On Sunday, May 16, 2021 thousands gathered in the small town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee to watch a high school basketball game. That game just so happened to be one of the most hyped up in the country at the time. Two AAU teams, SOH Elite and W.A.G.C. were about to break the internet. But fans only came to this specific game to see two players. Those two were five-star prodigy and near household name, Mikey Williams, and a barely talked about 17-year-old two-star prospect from the Dominican Republic. That prospect’s name is Hansel Emmanuel.
That night Emmanuel’s team would lose but it became the birth of a legend. Not because Emmanuel led his team with 27 points on high school basketball’s biggest stage, but because he did it with one arm. Emmanuel is no stranger to overcoming the odds, but he’ll have to do so once more to keep his future on the court alive.
Childhood
Flashback 11 years to the impoverished barrio of Los Mina in Santo Domingo. Emmanuel, nicknamed Kikimita, is a six-year-old kid playing outside when tragedy hit. A brick wall collapsed on Emmanuel’s left arm pinning him down for two hours. By the time he could be rescued it was too late, his entire arm below the shoulder needed to be amputated. He remembers the accident as “a life lesson that God exists.” This served as an immediate curse but a long-term blessing for Emmanuel. He was forced to give up the sport he loved, baseball, to find something that could suit his unique condition. Luckily enough his father had just the right idea: Basketball.
Emmanuel’s father came from a basketball background. He played professionally in the Dominican Republic and had stints on their national team, he even entered his name in the 2002 NBA draft but nothing came of it. Emmanuel’s dad provided all the motivation he needed to switch and he quickly proved to be a natural. He soon became too good for the rest of his hometown competition and it seemed as if he could be on a serious path to greatness. But in order for that to happen, he needed a change of scenery.
Coming to America
Luckily for Emmanuel, his talent caught the eye of Life Christian Academy in Kissimmee, Florida and they awarded him a scholarship. This was finally Emmanuel’s chance to play basketball on a big stage.
As soon as Emmanuel arrived he was doubted. Aside from the obvious one-arm issue, he was looked at as different. He came from the Dominican Republic, a place that isn’t known at all for basketball, and knowing very little English didn’t help either. What others thought of him didn’t bother Emmanuel because instead of speaking English he let his abilities on the court do the talking.
On the Court
Emmanuel’s game is unlike anything you will see in your life. The 6-foot-5, 165-pound slasher is near magical to watch. For only having one arm the number of ankle breakers he pulls off is ridiculous. His point guard instincts he learned from his father are continually put on display, and his high flying antics make highlight reels everywhere. His production and talent make him one of the most electric players to watch in the country and fans have taken note. Only a few months after going viral Emmanuel has racked up an impressive 427,000 followers on Instagram and millions of views on his highlight videos.
http://https://youtu.be/zJpA-NXk3MU
Future in Basketball
No matter how dominant Emmanuel is on the court he still has one major issue. After putting on clinics at major AAU tournaments and making headlines he still is without a college offer. He’s played against, outperformed, and beaten some of the best young talent in the nation and yet he’s received nothing. Emmanuel is headed into his senior year of high school with his basketball future in jeopardy. He’s come so far and overcome so much just to have something that barely affects him on the court nearly hold him back from his dream.
Even though college basketball programs haven’t recognized the upside the same can’t be said about the high school basketball community. Many scouts like Brandon Jenkins, the National Recruiting Analyst for 247 sports think very highly of Emmanuel.
“It’s a testament to his work ethic and how good he is and special he is,” said Jenkins when asked about Emmanuel and his condition. “I think there’s always room to grow and the skies the limit for a kid like him.”
Emmanuel has never let the ridiculous odds of something stop him. He was forced to learn how to play basketball with one arm. He came from a poor barrio where very few make it out. He had to embrace a new culture and adapt quickly to a new play style. So now when he faces even more adversity you best believe that Hansel Emmanuel won’t back down.
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