Kevin Laue
Encyclopedia
Kevin Laue is a 6 in 10 in (2.08 m) tall American college
student and basketball
player from Pleasanton, California
. He was born with one arm and has been recognized for his skills and success in overcoming adversity. In the 2008-2009 season he played at a military academy in Virginia
and was a prospect for collegiate play. In March 2009 he received a scholarship to play Division I basketball for Manhattan College
.
arm. He had some struggles as a youth basketball player, but by eighth grade
he had grown enough that he could handle a ball
with one hand and could dunk
a basketball.
near his home where as a junior
he played center
on the varsity
basketball team. He played about 23 minutes a game and averaged about four points, five blocks and six rebound
s per game.
During his junior year, he was described as the team's star. In 2007 Sports Illustrated
called him "the most exciting player in basketball" in recognition of his playing prowess with just one hand, but he missed most of his senior year due to a broken leg.
After graduation, he enrolled as a postgraduate at Fork Union Military Academy
in Virginia
for the 2008–2009 school year. As of December 2008, his season statistics at Fork Union were 6.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. As an NCAA prospect, he received recruiting letters from Division III schools, but hopes to be able to play for a Division I team. Scouts, Inc. describes him as a "prospect that could instantly help a number of low-major Division I programs," noting his "quick leaping ability" and effective play on both offense and defense. In March 2009 he was awarded a scholarship
from Manhattan College
, a Division I school.
Kevin wears size 17
shoes and can handle the ball in his large right hand, which an Amador Valley teammate said "is as big as two normal hands." He uses the stump of his left arm (which he calls "the Nub") to help hold the ball after catching a pass. He also uses his stump effectively in defense.
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
student and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player from Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton, California
Pleasanton is a city in Alameda County, California, incorporated in 1894. It is a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area located about east of Oakland, and west of Livermore. The population was 70,285 at the 2010 census. In 2005 and 2007, Pleasanton was ranked the wealthiest middle-sized city in...
. He was born with one arm and has been recognized for his skills and success in overcoming adversity. In the 2008-2009 season he played at a military academy in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and was a prospect for collegiate play. In March 2009 he received a scholarship to play Division I basketball for Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
.
Biography
Due to a restriction of prenatal blood circulation, Laue was born with a left arm that ended at the elbow. His parents encouraged him to play soccer as a child, but Kevin did not like soccer. He also refused to use a prostheticProsthesis
In medicine, a prosthesis, prosthetic, or prosthetic limb is an artificial device extension that replaces a missing body part. It is part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of using mechanical devices with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control...
arm. He had some struggles as a youth basketball player, but by eighth grade
Eighth grade
Eighth grade is a year of education in the United States, Canada, Australia and other nations. Students are usually 13 - 14 years old. The eighth grade is typically the final grade before high school, and the ninth grade of public and private education, following kindergarten and subsequent grades...
he had grown enough that he could handle a ball
Basketball (ball)
A basketball is a spherical inflated ball used in the game of basketball. Basketballs typically range in size from very small promotional items only a few inches in diameter to extra large balls nearly a foot in diameter used in training exercises to increase the skill of players...
with one hand and could dunk
Slam dunk
A slam dunk is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air and manually powers the ball downward through the basket with one or both hands over the rim. This is considered a normal field goal attempt; if successful it is worth two points. The term "slam dunk" was...
a basketball.
Competitive playing career
Laue attended Amador Valley High SchoolAmador Valley High School
Amador Valley High School is a public high school in Pleasanton, California, USA, a city east of San Francisco. Amador Valley is one of four high schools in the Pleasanton Unified School District, which includes Foothill High School, Village High School, and Horizon High School. The school was...
near his home where as a junior
Eleventh grade
Eleventh Grade is the eleventh, and for some countries final, grade of secondary schools. Students are typically 16 or 17 years of age, depending on the country and the students' birthdays.-Brazil:...
he played center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
on the varsity
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
basketball team. He played about 23 minutes a game and averaged about four points, five blocks and six rebound
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
s per game.
During his junior year, he was described as the team's star. In 2007 Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
called him "the most exciting player in basketball" in recognition of his playing prowess with just one hand, but he missed most of his senior year due to a broken leg.
After graduation, he enrolled as a postgraduate at Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy is a private, military boarding school located in the town of Fork Union, Virginia. The school is more commonly known by its acronym FUMA ....
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
for the 2008–2009 school year. As of December 2008, his season statistics at Fork Union were 6.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. As an NCAA prospect, he received recruiting letters from Division III schools, but hopes to be able to play for a Division I team. Scouts, Inc. describes him as a "prospect that could instantly help a number of low-major Division I programs," noting his "quick leaping ability" and effective play on both offense and defense. In March 2009 he was awarded a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
from Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
, a Division I school.
Kevin wears size 17
Shoe size
A shoe size is an alphanumerical indication of the fitting size of a shoe for a person. Often it just consists of a number indicating the length because many shoemakers only provide a standard width for economic reasons....
shoes and can handle the ball in his large right hand, which an Amador Valley teammate said "is as big as two normal hands." He uses the stump of his left arm (which he calls "the Nub") to help hold the ball after catching a pass. He also uses his stump effectively in defense.
External links
- Interview of Kevin Laue - Associated Press