By BLAIR CONDIE
Published: 21:24 GMT, 6 March 2025 | Updated: 21:29 GMT, 6 March 2025
Not everyone can name a team that plays in the [NBA](/sport/nba/index.html)... but everyone knows who the Harlem Globetrotters are.
As the iconic basketball travelling circus prepare to mark their 100-year anniversary, the team comes to the UK in April to dazzle crowds and create memories, not just for the fans in attendance, but for those on court as well.
For experienced players Alex ‘Moose’ Weekes and Cherelle ‘Torch’ George, leaving a legacy, passing the torch and sharing moments with fans is all in a day’s work.
‘I joined the team for the 85th anniversary and I was told: “When you leave it, leave it in better hands than when you received it”,’ says Moose. ‘So that’s been my mission as a Globetrotter, passing down all those great things that I’ve learned and the history.
‘We’re trying to make sure this goes on for another 100 years and more.
‘I was speaking to my daughter before I came to London and she said: “Well, daddy, maybe I can be a Harlem Globetrotter”. I said: “You most definitely can.” The first person that came to mind was Torch. We see her every night doing things some players have never done. That’s the kind of inspiration, legacy, that we want to leave behind.’
Alex 'Moose' Weekes has been part of the Globetrotters furniture for 15 years
Everywhere they go, the Globetrotters' aim is to entertain and enthrall old and new fans alike
Cherelle 'Torch' George is determined to empower women using her platform on the big stage
For Torch, however, the mission is bigger than just leaving a legacy of her own.
She says: ‘We want to continue to keep this legacy, men and women. To be a part of this is special. It’ll be something that I remember for the rest of my life, to be a player for the Harlem Globetrotters.
‘There was a period of 20 years or so when there were no women on the team. That’s always been my greatest fear. We need to come out, as women, and represent.
‘The Globetrotters know that there’s women that can come and do things that men can’t.
‘For me, it’s about passing the torch. When we get new women in the organisation, I’m the first one that comes up and says: “this is how you prepare, this is how you become a pro. Find your way”. That’s me passing the torch, on the court and off the court.’
Standing at 5ft 3ins, few fans would expect to see Torch on a basketball court, let alone thrive there. Not only was she inducted into the Iowa Western Community College Hall of Fame in 2019, she also holds a Guinness World Record for most basketball ‘under the leg tumbles’ in one minute (32).
George is the proud holder of the Guinness World Record for 'under the leg tumbles'
Now aged 40, Torch has spent 90 per cent of her life playing basketball, having woken up one morning to discover a Fisher’s Price hoop and a basketball which changed her life.
Not only has she achieved her goal in travelling the world and doing what she loves, the Pennsylvania native has met siblings through her success as a Globetrotter, as well as bringing others into her family.
She says: ‘My father has 15 kids. Sometimes fans turn into family. But being on the road has allowed me to meet all 14 of my siblings. That’s what it’s about; memories, not just for the fans but for us as players too.
‘I’m always trying to connect with young girls who enjoy basketball. They’ll ask if they can follow me on Instagram, if we can connect and keep up with their journey. So, for me, it’s not just signing autographs, taking selfies.
‘If you’ve got a dream, I’ll follow you! But your content gotta be good, I’m not just gonna follow you if you’re posting, I wanna connect with you.
‘Those are the moments I’m going to remember. When a little boy or girl want to connect with me, they call me their hero, I was their favourite... those are the things that are going to stay with me after I retire.’
The Harlem Globetrotters will perform on a number of dates across the UK in April
For Moose, however, the path into basketball seemed more straightforward from the off.
Standing at 6ft 8ins, with a father who played college-level basketball before injury curtailed his NBA chances and a 6ft tall mother who was no slouch on the court herself, the fans’ favourite admits that it can be tough spending so much time away from his family. But lighting up the faces of small fans makes the pain of missing out on his daughter’s life worthwhile.
The 40-year-old says: ‘I’ve spent the last three years more on the road than at home. It’s tough. But I see those smiling faces, the hope, excitement, anticipation in those faces and it reminds me of my baby, my daughter.
‘Sometimes you see someone maybe cut the line, trying to cut this little girl who’s just excited, so we teach a lesson in chivalry. We just have a joke and say: “Ladies first. If you learn that now, it’ll save you a lot of headaches later.” It’s good to teach them while you have their attention.
‘For me, there is nothing like the Globetrotters when it comes to professional sports. There’s nothing that allows you to be that close to the players that you idolise. We immerse ourselves into the audience, with the fans.
‘We pride ourselves in being able to connect with our fans like no one else on the planet. I think that’s the special thing we have with our fans, that bond. Our fans can reach out and touch us, we just share smiles and create moments that are special to the both of us.
The No 1 aim of the Globetrotters is to engage with fans and 'put smiles on faces'
‘We’re able to connect with people from all walks of life. When we don’t even speak the same language, basketball puts smiles on people’s faces. When we’re off the court, sometimes you can really connect through the joys of food.
'You can really embrace culture in different ways and basketball can bridge those gaps for a lot of people. Breaking culture barriers, gender barriers, so many things.’
Having been nicknamed the Human Broom in his youth because he was always tripping over his feet, the Moose moniker seemed a more natural fit as the boy became a man.
Much like a moose, standing tall, having a stage presence — and with an afro that resembles antlers as he flies through the air — the animal may be known for having a short fuse, but that’s far from the case when it comes to the man himself. He says: ‘I’m not a short fuse guy, but I am an angry dunker. So you might see me look at the rim with murderous intent but I’m coming down with a smile and a celebration.’
Moose may look menacing on the court, but that couldn’t be further from the truth off it. The Georgia state-born star knows how important it is to show the gentler side when it comes to fans and recognises the trust fans put in the Globetrotters.
He says: ‘All Globetrotters are going to have a level of skill and athleticism. But you need a strong character foundation. We interact with families, with children. To be trusted in those circles is very important, sacred.
Of course, the main draw of the Globetrotters is the spectacular tricks and dunks they perform
‘As a father, I want to make sure that I am the role model I’d want my daughter to look up to. I want those parents and families to feel safe, knowing that these guys and girls are great athletes, entertainers and have a great character.
‘We don’t always try to but we sometimes take over the room just with our energy and positivity, the way we interact.
‘Globetrotters are also patient. A lot of times, you never want to leave and miss signing an autograph for someone. We pride ourselves in staying to make each one of those interactions meaningful and memorable.’
For Torch, her team-mates are more than just team-mates. She adds: ‘Yeah, you’ve got to be a great person. You need to be memorable and need empathy. You’re going to run into so many people, with so many stories. We’re going to create so many memories so you need to be relatable.
‘There’s not another game where you can find so many people who can relate to different types of representation. There’s men, women, players with dwarfism. You won’t find that anywhere else. My team-mates are great guys, they’re great husbands, great fathers too.’