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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
When Laurent Isaiah began playing basketball in Grade 9 he never imagined how far the sport would take him.

Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Robert C. McLeod, left, presents Laurent Isaiah of Fort Simpson with the Sport Award from the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the NWT during an awards ceremony in Yellowknife on Nov. 1. - James McCarthy/NNSL photo

Isaiah, 18, has played in the Native American Basketball Invitational twice in Arizona, at the U17 Nationals in Toronto and Sherbrooke, Que. and at the Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse.

Next year, basketball may also take Isaiah, a Grade 12 student at Thomas Simpson School in Fort Simpson, to a college or university.

The six-foot-five centre and power forward humbly said that he just kept with the sport and got better and opportunities came up. Isaiah's skill and dedication to basketball was recognized earlier this month.

Veteran member of the Wolfpack

On Nov. 1, Isaiah received the Sport Award from the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the NWT during a ceremony in Yellowknife. The award is given to an individual who has excelled in their respective sport at various levels of competition. The individual must also display commitment and dedication to training and competition.

"I was quite surprised," said Isaiah, who only found out a week before that he'd been nominated. "I felt very proud and happy."

Basketball has always been Isaiah's favourite sport and the only one that he's played seriously. Isaiah said that he enjoys the challenge of the sport and competing against others, as well as meeting new people and travelling to new places.

"Playing it is just so fun," he said.

Isaiah's coaches say he is deserving of the award.

Kristen Morrison, a teacher at Thomas Simpson School, has coached Isaiah throughout his high school basketball career.

"He's developed so much," she said.

Morrison has watched Isaiah go from being an unco-ordinated teenager to a veteran member of the Wolfpack, the school's team. Along the way, Isaiah realized he wanted to improve his skills and he began responding positively to coaching suggestions, she said.

Isaiah has also done an unbelievable job of training on his own, on and off the court, she said. His commitment to the weight room and the gym in the rec centre has helped him improve.

"He deserves to be where he is right now," said Morrison. "It's not over, it's just the beginning for him."

Developed as a leader

Isaiah's coaches have also watched him develop as a leader.

"He's really grown into that role," said Neil Barry, who's coached Isaiah at Thomas Simpson School and at the Native American Basketball Invitational.

"He carries himself well on and off the court."

Barry also praised Isaiah's character.

"On the court, he's a warrior," said Barry, adding off the court Isaiah is one of the kindest people he knows.

Isaiah's said he's noticed a lot of his teammates look up to him.

"It's a good feeling. I like it."

Isaiah said he tries to help his teammates by giving them tips and suggestions if they are having difficulty with something.

This will be Isaiah's last year playing high school basketball. He plans to continue challenging himself to improve and to have fun. He hopes to go on to play on a college or university team and has already had offers from a few schools.

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