After last year’s event, Mexico would be in the future for the Harlem Wizards.
The future came on Oct. 28 at Mexico High School where the Wizards once again faced the Mexico Muggles on Gary …
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After last year’s event, Mexico would be in the future for the Harlem Wizards.
The future came on Oct. 28 at Mexico High School where the Wizards once again faced the Mexico Muggles on Gary Filbert Court and fundraised money for the efforts by Audrain County Shelter Resource Coalition, including Room at the Inn. In the second night of tricks, hoops and alley oops presented by ACSRC and Mexico Housing Authority, the Wizards foresaw a better future by fighting homelessness in Mexico and giving kids unforgettable memories.
Talek “Show Out” Williams and Jonathan “Top Flight” Hevalow reappeared in Mexico after being with the Wizards in last year’s event. The former Harlem Globetrotter Williams enjoys leaving his mark by giving kids good memories and likes that his first two years with the Wizards have included stops in Mexico.
“A kid told me earlier that, ‘I still have the headband that you signed for me last year,’” Williams said. “Stuff like that means a lot to me. You can change somebody’s life or change somebody’s day.”
Hevalow said he was “ready to party and get down” and backed that up by dancing a lot with the kids. In his fifth year with the Wizards, Hevalow has loved playing with them since his semi-professional coach in New Jersey, who used to play for the Wizards, recommended him to Wizards general manager Eric Jones.
“When the kids come up to you and they say, ‘You’re my favorite player’ or ‘That slam dunk was amazing!’ or ‘How much bounce do you got?’” Hevalow said as he gave a kid a high five. “That stuff brings joy to my heart. Just to be able to be an inspiration to the youth, that’s why we’re here and make them become greater in the future.”
The Wizards have existed for 65 years, but Williams said it means a lot to them that they can be modern inspirations to future adults. He said the Wizards interact with kids by offering autograph sessions during the night, allowing them to participate in games and dancing with them.
Williams said the Wizards cover a lot of ground by doing all of this in various communities across the country. They usually do their part in raising money for causes that mean a lot to each community.
“It’s always about giving back to schools and helping out fundraising,” Williams said.
Michael White made a return of his own to Gary Filbert Court as a member of the Mexico Muggles. White played basketball for Mexico High School before graduating in 2022, making memories such as his senior season when the Bulldogs were 28-1.
Nowadays, White works maintenance for Mexico Housing Authority and was encouraged to make his Muggles debut by the organization’s Dawn Mahaney. White likes helping a community that he loves.
“It’s great to see the community out here,” White said. “I love being here. Everyone supports one another. They support you.”
White also likes to leave his mark on the future by working with kids. He has done some coaching and also substitute teaching.
“A while back, I used to substitute for the kids at Eugene Field,” White said. “I love kids and making them smile.”
It was clear to the kids that White could still play. He said he has stayed fit during the last few years by working out everyday in college where he played football.
A memory that stayed in people’s minds during the game when White elevated for a dunk. He hadn’t done that on the brand new Gary Filbert Court, but it looked like not much had changed at that moment.
“Yes, I can still dunk,” White said with a grin. “Everyone asks me that.”
Williams said his favorite skill or trick he does with the Wizards is the 360 dunk, which he also did during the game. Hevalow said he likes doing the dunks and doing all the things that would amaze him as a kid.
“I love doing all of the tricks,” Hevalow said. “I love spinning the ball on the finger, going fast with it behind the back and under the legs, and kicking it. It’s stuff I never did as a kid.”
White will cherish everything from the evening and liked how it ended.
“It was the last thing when we all went out and danced,” White said. “Everyone came out with all the kids and put a good show out there.”
