Students schooled by traveling basketball group

Dance music, loud cheers and slam dunks with hang time.

All the ingredients of a high-profile basketball game were on display Monday morning at Maricopa Wells Middle School, but the event itself was nowhere near a typical five-on-five matchup. 

The Harlem Ambassadors – a traveling basketball crew that performs shows throughout the nation – visited the school to not only “wow” students with some head-turning ball play, but to deliver a positive message: make good choices, set goals and never give up.

“My message to you today is ‘winners never quit,’” Ambassador’s announcer Alvin Washington said to a packed gymnasium of seventh and eighth grade students. 

It was one of many messages shared by Alvin and five Ambassadors players during two back-to-back assemblies at the school. 

The ball tricks performed at the assemblies provided a quick preview of tonight’s 7 p.m. Ambassadors show at Maricopa High School. The Maricopa Rotary Club is hosting the group and community leaders – Mayor Christian Price, Vice Mayor Edward Farrell, Ak-Chin Tribal Chairman Louis J. Manuel Jr. and Deputy Fire Marshall Eddie Rodriguez – are scheduled to face the ball-handling tricksters in a basketball game. 

While the Harlem Ambassadors are most known for their family-focused entertainment show, the group also conducts youth programs to encourage kids to stay away from drugs and stay in school. 

Ambassadors’ player Selethia Jackson said, for her, speaking with students at assemblies is the best part of the job. It provides an opportunity to give back at a “personal level.” 

“I know growing up I didn’t have a mentor, so being able to be a mentor is tremendous to me,” she said after the two assemblies. 

Like the other Ambassadors players, Jackson shared her personal story with students. A Florida native, Jackson told the young crowd that with a sick mom and a dad who passed away, she basically raised herself starting at a young age. 

“I would go to school every morning with this huge smile on my face like everything was all good … but it wasn’t,” she said. “I was really hurting inside.” 

Her message to students was to “speak up.” 

“If you’re having a problem with something, you need to say something,” Jackson said. “If someone’s not treating you right, you need to say something.” 

***ADVERTISEMENT***Other messages given by the players included having confidence, making goals and setting oneself apart. 

Some students were even chosen to be honorary Harlem Ambassadors, receiving free entry to tonight’s game and the chance to sit on the Harlem Ambassador’s bench. 

Tickets for the 7 p.m. game are $10 and are available at Great Western Bank. Children 4 and younger get in free.