Students at Stansbury Elementary had a couple of special treats delivered to them on Feb. 8, and they got to see a world-renowned group of athletes honor one of their own.

Three members of the Harlem Globetrotters came to Stansbury to present fifth-grader Tallahassee Iongi with “The Great Assist” award. She was nominated by the school leaders for her leadership and service to fellow students.

Globetrotter players Justin “X-Over” Tompkins, Jason “Buckets” Barrera and Max “Hops” Pearce demonstrated their ball-handling skills and expertise at a school assembly, inviting students and faculty members to try out their own skills as dribbling, passing and spinning the basketballs on their fingers (carefully coached by the Trotters). They then presented Tallahassee with a plaque and tickets for her family to the March 13 Globetrotters game at the Delta Center.

This was one of several tops the team is making around the country in conjunction with sponsor Jersey Mike’s Subs to prevent the award to deserving students. The team has two more visits planned later this spring in Orlando and Atlanta.

“The Great Assist Award honors somebody who embodies the qualities of an Ambassador of Goodwill,” Hops said. “That’s what the Globetrotters are known for—because The Great Assist is truly the most selfless play you can make in a game of basketball.”

He said the team had learned about Tallahassee and her contributions to fellow students and her teachers, “and it’s an honor to be here with her today. You can see how well-liked she is by the reaction of her friends and all the students around her when we called her name.”

Buckets said the team, which is now in its 98th year of existence, has been a global force for goodwill. He has visited over 42 states and 13 countries since joining the team six years ago.

“We do feel like global ambassadors,” he said. “In basketball, there are so many things that can happen on a court that don’t show up on a stats sheet, just like in a community. Sometimes those behind-the-scenes things we do as individuals can make all the difference to others. From what we’ve heard about Tallahassee, she’s that kind of person. Every school needs a role model like her.”

At 4-foot-6, X-Over is the second shortest player to ever be part of the Globetrotters. His brother Hot Shot Swanson is the shortest at 4-foot-5. He said he was bullied as a youth, and it’s gratifying to see how students at Stansbury embrace and support each other. “I wish it was happening more often,” he said.

Kindergarten teacher Dana Dillon, who is in her third full-year at the school, called the assembly with the Globetrotters “super huge. Our population is extremely diverse and we have kids that come from all different backgrounds. It’s cool to have these kids recognized and honored like this. It might be one of the first times in their lives that they get to see something like this and experience something so cool.”

The players stayed at the school for a couple of hours, mingling with them in the cafeteria during lunch when they were served meals provided by Jersey Mike’s. λ