Lauren Hill's college basketball debut is here.
At 2 p.m. Sunday, Hill and the Mount St. Joseph women's basketball team will tip off against Hiram College at Xavier's Cintas Center. The sellout crowd of 10,250 will be there to see Hill realize her dream of playing for the Lions.
Hill's story, by now, is everywhere. Nearly 60 media members from local, regional and national outlets will continue documenting the aspirations of No. 22, the forward with an inoperable form of brain cancer called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. Tickets were snapped up in 30 minutes for the player with a positive outlook and a terminal diagnosis.
New Mount coach Dan Benjamin and new Hiram coach Emily Hays agreed to move up teams' game from Nov. 15 so Hill could play. The NCAA granted an exemption. FOX Sports Ohio will televise the outing and provide a live stream on FOX Sports GO.
"We have thought of the true meaning of the game and the awareness of brain cancer, which has grown because of the game and because of Lauren," Mays said. "The real win is Lauren being on the court."
Hill has had a hectic couple of weeks, including a visit with Bengals defensive lineman Devon Still (his 4-year-old daughter, Leah, has pediatric cancer). She served as an honorary team member at the Lions' football team's homecoming game, where she flipped the coin, and she toured Cintas Center to get a feel for the arena before it is packed with friends, family and supporters.
In the meantime, Hill has been a huge presence on social media. The #Layup4Lauren challenge benefitting The Cure Starts Now took flight with Bengals players Andrew Whitworth and Andy Dalton.
They spun around five times and made a lay-up with their non-dominant hands, which per layup4lauren.com, is how Hill feels when playing basketball and battling DIPG.
Dalton and Whitworth challenged Xavier, Cincinnati and Kentucky men's basketball players to do the same. The #Layup4Lauren challenge was fulfilled by people far and wide including San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon and Denver Nuggets guard Randy Foye.
Other sports standouts also showed support for Hill. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman described Hill "an inspiration" on Twitter and former WNBA player Sheryl Swoops Tweeted that Hill is "the true definition of a fighter, warrior, and competitor." Mia Hamm's under-8 girls' soccer team dedicated its next game to the Lawrenceburg High graduate via a video.
At halftime Sunday, Hill will receive the Pat Summitt Most Courageous award. It's normally given to a player or coach during the women's Final Four, but the United States Basketball Writers Association's board of directors unanimously decided to honor Hill now instead.
It will be a much different atmosphere at Cintas Center than veteran Mount players have experienced. There were up to 200 people at the team's recent scrimmage at Cincinnati State, and that was a big crowd for the program. Last year's MSJ team, which went 3-22, averaged 129 fans at its 12 home games.
"I've told players that they need to get into the zone, get into the game and then they'll probably forget the crowd at times. It's easier said than done," Benjamin said.
Hill will play a few minutes at a time for as long as she feels up to it, Benjamin said. Her motor skills are diminished and she fatigues easily. Her comfort is his top priority.
Coach and player have a special relationship, which makes the situation all the more heart-wrenching. It's been an exhausting and exciting time for the team – and for a player who has captured attention around the country for her courage and spirit.
"We're going to keep in mind the life lessons that Lauren has made everyone aware of. We want to win this game for her," Benjamin said. "That's what it's all about."
Shannon Russell writes for The Cincinnati Enquirer, a Gannett paper.
Other Stories to Click:
29 Yr. Old With Cancer Says She No Longer Plans To Die On Saturday
