Recent NBA player visits more Northwest Alaska villages and opens up about personal challenges

At 6 feet 11 inches, professional basketball player Willie Reed towered over the children and Elders surrounding him in Noatak last week. With his encouraging message, Reed uplifted his audience and made his personal story of overcoming challenges relatable to rural Alaska youths.

Reed is a former Miami Heat center and most recently played as a power forward for Buducnost VOLI in the Eurocup. Two months ago, the former NBA player came to Northwest Alaska for the first time to inspire youths and motivate them to stay healthy and true to their goals. His visit included Buckland, Kotzebue, Deering, Selawik, Kiana, Kobuk, Shungnak and Ambler. The last week of November, he returned on a follow-up trip to the rest of the villages in the region: Noorvik, Kivalina, Point Hope and Noatak.

At each of their stops, the event drew a crowd of students and residents.

“You get to meet an NBA player in person,” Noatak’s Napaaqtugmiut School senior Paul Walton said. “Very awesome.”

“I definitely feel motivated for this upcoming season,” another Noatak student, junior Vincent Jr. Onalik, said. “Some words that he said just inspired me, personally, and hopefully we get pretty far into State this year.”

The visits were organized by the Maniilaq Association to engage youths — about 2,000 in the region — and spark a conversation about health and wellness, said Joel Alowa, director of Prevention Services at Maniilaq Association.

“The public response was incredible,” Alowa said. “We’ve had other dignitaries, celebrities, sports personnel come into Kotzebue but we’ve never had a sports celebrity travel all over our villages — that’s as a first time for us. ... He is truly probably the tallest person that we’ve ever had in the region.”

[NBA player visits Northwest villages to promote healthy lifestyle and dedication]

In every village, Reed and Team Hollywood Celebrity Streetball’s manager Peter Adams were greeted with kindness and a warm welcome.

“Being in the villages has been amazing: Everyone has been so nice. The culture is amazing,” Reed said. “I’m just glad to be able to be here and have the opportunity to change lives.”

“I’m not a big cold, ice, snow person but being here in Alaska is so warm. Their hearts are so warm, I completely ignore the cold,” Adams said. “And they really respect the game, and that’s so impressive to us.”

Adams said that in the future, he hopes to host a three-on-three basketball game with NBA players in Northwest Alaska. Alowa confirmed that the planning for hosting such a tournament in late summer or early fall is ongoing.

Back in Napaaqtugmiut School in Noatak last week, the great majority of the school — about 160 students out of 172 — showed up for the evening event with Reed, Principal Lori Hall said. Reed spoke about his career, showed his highlight videos, gave autographs, posed for pictures and let students try on the NBA championship ring from a former Los Angeles Lakers and Seattle SuperSonics player, Clay Johnson. Reed also led a few team-building activities with students.

“We’re a really large basketball community anyway, so having someone who’s achieved so much success in that sport has just been really all inspiring for our students,” Hall said.

But the visits were more than about basketball: Reed also spoke about bullying, staying drug-free and alcohol-free — and about taking care of your mental health.

Many of these issues are highly relevant in the Northwest Arctic.

“Historically, substance abuse and suicide have been the social issues in the region that for generations traumatized many of our families and our youth,” Alowa said. “During COVID, we saw a dramatic increase in requests for behavioral health services, substance use services, especially among young adults and youth.”

To address the problem, the Maniilaq Association has been partnering with the Northwest Arctic and North Slope boroughs and school districts to host after-school activities, sewing nights, winter sledding, summer cultural camps and other events. Reed’s visit was another way to uplift the youth.

“He has given them a very encouraging message about perseverance and believing in yourself and never giving up,” Hall said. “So many of our students need that type of encouragement.”

One way to push yourself toward your goals, Reed said, is to make sure you have like-minded and growth-oriented people around you.

“I think the people that you surround yourself with, those are the ones that are going to help push you to the towards your goals,” Reed said.

The player also shared his story of overcoming challenges — from health issues to adversity he experienced as a child.

One of his struggles is affecting his career right now: A heart condition is preventing Reed from playing basketball now, Adams said. The player is seeing doctors and hoping to make his NBA comeback.

Reed also said that through his childhood experience, he can relate to some of the challenges Alaska youth might be facing. Reed grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, living in a three-bedroom house with more than 10 people.

“I understand what everyone’s going through here in the villages and just growing up in a tough environment and situations but being able to make it out. So I just want to share my experiences to help motivate and share joy with the people here,” he said. “I’m big on no excuses.”

Hearing Reed’s words, Onalik said he felt inspired and motivated.

“It’s a pretty interesting story about how he came from a pretty small family with a small house and how he became this NBA prospect,” Onalik said. “I’m basically in the same situation: me and my parents and my younger brother, we live in a one-bedroom house.

“And it’s a dream of mine to play on the college team,” Onalik said, “at least.”