It is in the early 2000’s in Detroit, Michigan when a grandfather was reading the local newspaper. An ad for a youth rec league basketball program caught his eye, so he approached his daughter with a 5-year-old son and said his grandson had better be in this.
From that point on, DaJion Humphrey and basketball were synonymous with each other. Almost every day of his life he had a basketball in hands. Soon he became involved with AAU basketball (Armature Athletic Union), winning championships and accolades. Humphrey then got involved with high school basketball where he quickly made a name for himself at Southfield Christian School winning state championships in Michigan as well as being named Player of the Year and on the All-State team.
All those talents got Humphrey to play college basketball where he eventually ended up at Samford for his final season.
Then on Oct. 13 Samford basketball was playing an exhibition game for the Ballin’ in Boutwell event. The Bulldogs were playing a nail-biting match against Alabama A&M when Humphrey went down with an injury.
“I was playing well. Everything was going good and we were making a comeback,” Humphrey said. “Then everything went downhill from there. I tore my Achilles and my basketball life flashed before my eyes. It was a dark feeling for a couple of days.”
Coming out of high school, Humphrey achieved his dream of going to D-I. For two years he played at Holy Cross. There he got five starts over his tenure there but made the best of the time he got on the court having multiple double-figures.
Wanting to maximize his opportunity to play, Humphrey decided to go to junior college. At Garden City Community College, he started in 30 games. He led the team in scoring 17.2 points per game and got himself named to the All-Conference team.
Ready to go back to D-I, Humphrey moved to Bowling Green. At that school, he started about 50% of the games he played in. But with one more year of eligibility, Humphrey knew he needed to make one more change.
Vince Martin became an assistant coach at Samford when Head Coach Lennie Acuff moved over from Lipscomb. Needing to build a roster, he remembered Humphrey’s name.
“Coach Vince, he was recruiting me out of Garden City. He connected me with Coach Lennie and right then I knew I wanted to go here,” said Humphrey. “Coach Lennie, he had this vision for me and for the team… It was a no brainer.”
Coach Lennie did have big plans for Humphrey’s final season. In the Ballin’ in Boutwell game, he was a part of the starting lineup. With 15 minutes remaining in the second half, Samford was looking to come back from double digit deficit on Humphrey’s nine points before he went down.
“That was a big loss,” Acuff said. “We are going to have to rethink some things.”
For Humphrey, it was more than a big loss.
“Every day is a new challenge for me,” said Humphrey. “I just try to win every day.”
Humphrey did not throw in the towel and give up on his team, however. While he can’t help the court, he found ways to remain part of the team.
“I have been playing college basketball for six years. I can help the younger guys see things that they don’t see. I have a different perspective, so just being a leader,” said Humphrey.
Humphrey attributes his motivation to the family that the team built in his time there.
“Everyone keeps me going,” said Humphrey. “They encourage me in the weight room.”
Going forward, Humphrey remains optimistic that he will be granted one more year of eligibility from the NCAA (National College Athletic Association) as they have given this to athletes who have suffered season-ending injuries before.
“I want to go to the tournament (March Madness),” said Humphrey. “Hopefully I comeback, go to the tourn at Samford and end my career the right way.”
No matter what happens next for Humphrey, he wants Samford to be a part of the story.
“The community here has been awesome,” said Humphrey. “I want to be a Bulldog; I want to end my career a Bulldog.”
Despite still using a scooter to move himself around, Humprey made the trip to New Orleans with the rest of the team to support the first regular season game in any way he can.
Samford went 1-1 to start this season and will be back in action against Texas Southern on Nov. 12.
Sports Editor
