One-Armed Player Provides Sports Center Moment

College basketball has always had its share of feel good moments.

This one involves Hansel Emmanuel, a freshman from Northwestern State in Natchitoches, La. who scored his first points during a 91-73 victory over Louisiana-Monroe.

Emmanuel, a 19-year old who lost his left arm just below his shoulder in a childhood accident, blew in from the right wing for a thunderous dunk to highlight his team’s
91-73 win over Louisiana-Monroe.

“I know my familly was proud,” he said. “I had to keep working, You can’t give up.”
Emmanuel finished with 5 points on 2 for 3 shooting. and was 1 for 5 from the line with one rebound in eight minutes. He had played in four previous games for the Demons and was 0 for 2 from the floor.

Emmanuel was born in the Dominican Republic. He was six when a pile of cinder blocks fell on him. The damage was so bad, doctors had to amputate his arm.
Emmanuel later moved to Florida and later became a big scorer in high school, attracting the interest of schools like Memphis when his highlight videos appeared on social media.

The Demons (8-2) were on their way to a seventh straight win when the coaches put Emmanuel in the game lae. He scored on a layup with  two and a half minutes to play, made the first part pf a one and one with just over a minute left, He missed the second half but grabbed the rebound, took one dribble and then slammed down an emphatic dunk. The crowd of 16027 roared their approval, offering him a standing ovation.