KALAMAZOO, MI – There’s this special power with sports and its ability to unite people. As Western Michigan men’s basketball team stepped onto the court Wednesday morning, they were moved to that power and connection –– but on an entirely different level. And a perspective bigger than basketball.
With grins, laughs and ear-to-ear smiles in surplus, the Broncos welcomed and guided dozens of individuals with disabilities to a morning of joyous basketball schooling in a Court of Dreams event from Western Michigan’s Student Recreation Center. Organized by the Beautiful Lives Project, a New York-based nonprofit, 62 individuals participated in the third annual event in Kalamazoo –– which included various dribbling, passing, shooting and defensive drills directed by WMU players, along with Bronco autographed towels, during an hour-long session. “These are the opportunities that bring us together and make us realize that it’s so much bigger than basketball,” junior guard JaVaughn Hannah said.
“We go through the grind and have aches and pains but having the joy to come out here and do this – it’s special. To have an opportunity to teach them the game, it’s really a blessing.” RELATED: ‘More than just Xs and Os:’ WMU men’s basketball holds camp for people with disabilities Hannah was one of a handful of players and coaches running the passing station, and after doing plenty of that over his basketball journey, the junior said he was ecstatic to sha.