Adam Morrison

Adam Morrison in a win over Michigan St. (Google)

Adam Morrison is a 6'8", 205 pound small-forward from Gonzaga University. He is also the 2006 Chevrolet Player of the year. Adam Morrison averaged 28.8 points per game, which made him the 2005-2006 leading scorer. Morrison had 13 games over 30 points and 5 games over 40. He led his team to the Sweet-Sixteen in the 2006 NCAA tournament, but lost to UCLA. Morrison still had 24 points that game. Morrison was a favorite to win the Wooden and Naismith player of the year awards but lost to Duke's J.J. Redick. He also shared the United States Basketball Writers Association 2005-2006 Player of the Year with Redick.

Adam Morrison runs down the court in celebration. (Google)

Adam Morrison may have received all of these awards, but there is something most people don't know about him. He has Type 1 diabetes. Morrison has had this disease since the 8th grade. He has had to deal with the disease off and on the court. In some games, Morrison has to call a time out so he can give himself an insulin shot to help control his blood sugar. Off the court he wears an insulin pump attached to his abdomen.

Adam Morrison with a slam dunk. (Google)

In Adam Morrison's first year of college basketball, Sports Illustrated did an article on him, on how he plays with diabetes. On the first day the issue went out, more than 50 parents of diabetic kids called Gonzaga University to see if he would come and talk to the children. In that year, he earned more attention for playing with diabetes than he did playing on the court. Morrison has definitely learned how to play even though he suffers with this disease.

Adam Morrison after a win with Gonzaga. (Google)

Adam Morrison is not only my hero, but also a hero to many of the children who have had diabetes. He is my hero because he has to play with that condition and some athletes don't play because of something as trivial as a sore thumb. He is a real athlete that can play through the pain. That is why I admire Adam Morrison.