“I didn't expect it because there's a lot of competition,” said Knife Chief. “I was shocked, but pleased and honored that I got that award.”
The 18-year-old Knife Chief of Claremore, Okla., was among a select group of Native boys' and girls' high school basketball players invited to participate in the annual NES camp, which allowed top athletes from across the United States to show their skills in a gymnasium on the Omaha Reservation.
The NES sports showcase is one of the few Native venues to provide such an opportunity specifically for urban and reservation youths. And young people arrived pumped and ready to play.
“I would put these Native kids against any all-star team in the country,” said Barry Webster, chairman of Native Elite Sports, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth through sports.
All student athletes were assigned to one of four teams. Each team then competed against one another in a series of three games. Coaches observed. Some offered playing opportunities.
“We exceeded our expectations,” said Webster. “We got some Division I schools there. The talent was tremendous. The boys' side was top-notch. It was a great event. Every time you turned around, there was a slam dunk.”
Brady Fairbanks of Cass Lake, Minn., received the boys' title of National High School Player of the Year. And even though he nabbed the attention of on-scene coaches, he has already agreed to play Division II ball at Bemidji State University in Minnesota.
“They're bringing in a lot of good freshmen and I was one of their top priorities,” said Fairbanks, who was a leading scorer and rebounder in Minnesota's Class 1A high school basketball.
Fairbanks was among the youth asked to participate based on outstanding court skills and a noteworthy academic record.
Knife Chief left the camp with one scholarship offer to play ball for Brown Mackie College in Kansas. She said she was thrilled with the offer, but still wanted to take her chances back home. She will walk onto the University of Oklahoma's women's team this fall.
“I want to go to an Oklahoma school and be near my family,” said the former all-state player.
The young woman praised the event. “I think NES is going to become something big. It will give a lot of Native Americans a chance to play basketball. I'm very proud of what Barry's done.”
Said Webster: “We hope that every Native American boy and girl on every reservation hears about this and is inspired and determined to come to NES and take their game to the next level.”
Reporter Jodi Rave can be reached at 800-366-7186 or at jodi.rave@lee.net.
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