If you check the Samford box score after a men’s basketball game, you will not find Nathaniel Henderson’s name on a stat line. Henderson’s name will not appear on the Bulldogs’ roster, either. Yet Henderson made a tremendous impact on Samford’s men’s basketball season without ever getting a minute of playing time.
Henderson, who goes by the nickname Biggie, is a 7-year-old from Birmingham who signed a National Letter of Intent with the Bulldogs at an October press conference attended by the entire Samford men’s basketball team and members of the athletics department. He received his very own No. 5 jersey and 16 teammates who drew inspiration from Biggie’s presence alone.
“If we’re down or something, we can just look at Biggie and get that inspiration and play a lot harder,” junior Tim Williams said.
Biggie is affected by CLOVES Syndrome, a rare genetic overgrowth syndrome that has fewer than 100 diagnosed cases across the world. His CLOVES causes vascular abnormalities and masses, as well as severe overgrowth on the right side of his body. On May 29, 2013, Biggie had his right leg, which was two to three feet longer than his left, amputated. It was the third time the 7-year-old had had surgery to remove masses.
Despite the adversity he has faced, Biggie exudes positivity and has become an important member of the Samford basketball program. He sits directly behind the bench during home games and comes out on the floor and into the huddle during timeouts.
“He gives off this aura about him that’s really impossible to explain,” junior Tyler Hood said. “It just motivates you and motivates your teammates. He makes every day possible for us.”
Biggie and the Bulldogs were connected through Team Impact, a group whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses by establishing and expanding vibrant team-based support networks. Team Impact offered Biggie a chance to be a part of a collegiate sports program, an experience he would not have had otherwise. The opportunity allowed Biggie to become the 17th member of the Samford program.
“He is the 17th member,” junior guard Connor Williams said. “A lot of people might look at it like we’re just saying that he’s the 17th member, but when he’s here on game day, and he’s here for almost every home game, he literally is part of the team. He goes through everything that we do.”
With Biggie on the bench, the Bulldogs went 10-4 at the Pete Hanna Center, their most home wins since 2008. Whether he is handing out high fives during player introductions or sitting in the huddle during timeouts, Biggie has provided the Bulldogs with a new perspective on life.
“A lot of times people talk about how we impact him, but I tend to really disagree,” Hood said. “He impacts us 10 times more and blesses us more than we could ever give back. He keeps things in perspective for us.”
For more information on Team Impact, including information on how other teams can help children with life-threating or chronic illnesses, log onto goteamimpact.com.