All-Star weekend was in Chicago this year, making it the city to be in if you’re a fan of basketball. And while the main event was the annual NBA All-Star game on Sunday featuring NBA icons like LeBron James and James Harden, The Kennedy Forum also recruited some basketball talent of their own… but these players didn’t come to Chicago to play in a basketball game; they were in Chicago for their work off the court.
The Kennedy Forum Spotlight Series: Community, Sports, and Mental Wellness at Kennedy-King College boasted a speaker lineup that included basketball stars like NBA champion Metta World Peace, WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw, and former NCAA star Trey Moses. It also featured LA Times columnist Elzie Lee Granderson, Dr. WIlliam Parham, the NCAA’s Jessica Wagner, Project sWish founder McKinley Nelson, Washington Post columnist Kevin Blackistone, and Phillip R. Hampton.
We were fortunate to witness so many speakers share their stories, but one in particular that left an impact was that of Trey Moses. Trey is a former Ball State basketball standout and currently plays professionally overseas in Europe. While his on the court accomplishments are endless, it is what he has done off the court that is what’s most noteworthy. Trey started off 2020 by being presented with the NCAA Inspiration Award for his ability to use his own story as a springboard to help others, and while speaking at The Kennedy Forum Spotlight Series Trey shared that story with us all.
Trey introduced us to his best friend and teammate Zach Hollywood. After a break-out sophomore season in college, Trey could not wait to finally play alongside Zach, who was redshirting and had yet to play. But that was a dream that would never manifest. It was early in his junior year and like many college students Trey liked to get his sleep. He told us his routine of waking up 15 minutes before his morning class, throwing on some clothes and heading out the door. On this particular morning Trey woke up to four missed calls and two voicemails from Zach. In his rush to class he sent a “what’s up” text, and did not think much of it.
He never got a reply from Zach. After his school day ended Trey still had not heard from his teammate, and they had a team meeting coming soon. Trey got in contact with Zach’s roommate and arranged to be let into the apartment. Upon entry Trey discovered that his best friend had died by suicide – a moment that will live with him forever, “It was the toughest thing I’ve been though. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”
In response to this, Trey dedicated the rest of his career to Zach and even got permission from Zach’s family to wear his number 24. He said that while Zach’s family never got to see him play, seeing Trey wear the number 24 would allow them to see a piece of Zach every time Trey played. It did not stop there, by deciding to share his story Trey used his platform as a star athlete to encourage others. Playing basketball allows Trey the opportunity to share his story globally and has impacted people all around the world. In 2018 he was invited to participate in a sport mission trip with the nonprofit Athletes in Action, and while in New Zealand he played eight games where at halftime he told his story with more than 500 people in a country with one of the highest suicide rates in the world.
Trey sets a goal every day to impact as many people in a positive light as possible, and he left Chicago impacting hundreds of lives just by sharing his story. During a weekend where the best of the best are competing in the all star game, Trey showed that sometimes it’s more than a game.
