Sunday, Nov. 15, the Kimball boys and girls basketball players and their coaches attended a speaking event at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The teams learned about the dangers of drug and alcohol use and what effect it has upon everyone involved. Chris Herren, a former high school All-American, college superstar, and professional basketball player, talked about his life and the decisions he made that had a tremendous impact on himself and all of the people around him. After Herren?Äôs presentation the players and coaches enjoyed the basketball game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Memphis Grizzlies.
Chris Herren dreamed of one day playing for his hometown team, the Boston Celtics. He became the focus of the book ?ÄúFall River Dreams.?Äù Herren realized his lifelong dream of playing in the NBA when he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 1999, and was traded to the Boston Celtics after his rookie season, but lost it all because of substance abuse.
Alcohol and drug-free since Aug. 1, 2008, he has refocused his life to put his sobriety and family above all else. He shares his harrowing story of abuse and recovery in his memoir, ?ÄúBasketball Junkie,?Äù as well as in numerous interviews throughout the Emmy nominated ESPN Films documentary ?ÄúUnguarded,?Äù of which he is the subject.