Atlanta Tipoff Club announced winners of inaugural Jersey Mike’s Naismith High School Basketball Courage Award.
Video: Meet Ohio's Michael Beauchesne Inaugural winner of Jersey Mike's Naismith Courage Award.
The Jersey Mike's Naismith High School Basketball Courage Award recognizes a boys and girls high school basketball player who has consistently gone above and beyond throughout the basketball season and has demonstrated courage in their approach to their team, their school, the game and their community.
The nationwide call for entries began on Jan. 6, when the submission process opened to high school basketball coaches and athletic directors (or administrators) around the country. Sophomore Michael Beauchesne of
Bay (Bay Village, Ohio) High School was named as the male award winner.
At age 10, Beauchesne was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Mowat-Wilson syndrome. It impacts almost every system in the body including motor and developmental skills and sometimes prevents children from being able to walk or even stand. Despite his challenges, Beauchesne is an active member of the junior varsity basketball team, attending practice almost every day to cheer his teammates on. His courage and spirit are seen on a daily basis by those around him, and when he made his debut start in a junior varsity game, the entire gym saw the commitment and passion he has to the sport of basketball.
"We are proud to honor LayRay and Michael as Naismith award honorees," said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "Their courage, persistence and passion for basketball shines through in everything they do for their teams, families and communities. Both are truly deserving of the first annual Jersey Mike's Naismith Courage Award."
Thousands of applications for the Jersey Mike's Naismith Courage Award were submitted, leading to 10 national semifinalists. From there, the two winners were chosen by an esteemed Board of Selectors, which included key journalists, former Naismith winners and Atlanta Tipoff Club board members.
"Jersey Mike's is humbled and inspired by the stories that were submitted for the Jersey Mike's Naismith High School Basketball Courage Award program," said Rich Hope, chief marketing officer, Jersey Mike's Franchise Systems, Inc. "All of the submissions represented strong examples of courage and how these amazing student-athletes overcame obstacles. We are proud to honor LayRay and Michael as the inaugural winners of this award."
Each winner will be honored at their school and with a special video feature of their story, which will be shared across the Naismith Trophy and Jersey Mike's websites and social pages. Jersey Mike's will also make a donation to the players' high school basketball programs in honor of the two winners.
