The Utah Jazz season ended Wednesday night, a disappointing year for the team that didn't make the playoffs. But it was a great game for one young man from Green River who will never forget his special night.
Eighteen-year-old Conner Newland's favorite sport is basketball. He says it's in his blood. So much so, the senior at Green River High School is the coach of the school's freshman team. Conner loves the lessons the game can teach. "Oh, I like how you play as a team; and if one person struggles, everyone struggles," he said. Valerie Newland, Connor's mother was told Conner had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a disease causing progressive muscle weakness, and there's no known cure. Conner was in a wheelchair by age 10. So, for the rest of his lifetime, Conner plans on sticking to what he knows and loves: coaching basketball.
"Maybe in the future I may try for the NBA, but for right now my plan is to coach in college," Conner said. Conner had the chance to help coach the Jazz for one night. If his NBA coaching dream isn't realized, Conner gave Jazz head coach Ty Corbin a little pre-game advice Wednesday night. "Shut down Denver, ‘cause they'll come out hot," he said.
Conner will graduate from high school next month and plans to attend the College of Eastern Utah.
Eighteen-year-old Conner Newland's favorite sport is basketball. He says it's in his blood. So much so, the senior at Green River High School is the coach of the school's freshman team. Conner loves the lessons the game can teach. "Oh, I like how you play as a team; and if one person struggles, everyone struggles," he said. Valerie Newland, Connor's mother was told Conner had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a disease causing progressive muscle weakness, and there's no known cure. Conner was in a wheelchair by age 10. So, for the rest of his lifetime, Conner plans on sticking to what he knows and loves: coaching basketball.
"Maybe in the future I may try for the NBA, but for right now my plan is to coach in college," Conner said. Conner had the chance to help coach the Jazz for one night. If his NBA coaching dream isn't realized, Conner gave Jazz head coach Ty Corbin a little pre-game advice Wednesday night. "Shut down Denver, ‘cause they'll come out hot," he said.
Conner will graduate from high school next month and plans to attend the College of Eastern Utah.
No comments:
Post a Comment