ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The world famous, Harlem Globetrotters kicked off their 2024 Training Camp and welcomed nine talented rookies, it was announced today by Keith Dawkins, President of Harlem Globetrotters and Herschend Entertainment Studios. The 2024 rookie class is comprised of incredible dunkers and leading scorers; including 2X dunk contest champion, Tyriek ‘Shake’ Railey and second-generation Globetrotter, Evan ‘Swish’ Gaffney. Other rookies include leading scorers Eryka Sidney and Kaylin West who join fellow female Globetrotters; Cherelle ‘Torch’ George, Fatima ‘TNT’ Lister, Arysia ‘Ace’ Porter. The dynamic record-breaking team are also set to begin production on “My Rookie Season,” a video documentary series from Herschend Entertainment Studios.
“We are committed to scouring the globe to find the best talent and we believe that we have a platform that affords a tremendous opportunity for those skillful enough to pursue a professional basketball career,” said Dawkins. “We also know, as entertainers and goodwill ambassadors, our organization goes beyond basketball. Our new docu-series will take you behind the curtain and help fans understand what sets us apart and what it truly means to be a Harlem Globetrotter.”
Meet the 2024 Rookie Class:
#27: Cameron ‘Silk’ Burrell (Lindenwood University), a 6-7 Chicago native holds back-to-back Illinois Class 3A State Championships.
#46: Gwarren ‘Tree’ Douglas (Clark Atlanta University), a 6-8 Cleveland native who brings his favorite Eastbay dunk and athleticism to the game.
#39: Marcus ‘Bones’ Driscoll (Montgomery College), a 6-6 Chesapeake native and 360 windmill dunker.
#29: Evan ‘Swish’ Gaffney (Tennessee Wesleyan University), a 6-4 Cleveland native and second-generation Globetrotter, son of Paul ‘Showtime’ Gaffney.
#24: Yasmin ‘Yaddy’ Hooker (Miles College), a 6-5 Newark native who will keep fans guessing his next move as a sensational ambidextrous shooter .
#4: Tyriek ‘Shake’ Railey (Virginia Union University), a 6-0 Jacksonville native who is a 2X dunk contest champion.
#6: Eryka ‘Spice’ Sidney (University of Houston), 5-6 Houston native with a career high of 51 points in a single game.
#8: Kaylin ‘Sunshine’ West (Georgetown University), a 5-7 Bethlehem native who coaches middle school youth and holds a career high of 42 points in a single game.
#37: Talek ‘Thrill’ Williams (Central Connecticut State University), a 6-3 Allentown native with an impressive 360 windmill dunk.
"My Rookie Season" begins production in Atlanta, GA and will follow the rookies as they embark on the 2024 World Tour. This 10-part docu-series will offer fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at a day in the life of the rookies, documenting their training, global experiences, challenges on the road, and triumphs. “My Rookie Season” will premiere in spring 2024 and will be on the Globetrotters’ official YouTube channel.
“We’re thrilled to let the rookie class of 2024 take you deeper into what it means to be a Harlem Globetrotter with “My Rookie Season,” said Bronwen O’Keefe, Global Head of Content, Harlem Globetrotters and Herschend Entertainment Studios. “All the joy, the fun, the laughs, the skill, the hard work and, of course, the trick shots! We’ll show it all across 240+ tour stops. They’re rookies today but we hope to make them the stars that you are talking about tomorrow.”
The Harlem Globetrotters are excited to embark on a world tour with dynamic talent and share their journey with the world. Fans can follow the team's training camp updates on the Globetrotters' official website and social media channels.
About the Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are worldwide icons, synonymous with family entertainment and great basketball skills. The Globetrotters represent 90-plus years of breaking down barriers, acts of goodwill and a commitment to fans that goes beyond the game. Globetrotters bring their entertainment to millions of fans around the world with more than 400 live events each year. Each Globetrotters game features some of the best athletes on the planet, unmatched fan interaction, incredible ball handling wizardry, the famous Harlem Globetrotters 4 Points® shot, rim-rattling dunks, and side-splitting comedy.
Full Photo Set of Rookies and 2024 team available upon request.