Mural of Destry Mangus in Reservoir Park
Harrisburg will head to the court to celebrate a longtime city coach, while promoting youth sports.
Jones’ Resources, City Council and the city will host the first annual Destry “Des” Mangus Classic Basketball Tournament to honor the local legend on Aug. 10 and 11 at Reservoir Park.
Mangus, a local coach and volunteer, has touched the lives of many Harrisburg youth, according to council member Lamont Jones.
“His level of commitment has been astounding,” Jones said. “His mentorship has been impeccable. He is a pillar and a patriarch in our community.”
The event will give residents an opportunity to compete in a basketball tournament and enjoy food and entertainment.
The tournament honors Mangus’ passion for sports. Driven by the impact coaches had on his development in his younger years, he decided to give back to his community by becoming a coach and mentor others.
“When I got out of college, I wanted to do the same thing as my coaches,” he said. “It was something I had to do.”
Additionally, a ceremony will introduce Reservoir Drive as Destry E. Mangus Way, adjacent to the court. This renaming follows City Council’s decision in July to ceremonially name the road after Mangus. The new name will serve as a secondary street name.
Harlem Globetrotter Chris “Handles” Franklin, a Harrisburg native, previously honored Mangus by commissioning the painting of Mangus’ portrait on the Reservoir Park basketball court. That mural will be touched up and refurbished at the event.
City Council members and Destry Mangus (third from left)
Registration for the tournament is free and opens at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10. The event will then begin with an opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m., during which the mural of Mangus will be refurbished, the new street sign unveiled, and Franklin, Jones and Dauphin County Commissioner George Hartwick will speak about Mangus.
“I’m very honored that city council is doing this. I’m humbled and blessed they’re doing this while I’m living,” Mangus said.
The preliminary games will run from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Teams, each consisting of seven people, will be divided by age into the following brackets: ages 6-8, ages 9-11, ages 12-16 and ages 17-24. Additionally, there will be a live DJ performance.
On Sunday, Aug. 11, the event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., including a performance from DJ Boc and “skills and drills” sessions for children, in addition to final basketball games.
Parking for the event will be available near the Civil War Museum and next to the Chutes and Ladders Playground, and food trucks will be available throughout the event. Players and non-players are welcome to attend the event.
In addition, local service providers will speak throughout the day, sharing information on youth programming, after-school activities, housing and violence prevention services.
Jones, passionate about preventing violence among youth, believes involvement in after-school sports helps curb violent crime.
“Sports have a draw,” he said. “You’re able to compete, and it’s a way to channel that energy. Idle time is the devil’s playground. Gives you something positive and competitive to do.”
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