On January 9, 2025, the Morgan Class of 2025 Project Graduation hosted the Harlem Wizards, a basketball team specializing in crowd entertainment. The parents of the class of 2025 worked tirelessly to gather a team of highly skilled Clinton residents. Planning for this event began back in September, and was no easy feat and took a lot of effort from parents and students to get enough people for a team. The Wizards faced off against a team of Clinton Public School teachers, police officers, and other volunteers. 

At 6 pm, the doors opened, and spectators began pouring into Morgan for the game. Lining up at the tables set up outside the gym, getting their tickets scanned, and paper wristbands handed over, then running into the gym to find their seats. Hundreds of Clinton and surrounding towns residents lined the bleachers, many sporting recently purchased Harlem Wizards merchandise; jerseys, sweatbands, and mini basketballs. The home team donned their Clinton Basketball shirts as they warmed up on the court, while the Wizards prepared their props and greeted those who had purchased courtside plus tickets.

Courtside plus tickets were $50 and with the purchase of a courtside plus student ticket audience members got courtside seating, Harlem Wizards souvenirs, a picture with the players, and a meet and greet with the Wizards before the game. 

Many other families purchased reserved tickets, where you receive reserved seating in the stands and a $5 certificate to use at the Harlem Wizards souvenir store the night of the game.

The Wizards put on quite the show, dribbling up and down the court, passing the ball high over the Clinton player’s heads, and doing countless trick shots that left the crowd in awe. The Clinton players kept up with the game’s pace, though. Morgan basketball alumni carried the ball down the court and shot 3-pointers and layups. 

When halftime hit, the crowd poured out towards the concession stand, purchasing Gatorade, sodas, candy, hot dogs, and pizza. Though food is not allowed in the gym, those who had brought snacks and drinks were able to enjoy their purchases in the cafeteria and lower hub before heading back inside. 

The Wizards sat on the court as excited spectators lined up in front of them with recently purchased basketballs and jerseys, hoping to get an autograph. As the minutes on the clock counted down towards the end of halftime, people rushed back to their seats and waited for the teams to re-enter the court. 

Harlem Wizards team member, Arthur Lewis Jr., more commonly known as King Arthur, ran around the court, dribbling, jumping, and shooting the ball. King Arthur started playing for the Wizards in September 2009, and has been playing for 15 seasons. He was inspired by his big brother, who played for the Globetrotters and the Harlem Wizards. 

What keeps King Arthur coming back season after season is the genuine happiness he gets to experience: “It’s something you can’t pay for at the store, it’s genuine, pure … I call it Happyville, you can’t put a price tag on it.” 

Getting to do different tricks on the court, dunking, dancing, and meeting so many different people are some of King Arthur’s favorite things about being on the Harlem Wizards.  “The people you meet and the stories, what they’re going through, how you changed their lives by making them have a good time.” 

Seniors Amber Robayo and Joseph O’Brien attended the game and helped the class of 2025 parents in the set-up and breakdown of the event. Robayo also helped senior Isabella Johnson with organizing the Joel School chorus, which was there to sing the national anthem at the start of the game. 

“All the kids were very excited, and it was for a good cause.”  said O’Brien. Robayo agreed with him, “They’re(the Wizards) really good at hyping kids up, and their playlist was so good.” Johnson enjoyed her time at the game, she thought it was very entertaining, and the players were funny.

Seniors Henry Tessman and Joshua Nobitz were coaches for the Clinton team. Nobitz also announced the lineup for the teams at the start of the game. “All the players were passionate and excited to play.” says Tessman, “which led to it being an extremely fun time.”

This event is Project Graduation’s largest fundraiser, with over 600 people attending, the class raised money on the 50/50 raffle as well as the concession stand. When the game was over, everyone left buzzing from the evening’s excitement with smiles on their faces.

“Love yourself enough to discipline yourself” – King Arthur