One Hand...No Problem

Recently 6'10 center Kevin Laue, a Northern California native, signed with Division I school Manhattan of the MAAC. While the MAAC is far from being one of the Big Six conferences (Big 12, Big 10, SEC, ACC, Big East, Pac-10), the conference does boast talented teams (Siena) and owns a gaurunteed spot in the annual NCAA tournament.

Manhattan College boasts a rich athletic pedigree, claiming 5 NBA players, 1 NBA coach, and even a Harlem Globetrotter during the history of their athletic program.

Which brings us to the case of newly signed center Kevin Laue. At Amador Valley High School Laue starred as the starting center on the varsity basketball team, averaging 5 blocks a game. In 2007, Sports Illustrated called him "the most exciting player in basketball". Scouts Inc. describes the young center as "a prospect that could instantly help a number of low major Division I programs" and cites his "quick leaping ability" and "effectiveness on both offense and defense".

So why was Manhattan head coach Barry Rohrssen taking a huge risk signing Laue to a scholarship?

Kevin Laue, the 6'10 center out of Northern California, was born with one hand, with his left arm's circulation being cut off at birth by his umbilical cord. As seen in the picture his left arm is cut off right after the elbow, however his large right hand permits Laue to easily palm the ball.

Rohrssen is taking an enormous risk by utilizing a precious scholarship on a player with ONE HAND. The increasingly competitive nature of Division I basketball, where there are March Madness berths on the line, often results in shady dealings as well as under handed recruiting.

Head coach Rohrssen easily justified his decision saying, “We take chances on kids who have poor academic histories, who have disciplinary problems both on the court and off the court. We give opportunities to players who don’t appreciate them, who take them for granted. For all the right reasons, Kevin deserves this chance, and he should make the most of this opportunity.” And he would be absolutely correct in his ideology.



Problem children, criminals, and academically ineligible students are often given second, third, and fourth chances, while players like Kevin may not even receive that first opportunity. Competing in a sport where use of both hands is essential, and a one handed basketball player seems unfathomable to many, Laue has developed a unique skill set and legendary work ethic. For these reasons, the young 6'10 center out of California was offered a scholarship by Manhattan College. However, the businesslike nature of college athletics in modern times will put the spotlight on Kevin Laue and his large right hand, as well as the entire Manhattan athletic department. And this is what makes this story all the more remarkable. By giving Kevin that first chance, the first opportunity that no one else was willing to give, head coach Barry Rohrssen essentially put himself on job notice. If this decision blows up in his face, Rohrssen will have to live down being known as the coach who gave a scholarship to a one handed player. Hardly a cheap proposition, a semester at Manhattan costs an average of nearly $20,000 after factoring in room and board as well as essential living expenses. For an athletic program without the prowess and resources as an Ohio State or Kansas this can be a catastrophic decision.

However, we applaud coach Rohrssen for taking a chance on a player who if given two hands might have very well gone to a Big Six school. We applaud the entire Manhattan athletic program for allocating a valuable scholarship for the one handed Laue. And most of all we applaud Kevin Laue, an inspiration to the rest of us. For if Laue can play Division I basketball with one hand, imagine the things we can do with two.