The First Caucasian Harlem Globetrotter in More Than 60 Years
Seth Franco had one thing going for him, however, he was an expert at handling a basketball-a skill players for the Harlem Globetrotters are known for. Before he could become the first Caucasian player for the Harlem Globetrotters in 60 years, however, Franco had several obstacles to overcome.
Injured in his junior year at college, Seth Franco believed his dreams of playing in the NBA would never come true. One might also think he might never make it to the world famous Harlem Globetrotters either. Franco wasn’t one to dwell on the negatives in life, however, and he joined the Richmond Outreach Center in Richmond, Virginia. Franco developed a basketball program for inner city kids, operating out of a warehouse.
Seth Franco’s small program grew in popularity. A basketball entertainment group known as the Court Jesters discovered Franco. They used him in some of their shows and put his picture on their website, www.cjesters.com. His picture and profile are still on the site.
Seth Franco might not at that time looked like potential NBA star, or someone who would become the first Caucasian member of the Harlem Globetrotters in 60 years. He was playing with a sore hip. He was discouraged.
For three months Seth Franco spent time at the IHOP (International House of Prayer) in Kansas City, praying, studying, and reading, waiting for direction in his life.
About that time Universal Studios began to cast a projected movie, Rucker Park. It was to be about a legendary park in New York City where professional basketball players often play. Wilt Chamberlain played there. The movie, directed by Malcom Lee, was about a Caucasian basketball player who went into Rucker Park, overcame all the odds, and came out on top.
The executives from Universal Studios went throughout the city, looking for a Caucasian basketball player who had exceptional skills. They found Seth Franco and the Court Jesters. They attempted to call Seth, but he had cut himself from all ties when he went to Kansas City and had his phone disconnected. He only called home one time, using a friend’s cell phone.
His parents had saved the number of that friend, however. They called his friend, and Seth found out about Universal Studio. He hurried back home.
When he went to the tryout, he hadn’t practiced in three months. He might not have seemed a likely candidate for the NBA or as the first Caucasian player for the Harlem Globetrotters in a long time. He had been spending most of his days in prayer and had gotten most of his food at food drives.
None of the acting pros had made it past the first round in the movie tryout. At the end of the night he was dribbling two basketballs at center court, while the cameras circled him. Meanwhile, 100 guys watched his antics. NBA player Kenny Smith, who was a scout for the movie, was impressed.
“I was totally out of shape,” Seth Franco said on the website, www.thegoal.com. “I hadn’t even picked up a basketball for three months. There’s no way I should have been sharp.”
Seth called the experience a dream come true, and he won the lead role in the movie. The story doesn’t end there.
Another basketball entertainment group, the Harlem Wizards, had been at the casting call. Members of the group saw Seth Franco’s skill. Meanwhile, Seth had moved back to New York.
Seth played for the Wizards for two months, and it looked as though he might be a success at his love-basketball. He was about to sign a contract with the group. When he was about to sign a contract, a hurricane hit, knocking out all communication.
That wasn’t the end of the story, however. Seth Franco’s father had been in contact with a scout for the Harlem Globetrotters. He mentioned Kenny Smith being impressed with his son at the movie tryout. The scout called Kenny, his good friend, and Seth was invited to a tryout for the Globetrotters.
After 10 days into the tryout, Seth was discouraged, and his leg was in pain. He went to the coach to quit, but when he couldn’t find him, he stuck it out and became the first Caucasian member of the Harlem Globetrotters in 60 years-the first since 1942-in October 2003.
While Seth didn’t stay with the Globetrotters that long, he did play with the team through their United States tour that year. He left before the European tour, because his leg bothered him too much.
Seth Franco has continued to use his skills-this time to help and encourage young people. He has traveled nationally and internationally, showing his ball handling skills and telling about his life as a basketball player, sharing his Christian faith, and telling about his grandfather, who was healed of cancer many years ago. He had always known he wanted to be a basketball player and to share his faith, as he was his high school’s chaplain.
He has traveled to share his message with children, teenagers, and adults in high schools, churches, juvenile detention centers, summer camps, the Basketball Hall of Fame, and as halftime entertainment at various sporting events. He has worked with such organizations as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Upward Basketball, Youth for Christ, Youth With a Mission, and others.
Seth Franco is one basketball player who shows that a person can overcome obstacles to reach a goal in life.
