Today is a great day for the D1 Nation and one it's classiest alumni. Adhar Mayhen, Class of 2007 at Pflugerville, TX and who had a three year career D1 career and obtained his degree from the University of Hawaii has signed a professional contract to play in Australia.
Adhar played several years for the Texas D1 Ambassadors and always distinguished himself on and off the court. His story is both heartwarming and a profile in courage and commitment. Adhar's family was under political pressure and under the threat of execution in his native Sudan when at 7 years old they escaped in the middle of the night to Egypt. After two years there, his family emigrated to London, England and finally 2 years later to Austin, TX. Despite this, he still graduated high school when he was only 16. How can that be when we have children here with all the creature comforts who use any excuse for their academic failings while another youngster overcomes real challenges?
Primarily because he was so young and skinny, Mayhen had only one D1 offer coming out of high school. he consulted with me and asked my opinion. I felt he had great upside and although his decision to have confidence that he would be fine and that the Lord would reward him. He elected to go to junior college one year and then earned his scholarship and he played his final three season for Hawaii, graduating with his bachelor's degree this summer. The fall has been spent with the Athletes in Action team training and playing exhibition games in North Carolina with other college players.
He called me this morning with the good news: "Coach I've signed to play professionally in Australia!" This couldn't have happened to a nicer human being. He's become a close friend of the family over the last 7 years and has also represented his native Sudan earlier this year in international competition. Congratulations to Adhar-Coach Max Ivany and the D1 Ambassadors Family.
