In Surrey, British Columbia, the echo of the ball and the swish of the net reverberates not only in basketball Not only in the courtroom, but in the high school classroom as well.
“If you believe in yourself, you don’t know where it will take you.” Joel Haywood Extra large handleHandel Basketball Academy CEO and former professional basketball player told Global News.
King Handles and Johnny Blaze are their nicknames; Notic Streetball In Vancouver.
It is composed mainly of black immigrants.
The team's journey is the subject of a documentary called Handle with Care: The Legend of the Notic Streetball Crewwhich was recently introduced into the classroom at Tamanawis Middle School, hopes to expand access to the technology for educators in the Surrey School District.
“It's a powerful film. It's not just about basketball, it's about brotherhood. It's about relationships. It's about communities coming together and trying to find themselves in that new world,” Jonathan Nkada Mubanda Johnny Blaze ” told Global News.
Joel Haywood “King Handles” and Jonathan Nkada Mubanda “Johnny Blaze” are hoping a new film about their lives and achievements will resonate with young people and aspiring athletes.
Global News
Their rise to fame began on the court, where as young immigrants they found solace and purpose in the game as they faced the challenges of assimilation and discrimination.
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Their flamboyant style of play and relentless spirit captivated audiences and brought them global fame as teenagers. They gained recognition when they showcased their skills at the Vancouver Street Basketball Championships. Hoop it up They electrified audiences with their performances in 2000 and 2001. Their performances have since been featured in international magazines and have inspired groups around the world.
“Going to Japan, China and Asia, it’s completely different than it is in Vancouver… In Vancouver, nobody would act like that, they’d look at you weirdly, like it’s not acceptable here,” Haywood said in an interview for the documentary.
“My coach told me 'don't play this jungle ball.' So, I hear that and it's like you don't want me to play like a black man?”
Mariam Hazhir, a high school teacher, said that in her classroom, the film has become a valuable teaching tool, sparking discussions about topics such as racism and the immigrant experience.
She emphasized how basketball can be a backdrop for deeper conversations.
“Basketball ends up being the medium through which we talk about racism, among many other issues. Basketball is about addiction. Basketball is about creativity. Basketball is about self-expression, and basketball is about the immigrant experience,” said Haril, who is also the school's Indigenous department head.
Haril said many students consider Heywood and Mubanda to be their mentors, helping at-risk youth who face similar challenges as they did as teenagers.
“Relationship equals prevention, right? If I have a relationship with these kids, they will come to me, they will trust me and tell me what's going on,” Mubanda said.
Joel Haywood “King Handles” and Jonathan Nkada Mubanda “Johnny Blaze” are hoping a new film about their lives and achievements will resonate with young people and aspiring athletes.
Global News
Mubanda added that he has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of mentorship and uses his experience to shape the way he works with students.
“I had a coach when I was a kid, a girls basketball coach, who was a great help to me and my brother. She hired me for this job,” he said.
One of his former students, Harpo Mander, who graduated from the school in 2014, said school liaisons like Mubanda, known to many students as “Johnny,” had a profound impact on her life and the lives of other students she knew.
“He really breaks down the strict, rigid boundaries between adult authority figures and student figures, so I think the students feel like Johnny really understands them and they don’t want to disappoint him because Johnny gives them a lot of room in terms of their exploration of identity, and I think also because Johnny really resonates with them,” Mander told Global News.
Another alumnus, who graduated from the school in 2011, said his presence helped students avoid dangerous roads.
“Because we’ve been exposed to so many high-risk situations, with our classmates even involved in things like drug trafficking for organisations… it was great to be able to see someone that we can really look up to and who also promotes a positive lifestyle,” said Gagan Gill, a former student of Tamanawis Secondary School.
Mubanda said he hopes their stories will continue to resonate, reminding people of the enduring power of community and connection.
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