Before he could walk, Siran Winston had a basketball in his hands.
And the Russellville native's relationship with the sport he loves has now grown to a worldwide level, as Winston begins his second full year as 'Turbo,' a member of the Harlem Globetrotters.
Founded in 1926, the Globetrotters combine incredible basketball skill and trickery with acts of goodwill and a special relationship with fans that has spanned more than nine decades.
Winston will be part of the Harlem Globetrotters team that performs this Sunday, January 27th at 3 p.m., at the Von Braun Center Arena in Huntsville. This will be the 28-year-old's closest performance to home since he began touring with the Globetrotters last year.
There are actually three Globertrotter teams, Red, White and Blue, that tour both across the United States and internationally. The Huntsville exhibition will be special for Winston, though, as it will be his first appearance in front of his parents, Harlan “Peaches” and Linda Winston and his family.
“The whole family was planning to be there for the first time,” Winston said Thursday. “I'm excited about that. We have our Fan Powered Tour for 2019 and we get a lot of energy from our fans and when we hear a lot of cheering, yelling, screaming we get more excited and the better the show will be.”
Winston, a 2008 Russellville High School graduate, was a standout basketball player for the Golden Tigers before he continued his playing career at Marion Military Institute (Associates Degree 2010) and Tuskegee University (Business Administration Degree 2013).
After college, Winston played semi-professional basketball in leagues in Mexico, Canada, Florida and Georgia. But he believes landing a role in the movie Uncle Drew is what really gave him exposure and opened the door for a tryout with the Globetrotters.
“I met a guy on the movie set who played with them. In the movie, I played point guard for the Home Court Advantage Team, the opposing team that played against Uncle Drew,” Winston said. “My first day on the set I had the opportunity to shoot some ball with Kyrie Irving. I got to play alongside him in a couple pick up games.
“It was a blessing to get that opportunity and see how seriously he took the game, not to mention Lisa Leslie, Chris Webber, Nate Robinson and others,” he added.
Winston's road to becoming a Globetrotter started with a tryout before one of the Globetrotters' coaches, Barry Hardy.
“He wanted to see what our skill set was. We did some one-on-one, two-on-two and some full-court drills. I was preparing for the opportunity of my life so when I got that opportunity, I wanted to make the best of it,” Winston said. “After that when I made it to training camp, there were players there from many different backgrounds and playing levels, but what got us there was being basketball players and working hard on our craft.”
As 'Turbo,' Winston is known for his ball handling and shooting skills. But for those who know him well, it's Winston's faith, humble character and passion for the game that allow him to excel as part of the worldwide icon Harlem Globetrotters.
“It's about more than just playing the game. Not only do you have to be able to play the game well, you also have to give fans a great show and put smiles on faces and leave people with great memories,” Winston said.
Winston's dribbling skills and ability to handle multiple basketballs at once have become legendary for kids in Russellville City Schools, according to RCS Superintendent Heath Grimes.
“He has great talent and he makes our kids feel proud and see they can accomplish their goals,” Grimes said. “It's an amazing thing to have someone in our own community reach that level of success.”
Although the team's schedule includes daily practices and conditioning, Winston said he's learned more about what it means to be part of the Harlem Globetrotters from talking with his coaches, including the legendary 'Sweet” Lou Dunbar and Jimmy Blacklock.
“When I get to sit down with our coaches and talk with them about their experiences, what they went through and hear their stories, it's an amazing privilege to be under their wings,” Winston said. “Coach Lou has been with this organization almost 40 years. He's got so many stories about the transition of the game from when he played to now. Everyone is so down to earth.”
After each exhibition, Winston said what he appreciates most is the opportunity to interact with children, something he loves.
“As a kid, I always had the older generation looking after me and showing me what was right to do not only on the court but off. Any time I get to inspire a kid, whether by coming to schools talking to students or showing a kid something he never thought he could do, that's an amazing opportunity,” Winston said. “When you play for the Harlem Globetrotters, you see smiles on kids' faces. One little moment like that can brighten your day even when you're having a bad day yourself.
“I always wanted to be a professional athlete and wanted basketball to take me places I never dreamed I could go. I'm blessed the Harlem Globetrotters have given me that opportunity and fulfilled my dreams,” he added.
Winston invites fans to follow him on Instagram at Lil_Lou_4 or like his Facebook page, which can be found by searching “Lucius Siran Winston.”
Globetrotter performances not only feature the almost-automatic victory over the Washington Generals (the last Globetrotter loss was in 1971), but an exhibition from the Flying Globies, the Harlem Globetrotters' acrobatic dunk team. Tickets for Sunday's Huntsville performance and all Globetrotter shows are available at www.harlemglobetrotters.com.
