Harlem Ambassadors: Varied group with same message
The Harlem Ambassadors, who will play the Toad Suck Lions in an exhibition basketball game, on Feb. 16 at the Hendrix Wellness and Athletic Center, offer a positive message to young people, in addition to showcasing their basketball and entertainment talents.
The Ambassadors are a college-educated group of players, from varied backgrounds and life experiences, who promote staying in school and staying off drugs.
Here’s a profile of five of them in the first of a two-part series:
Tiffara Steward, 4-foot-6 guard is from Elmont, New York and is a dean’s list graduate from SUNY-Farmingdale State College with a degree in business management. She received both the Jimmy V Comeback Award and the Women’s Sports Foundation Wilma Rudolph Courage Award in 2009 and is also a recipient of the United States Basketball Writers Association Most Courageous Award (she is blind in her right eye). She has played basketball professionally for a year. She is passionate about people treating individuals with disabilities with the same respect as those without disabilities. Tiffara advises young people: “If there’s anything that you want to do, try it. If you’re unsuccessful, try and try again. Never let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do.”
Jamonn Little, a 6-3 guard/forward from Arlington, Texas, is in his rookie year as a professional. He attended Southwestern University and UT-Arlington and received degrees in computer science and mathematics. He is a two-time first-team, all-conference Player and a conference Player of the Year runner-up. He is passionate about working with children to help them develop the skills they need to be successful. Jamonn’s advice for young people comes from a quotation by Langston Hughes: “An artist must be free to choose what he does, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.”
Gerren Hamilton, a 5-9 guard from College Station, Texas, is also in his rookie year as a professional.He attended Ranger College and Southwestern Assemblies of God University and received a degree in kinesiology. He was MVP at both Ranger College and SAGU and a four-time all-conference point guard. He led the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference in assists in 2006 and 2007, and was recognized as the SAGU Men’s Basketball Champion of Character. His advice to young people is “Don’t get low when things are not going your way and don’t get too high when things are going your way. Life is full of transitions from day to day. Ask God to lead you and guide you daily. You’re never too young to start reading your Bible and praying.”
Harold Williams, a 6-5 forward from Jersey City, N.J., is in his seventh year as a professional. He attended New Jersey City University and the University of Phoenix and received degrees in business and communications. In high school, he was a member of the 1,000 Point Club and was Defensive Player of the Year during his college years of 2000 and 2003. He advises young people that “A delay is not a denial. Dare to dream.”
Te’Quila Martin, a 5-5 guard from Dothan, Ala., is in her rookie year and is one of the team’s two understudy players. She attended Tuskegee University and Tennessee State University and holds a degree in English. She was a dean’s List scholar at both schools was a Department of Athletics Scholar Athlete at Tuskegee and was inducted into that school’s Golden Key Honor Society. An MVP on the Tuskegee women’s basketball team, she won several Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference recognitions including player of the week, all-tournament Team, and all-conference. She was also a candidate for the Heritage Sports Radio Network Player of the Year Her advice to young people is: “Never give up no matter what the issue is; only you can stop you from achieving your goals.”
The game, a fundraiser for the Conway Noon Lions Club to help to provide free eye care to the vision-impaired in Conway and Faulkner County, will begin at 7 p.m. In addition to the game, halftime entertainment will be provided by the Little Dribblers from Greenbrier. The Ambassadors will be playing the Toad Suck Lions, a team coached by Arkansas basketball legends Don Dyer, Cliff Garrison, and Marvin Delph and featuring a lineup of local players, several of whom have played at local colleges and universities.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at First Security and Simmons Bank branches including Conway, Mayflower, Greenbrier, and Vilonia locations and at First Service Bank in Greenbrier, the Log Cabin Democrat, and the Faulkner County Library. Tickets for students and seniors (55 and over) are $7 and adult tickets are $9. Children, 4 and under, will be admitted free.
Tickets will cost $2 more on game night.
