Arts & Entertainment

Charity Celebrity Basketball Game Saturday at PAL Danbury

Celebrity players to include Brandon Jennings, James Harden and Ryan Gomes, as well as Danbury natives Travon Little and coach Ben Payton.

Connecticut and New York basketball teams with celebrity-studded lineups will take to the court at the Police Athletic League center on Saturday, May 10 at 6 p.m.

Produced by Dennis Perkins’ Platinum Premiere Productions, the highly anticipated game will be held to benefit the Young Life Organization, which promotes youth activities while also running a basketball camp in Pennsylvania.

“Our goal is not only to create an exciting event, but to encourage young athletes and support a unique place where they can go and grow,” Perkins said.

Former Knicks and Nets clinic director Dee Lancaster will coach New York’s D-Train Express, who are facing off against basketball veteran Ben Payton’s Pearl Harbor Team from Connecticut. Lancaster’s heavy-hitting lineup will include some of today’s NBA heroes such as Brandon Jennings of the Detroit Pistons and 2012 U.S. Olympic basketball player James Harden of the Houston Rockets.

Ben Payton, an alumnus of Danbury’s Henry Abbott Technical High School, has made a name for himself in the past during his time playing college basketball for both Southern Connecticut State University and in semi-pro basketball league. Playing for Dennis Perkin’s Pearl Harbor team will be Waterbury native Ryan Gomes of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Danbury’s Travon Little, a former player for Keane State’s basketball team.

Commentating for this must-see game will be EJ the Mayor, a legendary emcee for street basketball games held in reknowned Rucker Park, New York. EJ’s past events have involved the likes of Jay Z, Beyoncé, P-Diddy, R. Kelly, and Lil Kim as participants. Spectators at his previous games include Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Bill Clinton, and Cedric the Entertainer. EJ has additionally had the honor of commentating for the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic street league in Rucker Park.

Just when you thought the game couldn’t get any better, the half-time show will include guest performances from both New School and Old School styles of Hip Hop. Rapper Savy Da Savage will be representing the New School while an authentic LL Cool J impersonator will be bringing back the nostalgia of the Old School.

Additioal sponsors include Dennis Perkins Bail Bonds, Rocky Home Improvement, TM Carting and Big Life Management.

Tickets for the game are $15 for adults and $7 for children who are 10 years of age or younger.

Based off a release from Penn Gardner, Inc.


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