Men's Basketball Welcomes Nine-Year Old Alec to the Team

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - The Bridgewater State University men's basketball team welcomed nine-year old Alec as its newest team member. Alec has joined the BSU men's hoops program thanks to its work with Team IMPACT, a non-profit organization serving children who are facing life-threatening diseases.

Alec, who resides in Plymouth, Mass., officially signed his letter of intent to join the Bears at the team's annual Midnight Madness festivities on Wednesday, November 14th. [Video] Alec was also presented with an official Bridgewater State t-shirt and baseball cap.

Prior to the signing at Midnight Madness, Alec first met Head Coach Joe Farroba and BSU team captains, Anthony Fortes, Brendan MacDonald and Shawn Yard, at dinner at Papa Gino's where he received an official BSU Athletics winter hat.  Alec, along with his mother and grandmother, then met the rest of the team at the Bears' Veterans Day Clinic.

Alec is afflicted with several rare diseases and is considered a "complicated medical mystery" by his 15 doctors at Boston Children's Hospital.  He is an absolute social butterfly and has been dubbed the "little mayor of Plymouth". Alec loves basketball and has one older brother and two older sisters.  He likes the color orange and watches the cartoon Phineas and Ferb on TV and says Wall-E is his favorite movie.  Alec loves to eat chicken nuggets and play on his Nintendo DSi, and he is thrilled to be a Bridgewater State Bear.

“Our basketball program is ecstatic to have Alec join our team,” said Farroba.  “His perseverance will be a true motivator for our team throughout the year and for years to come.”

“For the players and coaches to be involved with such an outstanding program like Team Impact is truly an amazing experience,” Farroba added.

Alec will be welcome to join the team at games, practices and other team events as the coming seasons progress, and he will have his own locker in the team locker-room at the Tinsley Center.

Team IMPACT is a New England-based non-profit organization serving children who are facing life-threatening diseases by creating unparalleled team-based support systems. Core to its model is leveraging the power of teamwork by matching up these courageous kids with college athletic teams.  This marks the third time a BSU varsity athletics program has been blessed with working with Team IMPACT as both the Field Hockey and Softball teams welcomed their two new teammates this past spring.