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Lauren Hill: Late College Basketball Player’s Parents Presented With ‘Best Moment’ In Emotional ESPY Tribute

By Shayla D
Published on: 15:51 PST, Jul 15, 2015

Lauren Hill, the inspirational college basketball player that passed away from an inoperable brain tumor in April, was honored posthumously with the ESPY for the “Best Moment” during Wednesday’s awards ceremony.

Presented by NBA champion Stephen Curry, Hill’s parents accepted the award on Hill’s behalf. As her mother, Lisa Hill, shakily thanked the crowd for recognizing the courage displayed by Lauren and encouraged athletes to take a stand against cancer, her father stood emotionally in the background grasping Hill’s award. Mr. and Mrs. Hill received a standing ovation from the audience as they approached the stage.

“Lauren showed us through heart, determination, courage, strength, and faith, that no matter what it is possible to achieve your dreams,” Lisa Hill remarked to the audience, “Lauren’s season was more than about basketball. It was about life lessons.”

Lauren Hill had dreamed of playing college basketball at a young age. Shortly after committing to play for Mount St. Joseph University, it was discovered that Hill had an inoperable brain tumor. Despite Hill’s illness, she continued to practice with her team, inspiring many with her will and determination. Hill’s story touched the hearts of the NCAA, whom in an effort to make the athlete’s dream come true, moved up the original first game date by two weeks with the hope that Hill would be strong enough to make it onto the court.

Hill took the court with her Mount St. Joseph teammates against Hiram College in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 10,000 people. Lauren would go on to play in a total of four games for her team. Hill’s family placed her on hospice care in December of 2014 and she passed away April 10, 2015.

While the “Best Moment” award was a commendable tribute to Hill, it was not met without controversy. An announcement in June that Caitlyn Jenner would be receiving the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPYs caused public outcry in support of Lauren Hill’s formidable battle not only against cancer, but to continue to participate as an athlete.

While the controversy over the decision to not present Hill with the Courage Award continued to brew over social media, many were grateful that Lauren’s family received some sort of recognition for her inspiring story, not only for athletes but for cancer patients and their families.

What do you think? Did the ESPYs do enough to honor Lauren Hill?

[Image courtesy of ABC]

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