Harlem Wizards Basketball to Play Local Community Leaders at Baldwin High

The Harlem Wizards, a touring professional entertainment basketball team made up of former collegiate and professional players often compared to the Harlem Globetrotters, will play a charity basketball game on Tuesday, May 24, at for the benefit of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and Southern West Virginia.

The Wizards will be square off at 7 p.m. that night against the South Hills Dream Makers, a team of community leaders and former and current athletes, teachers, coaches and staff affiliated with the , and Brentwood High School. Doors open at 6 p.m.

One member of the Dream Makers team is , a goalkeeper for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program and a recent gold-medal winner at the world under-18 championships. Gibson, a native who attended St. Gabriel's from kindergarten through eighth grade and Baldwin High for ninth and 10th grades, is considered by NHL Central Scouting to be the highest-ranking North American goalkeeper for the upcoming 2011 NHL Draft.

Baldwin-Whitehall Patch Editor , a 2001 Baldwin High graduate, has accepted an invitation to play as well.

The Dream Makers team is the brainchild of a group of fourth-grade girls from the B-W area, and their parents. The team is formed for the sole purpose of sponsoring a one-day fundraising event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The foundation grants wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. All proceeds from the May 24 Harlem Wizards game will go to the foundation.

The awe-inspiring two-hour basketball show for the entire family will feature trick-hoops and alley-oops, plus an audience participation half-time show, a foul-shooting contest and a free autograph session after the game.

Seating is limited, so fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Advanced tickets cost $10 per adult and $8 per student/child or senior citizen. Ticket prices at the door will be $12 and $10, respectively. Contact southhillsdreammakers@comcast.net or 412-759-5546 for tickets.