York Knicks fan favorite
• Mario Elie, a three-time NBA champion
• Nancy Lieberman, a WNBA star and Hall of Fame member
NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, World Series MVP Donn Clendennon and Harlem Globetrotter superstar Marques Haynes also played for the Wizards.
Tojo Henderson a Wizards great holds the world record for career span in professional basketball. He started in 1965 and retired 50 years later in 2015. He still serves in a promotional capacity with the Wizards.
Davis was a champion of racial equality, and viewed the Wizards as a vehicle to provide economic opportunity to African Americans. He even was the first to break the color barrier with a football team playing in North Carolina.
Today’s Wizards roster features an all-star lineup of master basketball showmen, including:
• Eric “Broadway” Jones and Dwayne “Swoop” Simpson, former Globetrotter showmen
• “King Arthur” Lewis, an Academic All-American at Bowie State University
• Arnold “A-Train” Bernard, a highly acclaimed trickster and seven year Globetrotter veteran who was featured in a Nike commercial
• James “The Roadrunner” Tyndal, a diminutive speedster who is fast enough
to dribble through NYC traffic
• Devon “Livewire” Curry, FIBA’S former No. 1 ranked USA 3-on-3 player
• Leon “Space Jam” Sewell and Brandon “The Werm” Lacue, featured on TNT’s “The Dunk King” reality competition series
• Rashaan “The Rocket” Barner, one of the greatest dunkers in Wizards’ history
—Submitted by Manhasset CASA
