By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE Basketball Association of Northern Mariana Islands is bringing back the Harlem Ambassadors to the NMI this year to provide entertaining basketball shows and exhibition games.
BANMI’s Elias Rangamar said that the Harlem Ambassadors, who wowed the NMI in 2000, will be on Saipan in December.
“We’re in the process of making arrangements for the team. They may stay here for two to three days and arrive in mid-December,” Rangamar said.
“We’re expecting great shows from this group, which is known not only in providing entertaining basketball drills and games, but also for setting a good example for the youth,” Rangamar.
The Harlem Ambassadors are composed of players who at one time played in the NCAA and other leagues in the US.
“The mission of the Harlem Ambassadors is to deliver a quality basketball show to our audiences throughout the United States and internationally. The show is designed to be fun for customers of all ages, with youngsters being awed for the first time and older folks enjoying the tried-and-true gags like a rerun of a favorite comedy movie. The Ambassadors’ operation is professional in all aspects. In addition to having a wholesome entertainment product, we are also good citizens, promoting the values of staying in school, staying off drugs and fostering racial harmony,” according to the group’s website.
The Ambassadors was formed in April 1998 with its first training camp held in September that year. It’s first-ever game was played in Mountain Home, Idaho on October 10, 1998.
Since then, the Ambassadors have been touring all states in the US and making stops in Europe and Asia.
This year, they will go to Kosrae and Guam first before showing their wares in the NMI in December.
The Harlem Ambassadors’ dazzling ball-handling, hilarious comedy routines and high-flying slam dunks are part of the show.
The Ambassadors listed 10 players in its lineup. They are Lade Magic Prophete, Jazz Copeland, T’Neisha Turner, Bobby Patman, Tyler George, Johnnie Carter, LaRon Bradley, Angel Branch, Isaac Freeman and Tiara Simpkins.
Prophete is a future Hall-of-Fame candidate and was an MVP of the New Jersey State Girls Basketball Tournament. She was invited to the camp of the New York Liberty of WNBA.
Copeland is known as “Juggling Jazz” for his ability to juggle three balls in a variety of crowd-pleasing ways. He played for the Athletes in Action in Europe.
Turner was a two-time All-Mid Atlantic Region honoree from Wesley College and was among the nation’s top 10 scorers in women’s basketball, while George played for Division I school Tennessee-Martin.
Carter was one the best rebounders in the SUNYAC Conference and was among the top 10 scorers in that division, while Bradley was Northern Oklahoma State’s team MVP in 2006 and earned All-Sooner Athletic Conference honors in 2005 and 2006.
Branch is know for his monster dunks and helping the Alabama State Angles clinch the regular season and the SWAC Tournament Championships, while Freemen is the all-time leading scorer at Taylor University in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
After showing heart-stopping moves, the ambassadors conduct a post-game autograph session where every child and fan has the opportunity to meet every player,” according to the Harlem Ambassadors website.
The group also promotes “Stay in School, Stay Off Drugs” campaign and, if time permits are willing to go to various schools and community centers to discuss these issues.
“We hope to get the community’s support when we bring the Ambassadors back in December,” Rangamar said.