It's a thankful time for Speed and Antelopes

When the Grand Canyon University men’s basketball team participated in the “Finding My Shoes” program at St. Vincent de Paul last month, the visit hit close to home for one player.

Junior point guard Kyle Speed knows exactly what it’s like to need shoes and need a place to stay.

As Speed and the Antelopes prepare for the GCU Thanksgiving Tip-Off Classic Friday and Saturday (7:15 tip-off at Antelope Gymnasium each night), the mature-beyond-his-years floor leader, recalls the time as a Seattle youngster where he and his family stayed in a place like St. Vincent de Paul, which provides services to the poor, the homeless and those going through difficult times in their lives.

“It just hit home,” said Speed of his trip with teammates last month. “I can relate to them. I’ve had to go to a place where someone has had to give me free shoes, clothes. I know what they’re going through I know what that feels like.”

Speed remembers being a third grader staying at a local YMCA for two weeks, and then moving to a shelter for a weekend before getting into Seattle Emergency Housing. The family stayed there for close to 18 months.

“It was a long period in my life,” he said.

If Speed’s teammates weren’t able to put into proper perspective their charitable visit on the trip back to campus, they certainly were able to the next morning; that’s when Speed delivered an emotional speech to his fellow teammates on why he was able to relate to all those people they saw the night before.

“My emotions took over,” said Speed, who agreed with Coach Russ Pennell, that it was a good idea to share his story with the entire team. “I felt it needed to be told to help everyone get a better appreciation of what we have here.”

It did just that.

“To me it showed a lot of character that he could go back to that situation and handle it. It showed a lot of courage,” said sophomore guard Steven Morin, from Scottsdale.

“It really made me thankful for all that I have,” added Morin. “Sometimes I take things for granted, but when you’re put in a situation like that, you’re really grateful for what you have. It was all a very humbling experience.”

A junior college transfer, Speed -- who has only one turnover and is second on the team in minutes played -- has been a great addition and key ingredient to a club hoping to continue its momentum with games against quality opponents Washburn and Seattle Pacific this weekend.

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FRIDAY'S ROSTERS/NOTES

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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