The 1st Annual Charity Event featuring the Harlem Wizards playing basketball against Team Gulf Coast was a huge success. This event was organized by i9 Sports on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The basketball game was held on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Ocean Springs High School auditorium. This event was much more than a basketball game—it was high-energy, funny, full of tricks, dunks, and crowd interaction. The audience (adults, children, and teens) loved it.
“The 1st Annual Harlem Wizards vs Team Gulf Coast basketball fundraising event was a fantastic experience, raising funds for two local nonprofits dedicated to children. We thank the Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County for their collaboration, as well as the Ocean Springs and Pascagoula–Gautier School Districts for their support. We also appreciate the leadership of the mayors of Ocean Springs and Gautier, along with Team Gulf Coast, for making this event possible. The community’s energy and enthusiasm made it truly special. We are grateful to everyone who attended and contributed, and we look forward to hosting this event again next year to support the youth and families of the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” said Mr. LaMarques Ogans, i9 Sports Director.
Proceeds from this event helped support local nonprofits. This included Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County. Pictured is a check presentation with Mr. LaMarques Ogans and Ms. Aurora Dejapa, i9 Sports Marketing and Promotion Coordinator, and Mrs. Yvette Vogel, Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County Director of Resource Development & Marketing, and Ms. Tina Grace, Mary B. Ruddiman Unit Director for Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County, and members of the Mary B. Ruddiman (Ocean Springs) Unit of Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County.
We would like to highlight and thank this year’s Team Gulf Coast Participants in the 1st Annual Charity Event:
- Jennifer Anderson, Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County CEO
- Brian Fulton, Jackson County Administrator
- Paige Roberts, Jackson County Chamber of Commerce President & CEO
- Rep. Jeramey Anderson, Mississippi House of Representatives – District 110
- Steve Tillis, City of Ocean Springs Alderman
- Casey Vaughan, Mayor of City of Gautier
- Joshua Wells, Gautier Firefighter
- Stephen Glorioso, Director of Ocean Springs Parks and Recreation
- Hunter Williams, Gautier Middle School – PE Teacher and Coach
- Julie Messenger, City of Ocean Springs Alderman
- Bradford Laneaux, Ocean Springs Firefighter
- Sam Guin, Ocean Springs Fire Department/Deputy Chief
- Bobby Cox, Mayor of Ocean Springs
- Carlos A. Moulds, City Manager of City of Gautier
- Spencer Ried Pullen, WXXV News 25 / Morning News Anchor
- James Cooper, College Park Elementary School Principal
- Tabari Daniels, Bush Realty Group Realtor
- Donald Clause, Singing River Academy Assistant Principal
- Michael Daniels, JZ 94.5 FM & The Almanette Hotel & Bistro / Co- Owner
- Richard Jackson, City of Gautier Councilman Ward 2
We would also like to give a special “thank you” to Greenlite Photography, McDonald’s Descher Organization, and Gulf Hills Hotel & Resort.
At i9 Sports in Gulfport, the mission is simple: help kids have fun, build confidence, and learn the value of teamwork. “We create a positive, family-friendly environment where every athlete gets the chance to play, grow, and fall in love with the game. Whether it’s their first season or their fifth, it’s all about fun, development, and great memories on and off the field. We offer basketball, soccer, volleyball, flag football, baseball for boys and girls ages 3-14 in Gulfport, Biloxi and Ocean Springs.” Learn more at www.i9sports.com or call (228)-222-5133.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County Mission is “Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County continues to work to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.” To learn more about joining or supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County, visit www.wearebgcjc.org or call 228-762-3497.
Stay tuned for more information on a basketball game next year. Follow social media pages for i9 Sports in Gulfport and Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County to learn the latest.
