University of Houston Athletics
Men’s Hoops Welcomes Jace Abarca to Program
10/4/2022 3:41:00 PM | Men's Basketball
10-year old battles lupus and kidney disorder and will serve as Cougars’ Head Ball Kid in 2022-23
HOUSTON – Ten-year-old Jace Abarca became the newest member of the University of Houston Men's Basketball program after signing his Cougars Letter of Intent during a press conference on the practice court inside the Guy V. Lewis Development Facility on Tuesday afternoon.
Sitting beside Head Coach Kelvin Sampson and his parents, Yaneth and James, and two brothers, Jace signed the letter in front of his new teammates the 2022-23 Cougars, University of Houston band and cheer members and media members.
As part of his signing, Jace also will serve as the Head Ball Kid at Houston Men's Basketball games inside the Fertitta Center during the 2022-23 season.
"Today, Jace is officially a University of Houston Cougar. We want to welcome Jace and his family to Houston Basketball," said Sampson, who enters his ninth season with the Cougars and his 34th as a collegiate head coach in 2022-23. "One of the most important things that we look for is being able to be a great teammate. Great teams are made of great teammates. That was the thing about Jace that jumped out at us right away. He comes from a great family. He is a leader and has two little brothers who look up to him. We think he might have some leadership and point guard skills as we develop him."
"Today is an honor, and we are excited to be a part of the team," Jace's father, James, said. "Jace has been an inspiration since we found out what he has. From day one, he has never hesitated. He has said 'whatever we have to do to get through this, I am going to do.' Jace has motivated and inspired everyone around us. Despite what he was facing, he was the one picking us up and motivating us to get through a lot of things with his positive attitude and love of life. It's an honor to be welcomed to a bigger family."
Jace joined the Cougars as part of a partnership with Team IMPACT. As a 10-year-old Houston native, Jace lives with lupus and kidney disorders. Lupus is an inflammatory disease in which the body's immune systems attacks its own tissues and organs.
With his parents and three siblings, Jace loves to read and play video games, like Roblox and Fortnite. He also enjoys science, engineering and geography. Jace is a big fan of the TV show Chicago Med and loves to talk about medical things.
Houston Athletics has worked with Team IMPACT for the past 2+ years, matching children across its Men's Basketball, Football, Soccer and Swimming and Diving programs.
Team IMPACT, a national non-profit organization, has developed a unique multiyear program that matches children facing serious illnesses and disabilities with college athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience.
ABOUT TEAM IMPACT
Team IMPACT's unique multiyear program signs children facing serious illness and disabilities onto college athletic teams across the country.
Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience, ensuring everyone involved has the personalized game plan they need to win – effectively building confidence and independence.
Founded in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 2,300 children with 700+ colleges and universities in 49 states, impacting more than 60,000 student-athletes.
If you know a child or team who may be interested, please visit teamimpact.org.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
Sitting beside Head Coach Kelvin Sampson and his parents, Yaneth and James, and two brothers, Jace signed the letter in front of his new teammates the 2022-23 Cougars, University of Houston band and cheer members and media members.
As part of his signing, Jace also will serve as the Head Ball Kid at Houston Men's Basketball games inside the Fertitta Center during the 2022-23 season.
"Today, Jace is officially a University of Houston Cougar. We want to welcome Jace and his family to Houston Basketball," said Sampson, who enters his ninth season with the Cougars and his 34th as a collegiate head coach in 2022-23. "One of the most important things that we look for is being able to be a great teammate. Great teams are made of great teammates. That was the thing about Jace that jumped out at us right away. He comes from a great family. He is a leader and has two little brothers who look up to him. We think he might have some leadership and point guard skills as we develop him."
"Today is an honor, and we are excited to be a part of the team," Jace's father, James, said. "Jace has been an inspiration since we found out what he has. From day one, he has never hesitated. He has said 'whatever we have to do to get through this, I am going to do.' Jace has motivated and inspired everyone around us. Despite what he was facing, he was the one picking us up and motivating us to get through a lot of things with his positive attitude and love of life. It's an honor to be welcomed to a bigger family."
Jace joined the Cougars as part of a partnership with Team IMPACT. As a 10-year-old Houston native, Jace lives with lupus and kidney disorders. Lupus is an inflammatory disease in which the body's immune systems attacks its own tissues and organs.
With his parents and three siblings, Jace loves to read and play video games, like Roblox and Fortnite. He also enjoys science, engineering and geography. Jace is a big fan of the TV show Chicago Med and loves to talk about medical things.
Houston Athletics has worked with Team IMPACT for the past 2+ years, matching children across its Men's Basketball, Football, Soccer and Swimming and Diving programs.
Team IMPACT, a national non-profit organization, has developed a unique multiyear program that matches children facing serious illnesses and disabilities with college athletic teams across the country. Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience.
ABOUT TEAM IMPACT
Team IMPACT's unique multiyear program signs children facing serious illness and disabilities onto college athletic teams across the country.
Based on a clinical model, Team IMPACT guides a symbiotic relationship between teams and children focused on socialization, empowerment, and resilience, ensuring everyone involved has the personalized game plan they need to win – effectively building confidence and independence.
Founded in 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 2,300 children with 700+ colleges and universities in 49 states, impacting more than 60,000 student-athletes.
If you know a child or team who may be interested, please visit teamimpact.org.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
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