Harlem Wizards Wow Kids at Mineola High School

Elementary students and their parents packed the stands at Saturday afternoon for a performance from a couple of members of the Harlem Wizards. Billed as "Trick Hoopz & Alley Oops," the Wizards are a basketball show team who travel to schools and other organizations to put on shows for audiences. The event was sponsored by the Mineola district council of PTAs as part of the children's cultural arts series.

Before the show began, one of the young students had a back-and-forth with "Jumpman" Castro. "Did you just say that you could do the tricks better than me?" Castro asked young Eddie P.

"Yes," Eddie said, smiling, to the delight of the crowd.

Jumpman then proceeded to go through several routines with Eddie, having him imitate ball-handling skills such as "shaking the ball," passing it around the waist, and passing through the legs. Arnell "Smidoo" Smith added to the challenge by challenging the elementary student to flip the ball over his head and have it roll down his back before catching it.

The duo also asked Eddie to shoot the basketball, stepping closer and closer to the net only to then turn around, point to the opposite basket and say "shoot." Young Eddie surprised them by springing down the court toward the other basket and attempting a layup to audience applause.

For the next "game," Jumpman and Smidoo gathered a number of children in a circle at half-court challenging them to catch the ball and pass it back.  However, Jumpman would play "tricks" on the kids and attempt to fake them out by dropping the ball or changing directions. "Catch the ball, do not let it fall," were Smidoo's instructions.  If they dropped the ball, they would have to return to their seats while the audience yelled "you've been tricked!" Two youngsters, Kirsten & Joseph, made it to the finals, with both taking home some Wizards headgear. All the participants received a Wizards poster.

The players next held the trick game against parents, then got both age groups involved in a half-court game of scrimmage. "We're getting beat by kids and parents and grandpas," Jumpman said, playing to the home crowd, "and guys with gray hair."

To close out the event, the Wizards held a scrimmage against the school administrators, including Superintendent Michael Nagler, fine arts supervisor Pete Freeman, health and physical education supervisor Ralph Amitrano, and Hampton Street elementary school gym teacher Bill "Mr. D." DiGennaro.