NO CHANCE: THE HANSEL EMMANUEL JOURNEY
WHO IS HANSEL EMMANUEL?
If there’s one name that’s been turning heads in the world of basketball of late, it’s that OF Hansel Emmanuel, but who is he, where did he come from and above all, how’s he so good with one arm? With reports now confirming that HE has committed to play college basketball at Northwestern State, it’s now only a matter of time before we get to see the one-armed prodigy on an even bigger stage. How does a 6’4” combo guard who averages an impressive 25.9 points, 11.0 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 3.4 blocks per game, do so with only one arm?
THE ACCIDENT
When Hansel Enmanuel was just 6 years old, a wall collapsed and fell on top of him. Trapped for over two hours, his father would later find and rescue him, but unfortunately, it was too late for his left arm which would have to be amputated just below the shoulder. Due to the amputation, Emmanuel whose full name is Hansel Enmanuel Donato Domínguez could no longer play baseball, as a result he picked a basketball. his father was a professional basketballer in the Dominican Republic at the time and so he had support. If there is one that’s clear it’s that, as tragic as that moment was, it didn’t stop the young prospect from becoming what he is today, A wonder a 3-star recruit and the 22nd-ranked high school prospect out of Florida.
“I DON’T WANT PEOPLE TO SEE ME AS A SPECIAL KID WHO HAS A DISABILITY. I WISH THAT THEY ONLY SEE ME AS A GREAT PLAYER WHO WILL GO AS FAR AS MANY. THAT I AM A GOOD PLAYER.”
THE RECRUITMENT
Though one might think that Emmanuel’s profile is more about entertainment than substance, that would be a mistake. The truth is, the boy’s got game. As mentioned above, the young star is currently on the roster at Life Christian Academy and the reason for that is because head coach Moisés Michell was the one who saw videos
of him playing. At that point Michell did what was he needed, to bring Emmanuel to the U.S.A. Once there, it didn’t take long before crowds in Florida understood that the 16-year-old was a genuine star in the making.
With an average of 26 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists per game it shouldn’t be hard to see why.
