Wednesday was national signing day for all the high school seniors that wanted to put pen-to-paper and officially declare where they will be playing their college basketball.
And while there were some big names making surprising decisions -- Hey P.J.! -- the day’s big winner was Albany, as the Great Danes landed the most important recruit: J.P. Honsinger.
J.P. is an 11 year old from Clifton, New York, who is battling a rare disease known as Niemann-Pick Disease Type C. It’s called childhood Alzheimer’s because of the way it affects the memory of the children that suffer from it. Fewer than 500 cases are known in the United States. The children rarely live to be adults.
“At 11 years of age, J.P. is the youngest player we have ever signed,” head coach Will Brown said in a statement from the school. “He is a lightning-quick point guard with big-time range on his jump shot. [He] is a pesky defender who has a tireless work ethic. As our point guard of the future, we are going to rely on his exceptional leadership qualities. Nobody in the country will be signing a player with JP’s toughness.”
J.P. isn’t just a basketball player, however. He’s also been named an officer in the Troy Police Department and has worked with a number of teams throughout Albany’s athletic department.
You can support J.P.'s fight by donating here.