Harlem Globetrotters Select Oscar-Winning Actor, Heisman Trophy Winner And Slam Dunk Champion In 2019 Player Draft

ATLANTA, June 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The world famous Harlem Globetrotters today held their 13th annual player draft, selecting a wide array of talented prospects that includes three standout collegiate players as well as a two-time Oscar-winning actor and a first-round pick in both the NFL and Major League Baseball drafts.

In all, the Globetrotters selected five players, led by 2019 College Slam Dunk Champion DaQuan Jeffries of the University of Tulsa; 6'4" WNBA forward Kristine Anigwe of the Connecticut Sun; 7'6" University of Central Florida center Tacko Fall; two-time Academy Award winning actor and former Division I basketball player Mahershala Ali; and Kyler Murray, a first-round draft pick in the MLB draft and the top overall pick in the NFL draft as well.

"The Globetrotters have always tried to draft athletes who are superstars on and off of the court," said Sweet Lou Dunbar, who is the Globetrotters' longtime director of player personnel and head coach. "It is important for players to excite fans with their outstanding athletic ability, but our players need to be more than that, too. This year's group of draftees really has what it takes to be Globetrotters."

Following is a full recap of the Globetrotters' draftees:

• Mahershala Ali, is a Golden Globe winner and two-time Academy Award-winner and was also selected as one of Time Magazine's Most Influential People of 2019. Standing at 6'3", Ali played four years of Division I college basketball as a guard at St. Mary's (Calif.), where he averaged 7.0 points per game during his senior season.
• Kristine Anigwe, 6'4", was a star forward for the University of California-Berkeley before being picked 9^th overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun. The England-born Nigerian-American rookie, who can dunk, was the recipient of the 2019 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year award and 2016 USBWA National Freshman of the Year award. The Phoenix native was the lone female player to participate in the 2015 McDonald's All-American Game dunk contest.
• Tacko Fall, a 7'6" center for the University of Central Florida, led the team to its first NCAA tournament victory in program history in 2019. The Senegal native's stature made him a social media sensation during the tournament, and he was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and was third-team All-AAC in 2019. Fall moved to the United States from Dakar at age 16. Initially, he played soccer and had no interest in basketball.
• DaQuan Jeffries, the 2019 National Slam Dunk Champion during Final Four Weekend, was a third-team American Athletic Conference pick as a senior in 2018-19. He finished his collegiate career at the University of Tulsa ranked 14th on the program's all-time blocks list with 74. In his senior year, he led the team in points, blocks and steals. The 6'5" forward was a four-year letterwinner at Santa Fe High School in Edmond, Okla., where he earned 2015 Oklahoma Class 6A All-State honors.
• Kyler Murray, 5'10", became the first athlete ever to be selected in the first round of both the MLB Draft (by the Oakland A's in 2018) and the NFL Draft (by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, when he was taken first overall). He was awarded the Heisman Trophy in 2018 after quarterbacking Oklahoma to the Big 12 Championship. Murray led Allen High School in Allen, Texas to three straight state championships and 43 wins in a row.

Past draftees by the team have included future Globetrotters, as well as high-profile celebrities and sports figures who are excellent examples of what the Harlem Globetrotters are all about – fun, entertaining, and family-friendly basketball.

Eight current Globetrotter players have arrived on the roster as draft picks: "Ant" Atkinson (2007), "Firefly" Fisher and "Bull" Bullard (2008), "Thunder" Law (2013), "Beast" Douglas (2016), "Money" Merriweather (2017), "Sweet Lou II" Dunbar (2018) and "Champ" Thomson (2018). Celebrity picks have ranged from all walks of life, from international and domestic superstars (Tim Howard in 2009, Lionel Messi in 2011, and Neymar Jr. in 2016), Olympic champions (Usain Bolt in 2012, and Missy Franklin in 2016), baseball icons (Mariano Rivera in 2013, and Aaron Judge in 2017), and Hollywood icons (Kevin Hart in 2016).

The Harlem Globetrotters® are legendary worldwide, synonymous with one-of-a-kind family entertainment and great basketball skills for the past 93 years. Throughout their history, the Original Harlem Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 124 countries and territories on six continents, often breaking down cultural and societal barriers while providing fans with their first-ever basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of millions of fans – among them popes, kings, queens, and presidents – over nine thrilling decades. The American Red Cross is the official charity of the Harlem Globetrotters. Sponsored by Entenmann's ® Donuts, Ticket Galaxy, Tum-e Yummies and Baden Sports, Harlem Globetrotters International, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Herschend Enterprises, the largest family-owned themed entertainment company in the U.S. For the latest news and information about the Harlem Globetrotters, visit the Globetrotters' official Web site: www.harlemglobetrotters.com and follow them on Twitter @Globies.

SOURCE Harlem Globetrotters