22-Year-Old Non-Black Joins Harlem Globetrotters

Former University of Pittsburgh player Orlando Antigua joined the Harlem Globetrotters on Wednesday, the first non-black on the touring basketball team in 52 years.

Antigua, whose mother is Puerto Rican, grew up in New York. He is the first non-black on the team since Bob Karstens played with the Globetrotters in 1942-43.

The 22-year-old player was to make his Globetrotters debut Wednesday night in Pittsburgh, where he played for the Panthers from 1991-95.

Antigua was presented the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s “Most Courageous” award during the 1994 Final Four. He recovered from a Halloween 1988 incident in which he was shot in the head.