On Tuesday April 1st, the Harlem Globetrotters are performing at the Sioux Falls Arena. 

They are taking on their regular opponents, The Washington Generals, and I, Nancy Naeve, get to be a "Guest General" for the beginning of the second quarter. Game day just happens to be April Fools Day so it's fitting to have a fool take center court with the pros.  The organization sent out Globetrotter Hot Shot Branch before both teams roll into town.

When we met up with Hot Shot Branch at the Sioux Falls Arena earlier this week, he was throwing down 3-pointers like it was nothing. But he got his nickname for his half court launches.  Although the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters are known for their showmanship and antics on the court, Hot Shot relishes what they do off the court.

Hot Shot says, "It's great. We show off our skills and entertain people, but going off the court to interact with kids is what I really love. The fact that we are a positive for the community, that we can uplift someone's spirits is a great thing about being with the Globetrotters."

The 6'4" Guard has been with the Globetrotters for 5 years. He is from Houston, TX  and still lives there with his family. He has three kids. Prior to becoming a Globetrotter, Hot Shot was known as Aundre Branch and played ball overseas. He was also the fifth leading scorer in school history at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He is still the single season and career season record holder at Baylor for 3-pointers made. Teaching me some of his moves was probably the hardest thing he's done. I was a cheerleader, but that was a million years ago.

Hot Shot instructs me, "I'm going to show you a few basic moves. If you can master them, it will look like you have something. Take the ball behind your back, under your leg, fake in front, drop it back and bounce it off your knee. That's one sequence. They recruit you as a basketball player and teach you the showmanship. Things you see us do on the basketball court, it's all about the time you put in with the basketball ball. I studied video tapes and practiced practiced practiced."

Even though they have a long season from November to August, he says he still practices everyday. Clearly, I better do the same before the big game.

Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster and at the Sioux Falls Arena. The 2008 Magic As Ever World Tour marks the Globetrotters' 82nd consecutive season of touring the world.