LA Clippers’ small forward Sam Dekker’s achievements were celebrated by his hometown of Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
Mike Vandersteen, the mayor of Sheboygan, declared Friday, July 28th as Sam Dekker Day in the city. “He is a role model to our youth showing that with hard work and dedication it is possible to realize your dreams,” the mayor said.
In addition to that his high school basketball jersey was also retired by his alma mater.
A public event was held to commemorate the 23-year old’s remarkable journey to the NBA. Sam’s father Todd Dekker, sports announcer Kevin Harlan and former University of Wisconsin men’s basketball coach Bo Ryan all spoke about Sam’s rise.
A reception was held inside the school’s gym later to unveil the banner where his old uniform will hang. Proceeds from the event were donated for cancer research. And Sam Dekker was in attendance to sign autographs for fans.
The small forward started his basketball career at the Sheboygan Area Lutheran High School team. There he played for two years and averaged 29.4 points per game. He carried his team to their first ever WIAA state title. It was in this tournament where Dekker created a classic moment in Wisconsin sports history. His game-winning shot against Racine Lutheran with 5 seconds on the clock made him an instant sensation.
During his junior season, the small forward was named West Regional Most Outstanding Player during the 2015 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. The Houston Rockets picked him as the 15th overall pick in the 2015 draft. There he signed a $5.1 million contract for three years. Last month, Dekker was one of the players acquired by the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Chris Paul trade.
It might be too soon to say this, but LA Clippers fans will be hoping that Dekker can become a legend for the franchise, so that one day they too can retire his jersey.