FOR THE
LOVE
OF THE
GAME
By: Kirsten Swanson
Playing basketball
professionally was always
Darnell “Speedy” Artis’ '16
ultimate goal.
While his skills are what earned him a
conference championship and a MVP
award while playing for Gwynedd Mercy
University’s men’s basketball team, it
was his infectious love of the game and
enthusiasm he showed on court that
made him a fan favorite.
Now, Darnell takes that same
enthusiasm and MVP-caliber
skills around the world as a Harlem
Globetrotter, playing for thousands
of fans in some of the country’s most
historic venues.
Darnell’s dream has come true.
But his rise wasn’t a straight line.
By his own account, he didn’t have
the greatest high school career. Still,
GMercyU’s Associate Head Coach
Bernie Fitzgerald attended nearly every
one of Darnell’s games his senior year
at La Salle High School in Philadelphia,
Pa.
“I wasn’t getting recruited by anybody,”
Darnell said. “Coach Bernie and Coach
[John] Baron were the only two people
who believed in me when I was 5’3 and
133 pounds.”
12
TODAY