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Harlem Wizards captivate Cape crowd

Harlem Wizards star Glitch, aka Bakari Copeland, gets the Wiz Kids warmed up before the show. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
November 15, 2025

The hilarious Harlem Wizards showed off their ball handling tricks and slam dunks during their annual trip to the Cape Henlopen High School gymnasium Nov. 8.

The Harlem Wizards are a professional basketball team whose players entertain at fundraiser events for schools and nonprofits across the United States. The Wizards raise approximately $30 million dollars annually for charity events. 

The show at Cape High is sponsored by the Rehoboth Sunrise Rotary Club and benefits Cape district students. 

“Since pre-Covid the Rehoboth Sunrise Rotary Club has a great basketball event with the Harlem Wizards,” said David Rowe, club president. “Funds raised at the event assist the Rotary with college scholarships, food insecurity, clothing, special programs like JROTC, Odyssey of the Mind, Robotics, HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) and scholarships for the annual Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.”

The Wizards battled the Cape Crusaders, teachers from the district and local celebrities. The score didn’t really matter. Just the smiles and the gut busting laughs from the youngsters in the audience more than made each person in the crowd a winner. 

 

Harlem Wizard star Sky-Rise aka Tyler Cronk, flies through the air and slams a dunk over legendary teammate A-Train, Beacon Middle School counselor Elizabeth Luff and Gail Dejmal from the Rotary Club.
The Cape Crusaders team consists of teachers and well known locals. Shown are in back (l-r) Charlie Sokaitis, Jeff Munro, Cody Brees, Solomon Cox, Sheri Klemkowski and Casey Vandermark. In the middle are Lisa Thorpe, Jordan Dineen, Elizabeth Luff, Katie Tingle, Linda Sapienza, Shy Dineen, Meghan Heronemus, Isabella Seyrek, Julianna Danise and Kristin Loffreda Mancinelli. Kneeling in front are Julie Hickman, William DeAngelis and Colin Sivils.
Volunteering at the event are (l-r) Pat Campbell-White, Trudie Thompson and Gail Dejmal from the Rotary Club; Pat Rickenbach, Helen Marrama, Vaidel from the Lutheran Church of Our Savior; and Patel and Jasmy Lux-Lxtocyac from the Cape Henlopen HOSA organization.
Wiz Kid Kaycee Stewart is welcomed to the court by the Cape Crusaders.
Harlem Wizard star Glitch speaks with the Wiz Kids before the event
Nora Bekeshka, age 7, is introduced with the Wiz Kids.
Mia Hall, 8, takes a jumper during the Wiz Kids warm up.
Wiz Kid Gerry Interland, 5 takes a shot during warm ups.
Melody Sivels is introduced before the event.
Alex Hearn gets her photo with Glitch, aka Bakari Copeland.
Sara Buckley, 8, gets her photo with her favorite Wizard “Just do It,” aka Deven Dorsett.
Cape senior Daphne Mock sings the national anthem.
Harlem Wizard “Too Tall,” aka Devale Johnson, feints throwing a fan back to his parents.
Sky-Rise jumps over A-Train, aka Arnold Bernard, during the introductions.
Wiz kid Alivia Mosley takes a jumper in the paint.
Jamel Thompson is the voice of the Harlem Wizards.
Wizards star Livewire, aka Devon Curry, hits the floor ready to play.
Livewire, aka Devon Curry, center, stands with event co-chairs Pat Campbell White, left, and Gail Dejmal. Campbell-White and Dejmal are both past presidents of Rehoboth Beach Sunrise Rotary Club.
Wizard star “Glitch,” aka Bakari Copeland, gets down before the game.
Referee Justin Marino, right, gets ready to toss jump ball between Julianna Danese and Sky-Rise.
Crusaders guard Linda Sapienza dries to the hoop on Wizard center Sky-Rise.
Cape Crusader and Coast TV’s Charlie Sokaitis chases A-Train with Thor’s hammer.
Cape Crusaders forward Katie Tingle keeps the ball away from Wizards’ guard A-Train.
A-Train delivers free miniature Wizards basketballs to the crowd.
Cape Crusader Charlie Sokaitis of Coast TV goes in for a lay up during the pre-game warm up.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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