A Mormon who played college basketball at Duke is about to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Susan Brandau Hawkins / Photo courtesy Gwinnett Daily Post
Her name is Susan Brandau Hawkins and she played point guard for the Blue Devils women’s basketball team from 1991-1995. This Saturday, May 5, Hawkins will be part of the third class to be inducted into Georgia Gwinnett Sports Hall of Fame, along side former NFL kicker Jason Elam and former Georgia quarterback David Greene.
An article by Brandon Brigman in the Gwinnett Daily Post offers more details about Hawkins’ athletic career. She is humbled by her selection to the hall of fame.
“I feel like I’m the low person on the totem pole,” Hawkins told Brigman. “The others have accolades far superior to mine. It’s pretty amazing to be selected with them.” Continue reading
Australian rugby star Will Hopoate has already hit the six-month mark of his two-year Latter-day Saint mission and the local media was there to document it.
Photo courtesy Sydney Morning Herald
“Perhaps if William Hopoate dressed in one of his old rugby league jerseys – and not a crisp, white, short-sleeved shirt, distinctive black name tag and tie – the man who responded with such unbridled hostility toward him after he offered a polite ‘hello’ at the local shopping centre might have stopped to shake his hand and talk,” wrote Daniel Lane, a writer for the Sydney Morning Herald.
Lane’s article catches rugby fans up on the first months of Hopoate’s mission in Brisbane. Many still marvel and question the wisdom of Hopoate’s decision to put his career on hold and walk away from a 2-year deal for $1.7 million. But Hopoate is happy with no regrets.
“I feel very fulfilled. I’m definitely enjoying what I’m doing. I wouldn’t be out here doing it if I didn’t. It is such a blessing to see people who come from different walks of life and to get an understanding of other cultures and religions,” Hopoate told Lane. “It’s such an enjoyable and joyous time and (It’s) one I’ll never forget.” Continue reading
The time of Stilman White’s departure is nigh at hand.
The North Carolina freshman point guard is close to submitting his paperwork to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Photo courtesy ESPN.com
White was recently featured in a lengthy article by The Daily Tar Heel‘s Kelly Parsons and on ESPN.com by Robbi Pickeral.
White was first featured back in January by the Mormon Times.
Parson’s article goes super in depth about his basketball background. He used to attend Chicago Bulls’ games with his father, Shannon; Stilman was a start at Hoggard High in North Carolina; his recruiting roller-coaster and how another UNC player’s decision opened the door for White to come to Chapel Hill. There is also a section that describes his experience this season, highlighted by his performance in the NCAA tournament. Continue reading
As hard as he tries to avoid the spotlight, Jabari Parker can’t escape it.
Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com / Jabari Parker has been named Gatorade Boys' Basketball Player of the Year.
Parker, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was recently named the Gatorade National Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year. An article by Chad Konecky on ESPN.com carried the announcement.
“This award means more to me than any other,” Parker told Konecky. “I can think of a lot of guys who probably deserve this more, but I’m lucky and I’m honored.”
Parker was surprised with the news in his Spanish class by former NBA all-star Alonzo Mourning. After Mourning asked if Parker could say he was excited in Spanish, the 17-year-old joked about getting back to class.
As a junior, Parker led his Simeon High Wolverines to a 33-1 record and a 3-peat as state champions this season. He averaged 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 3.4 blocks and 1.5 steals per game. He is only the fourth non-senior to receive the award, joining the company of LeBron James, Greg Oden and Brandon Knight. Parker also maintains a 3.63 GPA. Continue reading
One of the best high school basketball players in the country just spent a few days in Utah.
Twitter.com / Jabari Parker posted a picture he took from the LDS conference center Sunday.
Jabari Parker, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound phenom from Chicago and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spent time with extended family, visited BYU and attended LDS General Conference at the conference center over the weekend. He and his brother, Christian Parker, even recorded an interview with a blog site called www.sistasinzion.com.
Parker was recently named the Illinois All-state player of the year by the News-Gazette. He was profiled in a lengthy feature article. In addition to his high-profile basketball talent, the article pointed out that Parker earns As and Bs in the classroom and attends early morning seminary.
“I just want to be a good example, for people generally,” the 17-year-old Parker said in the article. “Not just athletes, but people. I just want to make change in everyone’s life. I know a lot of athletes out here, they’re making wrong decisions. I know there’s going to be a light on me everywhere I go, and there’s going to be eyes everywhere. I want to have good behavior. I always want to be a good person.” Continue reading
Photo courtesy of Mormonnewsroom.org / The Mormon Yankees
Did you know that Mormon missionaries played a role in the history of Australian basketball?
It’s true. An article from Mormonnewsroom.org tells the story. The LDS Church’s Australian website published a similar article. A group of American missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint called themselves the “Mormon Yankees.” They were asked to play practice and exhibition games with various Olympic teams in the weeks leading up the official games held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956. Continue reading
The town of Scottsbluff, Neb., population around 15,000, is nestled in Western Nebraska near the borders of Wyoming and Colorado. It’s the last place you would expect to find a college basketball team full of Mormons.
Photo courtesy WNCC / The 2011-2012 Western Nebraska Community College Cougars.
Meet head coach Russell Beck and the Western Nebraska Community College Cougars.
Beck is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The American Fork native gained experience coaching at Dixie State College, Salt Lake Community College, the College of Southern Idaho and Southern Utah before he was hired as the head coach at WNCC in 2009. Since then Beck has sought to fill his program with LDS athletes, although not exclusively. He wants good basketball players, but he also wants players with work ethic, character and an unselfish, winning attitude.
This strategy has worked for Beck. This season the Cougars finished with a record of 26-7 and were ranked in the NJCAA’s top 25. Several players have been recruited to play for Division I programs.
The team features five returned missionaries, one planning to serve a mission, and one recent convert. The team members have participated in several community activities and enjoy sharing a drug-free message at local elementary schools. Continue reading
The New York Jets have agreed to a new 3-year deal with former Utah defensive tackle Sione Pouha, ESPN reported Monday.
AP Photo by Bill Kostroun / New York Jets' Sione Pouha reacts after tackling Kansas City Chiefs' Jackie Battle for a safety during the fourth quarter of a game in December 2011, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets defeated the Chiefs 37-10.
The details of the deal weren’t immediately announced.
Pouha, 33, is regarded as one of the top run stuffers in the NFL. The Jets have openly commented about their desire to keep the former Ute on their team.
The 6-foot-3, 325-pound tackle got a late start in the league because he served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Pittsburgh, Penn. This 2005 N.Y. Times article tells about some of Pouha’s experiences at Utah and his mission.
About 18 months after leaving to serve an LDS mission in Ecuador, Chris Badger is back in Salt Lake City, Utah, eating steak sandwiches and programming his new iPhone. The former Timpview High football star is also anxious to begin training for his return to Notre Dame.
Photo: South Bend Tribune / Chris Badger is home from his LDS mission in Ecuador and plans to return to the Notre Dame football team.
An article by Eric Hansen of the South Bend Tribune describes Badger’s return to Utah and eager plans for rejoining the Fighting Irish. Although 44 percent of the roster has turned over and there are new coaches on staff, Hansen says Badger never wavered in his desire to come back to South Bend, Ind.
“The one thing that didn’t change while I was gone was my feeling that Notre Dame was a match made in heaven,” said Badger, who could have transferred without penalty.
The article references some of the experiences Badger had on his mission, such as getting robbed three times, his daily schedule and the challenges of learning Spanish. Now he is focused on a new mission — helping the Irish “win a national championship.” Continue reading
One wrestler on this year’s Utah Valley University wrestling team with an interesting story is Blake Mangum.
Photo Courtesy of the UVU Review - Blake Mangum prepares to attack an opponent.
Mangum, a redshirt freshman, is listed at 125 but has also competed at 133. After winning
a state title and earning All-American status at Wasatch High School, Mangum redshirted at the University of Oklahoma, one of the top programs in the country.
After his first year, Mangum traded in his singlet for a suit with a black name tag. He was called to serve a mission for the LDS Church in Brazil. When he returned, Mangum considered returning to Oklahoma or going to Boise State. But he opted for UVU.
“I wanted to stay closer to home,” Mangum said in an interview with Garrett Coleman of the UVU Review. “I hadn’t been home for about four years, and wanted to be close to my family and friends. There’s a lot of kids that I know on the team. I get along with the team here really well.” Continue reading