Kevin Laue

Kevin Laue
Personal information
Born (1990-04-13) April 13, 1990
San Jose, California
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight 230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school Amador Valley (Pleasanton, California)
Fork Union Military Academy
(Fork Union, Virginia)
College Manhattan (2009–2012)
NBA draft 2012 / Undrafted
Position Center
Career highlights and awards
  • First Division I basketball player with one hand on scholarship
  • ECAC Award of Valor (2010)

Kevin Clinton Laue (born April 13, 1990)[1] is a 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) tall American college student and basketball player at Manhattan College. He was born missing half of 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. A documentary film titled Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story was released in 2012.

Biography

Due to a restriction of prenatal blood circulation, Laue was born with a left arm that ended just below his elbow; he has a short rounded stump of his forearm.[2] His parents encouraged him to play soccer as a child, but Kevin did not like soccer.[3] He also refused to use a prosthetic arm.[3] 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.[3]

Competitive playing career

High school

Laue attended Amador Valley High School near his home where as a junior he played center on the varsity basketball team.[4][5] He played about 23 minutes a game and averaged eight points, six blocks and eight rebounds per game.[4]

During his junior year, he was described as the team's star.[5] In 2007 Sports Illustrated called him "the most exciting player in basketball" in recognition of his playing prowess with just one hand,[3] but he missed most of his senior year due to a broken leg, (Averaging eleven points, ten blocks, and nine rebounds per game his final year).[2]

After graduation, he enrolled as a postgraduate at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia[2] 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 hoped to be able to play for a Division I team.[2] 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.[6] In March 2009 he was awarded a scholarship from Manhattan College, a Division I school.[7]

Kevin wears size 17 shoes and can handle the ball in his large right hand,[2][4] which an Amador Valley teammate said "is as big as two normal hands."[5] He uses his short forearm stump (which he calls his 'nub'[3]) to help grip the ball after catching a pass. He also uses his stump effectively in defense, despite its short length, using its surprising strength to block opposing players.[2][4]

College

Laue played his first two seasons with Manhattan College under coach Barry Rohrssen and then under coach Steve Masiello. As a freshman in the 2009–10 season, Laue played in 19 games with an average 2.7 minutes per game and 0.7 rebounds and 0.2 blocks.[8][9] On December 30, 2009, Laue scored his first career point with a free throw and grabbed a season-high eight rebounds in 17 minutes in Manhattan's 86-48 loss to Vanderbilt.[10] Laue subsequently scored on field goals in two other games.[9]

In 2010–11, his sophomore year, Laue played in 22 games and started three games.[9] On December 11 against Binghamton, Laue played 14 minutes and scored 6 points on 3-for-4 shooting. In that game, Laue also made 3 rebounds and 2 blocks. On December 22 against Bowling Green, Laue played 13 minutes, scored 4 points off field goals, and made 5 rebounds.[11] Cumulatively, Laue made 21 rebounds and 5 blocks this season.[9] In his junior year, 2011–12, Laue grabbed 9 rebounds and blocked 7 shots.[8] Manhattan qualified for the 2012 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, but Laue did not play in the tournament.[12]

After graduating from Manhattan College in only three years, Laue's career totals came to 36 points, 42 rebounds, 15 blocks, 1 steal, and 1 assist.[13]

References

  1. ↑ California birth index search
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Adam Himmelsbach, Prospect Provides Inspiration With What He Doesn’t Have, The New York Times, December 26, 2008
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Steve Rushin, He's Twice As Amazing, Sports Illustrated, February 12, 2007
  4. 1 2 3 4 Tom FitzGerald, The Shot Blocker: Amador Valley's Laue intimidates despite disability, San Francisco Chronicle, February 15, 2007
  5. 1 2 3 Meet Kevin Laue, SFist website, December 15, 2006
  6. ↑ Kevin Laue | Center, ESPN Basketball Recruiting website, accessed December 29, 2008
  7. ↑ Himmelsbach, Adam (May 25, 2009). "Kevin Laue, One-Handed Player, Earns Division I Basketball Scholarship". New York Times. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  8. 1 2 "Kevin Laue". ESPN. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Kevin Laue". Manhattan Jaspers. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Vanderbilt 86, Manhattan 48". AP. December 30, 2009. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Kevin Laue game log, 2010-11". ESPN. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Kevin Laue game log, 2011-12". ESP. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Kevin Laue stats". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
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