Hoop dreams
New York native lives dream by playing with Harlem Globetrotters
Growing up in New York, Cheese Chisolm knew he wanted to play basketball professionally. Seven years in as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, the idea is still sinking in.
“I never imagined I would be part of this iconic team,” he says. “I’m proof that if you work hard, you can achieve your dreams.”
The Harlem Globetrotters is an exhibition basketball team that combines athletics and comedy. The team originated in the 1920s and has since grown to tour the world and have philanthropy missions.
Not only has Chisolm achieved a childhood goal in playing for the Globetrotters.
On Nov. 17, he crossed a line off his bucket list by becoming part of the Guinness World Records book.
He and teammate Ant Atkinson broke the record for the most threepointers made by a pair in one minute by hitting 22 shots.
The pair also share the record for most three-pointers made by an individual with a single ball, with 10 baskets made.
“This was icing on the cake,” he says. “I grew up reading about all of the records and wanted to be part of it. Now I am, and it’s mind-blowing.”
Chisolm uses his status as a member of the Globetrotters to help be a positive role model for children.
Growing up, he was often told that his smaller stature would prevent him from realizing his basketball dreams, but he has always enjoyed proving people wrong.
“I tell kids to stay mentally strong, and know who you are as a person,” he says. “When I was 7 years old, Muhammad Ali walked into my barber shop. He gave an autograph and a kiss on my forehead. That’s something
I will never forget. I want to impact people’s lives like that.”
Chisolm went on to captain his high school basketball team and become a two-year letter winner at Ball State University, where he graduated with a degree in communications.
Reaching goals is something he tells young people to visualize daily.
“Write down all of your goals on a big piece of paper, and tape them to your wall, so you can see them every day,” he says. “You will need to work hard, but you should never lose sight of those goals, because they are right in front of you in big letters.”