Loonatik yelling at King Arthur in an angry, comedic way. CHOUAIB SAIDI
On April 6th at 6:00 pm, the famed Harlem Wizards came to Malden High School and showed off their unmatched charisma and comedic relief to the Malden community. The Harlem Wizards not only showed great skill on the court as they went against Malden staff members in a thrilling matchup, but also kept a great atmosphere as their kind spirits lit up the gym.
Rashaan Barner, also known as “Rocket,” has been a Harlem Wizard since 2002. He was a Division III All-American in college basketball and was featured on the ESPN City Slam and the LeBron James Nike ad in 2006. “Rocket” stands 6 feet tall, and he “loves his job and making people happy.”
“Since 1962, we have traveled all over the world hosting fundraisers and continued playing basketball for the youth,” Barner claimed.
The Harlem Wizards All-Star Unit features members Lloyd Clinton, aka “Loonatik”; Bakari Copeland, aka “Glitch”; Arthur Lewis, aka “King Arthur”; Jonathan Hevalow, aka “Top Flight”; and Robert Young, aka “Smooth”.
“Every year, there is a tryout and the guys there have been here throughout the years,” Barner stated. These outstanding players have not failed to impress the audience in all aspects, from slam dunks to comedic relief, for the audience to indulge in.
Kristen Kirby, a Malden High School Science teacher, has been tasked with overseeing this operation and welcoming the Harlem Wizards with open arms as she has been doing this for years.
“A lot goes into planning this event. We need to coordinate with all of the K-8 schools in Malden, so getting everyone on the same page can be difficult. All of the principals were great and cooperative, but just having so many people having to be involved just adds a layer of complexity. This year, we teamed up with the charity For the Kids Foundation, which was started by some of my former students. They helped out with some sponsorship and getting the word out,” Kirby emphasized.
Kirby explained she felt that “the stress of preparing is over and I can just enjoy it,” after the hard work she had put in had all been worth it as she harbored a sense of community connection and value as the Harlem Wizards performed.
The Wizards interacted with the audience multiple times as they would ask for volunteers, dance to modern-day music, and even incorporate some throwback music that everyone knew to maintain a vibe in the atmosphere.
After the introduction of themselves, the Wizards had played a game against the staff in which they made space for comedic relief while also impressing the audience with playmaking moves such as dunks and other various basketball moves.
The Wizards were leading by two points at the end of the first quarter, but they slipped up a little and gave the home team an advantage. They did not let that mess up their confidence as they gained a lead back in the second quarter, 29-24.
The staff remained persistent and determined and even stole the ball from the Wizards to take matters into their own hands and eventually scored on the fast break, but it was not enough for them as the Wizards ultimately won the match 63-54.
This event was a beacon of happiness, a good vibe and a wonderful time in the Finn Gym, in which kids from all around the Malden District came together to enjoy these acts of charisma. The general meaning of this event is not just to make kids happy, but to spread an important message, understanding the importance of working hard and not taking life too seriously.
“Keep working on doing what you want to do; work hard, more than basketball, but to be a better person too,” claimed Barner.
To find out more information about the Harlem Wizards, where they are going next, or general information about their pasts and what they have done before, visit https://harlemwizards.com/.
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