Using comedy and basketball tricks to engage with the crowd, the Harlem Wizards made an appearance at the high school on April 4 from 7-9 p.m. in the gymnasium.
The Harlem Wizards are a traveling professional basketball team that performs at schools nationwide to play against the staff and teachers while fundraising.
The Indian Valley Educational Foundation hosted the event, and all profits from this event go towards the nine schools in the Souderton Area School District.
Indian Valley Educational Foundation Executive Director RuthE Potter sees the event as a way to unite the Souderton Community and emphasize the “trajectory in education.”
“You have got the things that happen in the classroom and the schools, but you have this trajectory, and it is all ours,” Potter said. “Everyone, it’s your[s], it’s mine, it’s our community, it belongs to our community.”
Potter is the main organizer of the event, and the main advertising method is having the Wizards go to all six elementary schools to excite the kids.
Potter especially looks forward to the opportunity for all the kids to meet, get autographs, and take pictures with the Harlem Wizards players.
“I love being able to look and see all our little guys on the court interacting with each other,” Potter said, “also interacting with these players they think are larger than life.”
As for Athletic Director Denis Stanton, he looks forward to their athleticism and seeing the Wizards integrate themselves with the community.
“They are a high-flying, athletic, slam-dunking basketball team that is going to provide a great experience for our community,” Stanton said.
Not only are the Harlem Wizards engaging with the crowd, but the main focus of the night is the basketball game against the Wizards and Souderton Area School District teachers.
There are two teachers from each of the six elementary schools, three from each of the middle schools, and three from the high schools.
They are called “The Dream Team.”
During the game’s four quarters, all the teachers rotate, having a chance to play against the Harlem Wizards, who mess around and make funny jokes about the teachers.
For Harlem Wizard A-Train, his favorite part about being a part of this team is having fun with the community at each school they visit.
“Just making people smile and laugh,” A-Train said. “I like being a comedian.”
From the audience’s perspective, junior Krish Patel enjoyed how it was an excellent opportunity for the kids to have fun and attend the night at the high school.
“I love how it was mainly meant for the kids,” Patel said. “They are all so fun and have smiles on their faces.”
West Broad Street fourth grader Layla Nonemacher enjoyed spending time with her friends, and her favorite part was when the Wizards hung on to the basketball hoops.
The Wizards made sure every kid had the opportunity to meet them.
Nonemacher’s Harlem Wizards basketball received a signature from Livewire, and Patel’s Harlem Wizard wristband received a signature from A-Train.