SPORTS
KANSAN.COM
Cole Aldrich of the LA Clippers smiles as he walks down the court during the Rock Chalk Roundball Classic
Alex Robinson/KANSAN
Cole Aldrich takes pride in giving back to Lawrence
DYLAN SHERWOOD
@dsherwoodku
Aldrich recently finished his fifth season in the NBA. Aldrich was a member of the 2008 National Championship team as a freshman and continued playing at Kansas until 2010 when he declared for the NBA Draft. Aldrich was the 11th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and was selected
Aldrich said that when he comes back to Lawrence he tries to get involved in the community as much as he can. Last week, Aldrich participated in his fifth Rock Chalk Roundball Classic.
When former K an s as basketball players come back to Lawrence for the first time, they often reflect on how special this community is. For Cole Aldrich, it's no different.
by the New Orleans Hornets then traded to Oklahoma City that same day.
"From day one when Coach [Bill] Self started recruiting me, the fans just gave me everything," Aldrich said. "It's so much fun to be able to come back. I try to make it back once or twice every summer. The community has given me so much."
Aldrich said that being able to come back to Lawrence and help give back is something he likes to do when he gets the chance.
Event director Brian Hanni, who was a broadcaster for the Jayhawk IMG Sports Network when Aldrich was playing in Lawrence, said Cole has gone above and beyond in his care for the community.
"In the eight years we've done this we've had more than 60 former players and coaches contribute and all are terrific ambassadors for KU hoops, but I'm not
sure any have taken a more active interest in our beneficiaries than Cole," Hanni said.
Over the last few years Aldrich has sent "get well soon" videos to several of the beneficiaries, including Levi Ross, who was a beneficiary last year and to Anna Kearney, who is one of the three beneficiaries for this year's event.
"I think for me, it's knowing that as a person in the public eye it's easy for me to do that," Aldrich said. "They are going through a tough time. I can't imagine how hard it is for them. To be able to give them just a little bit of happiness really is what I'm looking for."
Kearney'sfather, Steve Kearney, saw the videos Aldrich sent to her. Steve attended Thursday's event to represent the family, since Anna was unable to leave Seattle. A video was shown before the game honoring Anna.
"It was very uplifting to get a video from
Cole," Steve said. "We all watched it in her hospital room. She literally has 12 different pumps hooked up to her pumping different chemicals and things into her. It really is a lift-up for somebody like Aldrich to let her know he's thinking about her."
"It's a huge honor to be a part of what Brian [Hanni] and his team does," Aldrich said. "because the families are going through a hard time and it's never easy."
Hanni said that Aldrich tries to check-in with all the beneficiaries as often as he can.
"He may have a 76' wingspan, but the size of his heart stretches even bigger," Hanni said. "He truly gets it when it comes to realizing and utilizing the platform these KU celebrities have been given."
Aldrich said it is a huge honor to be able to come back to where he played in college and help out these local kids.