Who is Hansel Emmanuel? One-armed basketball star scores 1st collegiate points for Northwestern State
NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA: Prior to signing with Northwestern State, a young basketball player's prowess on the court with just one arm made him a social media sensation. When Hansel Emmanuel, 19, entered the game on Saturday, December 10 night against Louisiana Monroe, Northwestern State's offense exploded.
In Northwestern State's 91-73 win, Emmanuel only managed five points in eight minutes, but it was the huge dunk late in the second half that got college basketball fans buzzing. The rookie guard reportedly missed a free throw and the Demons rebounded it. The ball returned to Emmanuel, who scored with a smash.
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"I had to keep going after the layup – that was my first bucket," he said after the game on the school’s website. "I know my family was proud. I had to keep working. You can’t give up," he added, according to Fox News.
Who is Hansel Emmanuel?
Emmanuel goes by the name Kikimita and is the son of a former Dominican professional basketball player. Like most young children, Kikimita first developed a love for basketball through street games with his friends. His life was changed when he was climbing a cinder block wall and was badly injured, according to a report by Marca.
Emmanuel was six years old when a pile of cinderblocks fell on his left arm, right below the shoulder. His arm had to be amputated as the damage was extremely serious. After the accident, his entire world fell apart and his dream of becoming like his hero LeBron James appeared to be unattainable.
Emmanuel reportedly had to retrain himself to carry out daily activities rather than playing basketball with his mates. Against his parents' desires, Emmanuel eventually picked up basketball again. He initially practiced dribbling with one hand and eventually became accustomed to it. His videos became viral on social media.
Coach Moises Michell at the Life Christian Academy in Florida decided to invite Emmanuel, who was 16 at the time, to play in 2020 after seeing the videos. With 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, he finished the season in first place at the Central Florida Christian Academy State Championship. From this point on, he became well-known throughout the country, which helped him win a scholarship to play for the University of Tennessee State in Division One of the NCAA. Emmanuel has participated in five games this season, his first point came on Saturday, December 6, 2022.