Resilience from Community to the Hard Wood – Lance Waddles

Resilience is oftentimes noted as being embedded in our indigenous culture, transcending tribal affiliation and resonating all over Turtle Island. With that comes strength and more importantly passion. 

“If you feel you can do something, I say go after it with all you got.” – Lance Waddles

EARNED STARDOM

Thanks to our sports producer, Jermaine and his show ‘The Winner’s Edge’ we found that Lance Waddles is the perfect example of this. His story not only shows his love for the game but also his burning passion and strength he has gained from the adversity he has had to endure.

Watch the full interview below‼️👇👇

Hailing out of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, Lance has grown up around some incredibly strong male role models, which is a huge component needed for a young man not only in the world of sports but also life in general. His older brother played college football for Prairie View A&M and he credits his father for showing that success is possible regardless of what you come from.

“My dad… he didn’t really come from a whole lot but he’s able to be a successful business owner.”

— Lance Waddles

This led Lance to having the passion and talent to thrive in all sports, being a multi-faceted athlete. Lance states that he grew up playing football, baseball and basketball, even though it was his brother (the former collegiate football player) who informed him that Lance had what it took to make it in the game of basketball.

So, Lance began his journey but once high school began unfortunately much more off-the-court troubles would interfere with his game. Beginning his freshman year due to him living out of the school district, it led him to be ineligible to play varsity basketball, even though he was already a varsity caliber player proven through the summer league. Following that, came his sophomore year where he played solid but unknown to others, he was playing with a torn hamstring, not allowing him to move like he wanted.

Through all of that he still played well enough to get recruited to a high level high school, his junior year, to come out and play on a stage that could showcase his skills. Unfortunately, it was a breach of conduct due to the coach recruiting him to the school which was against the rules in high school sports.

Although Lance was hungry to prove himself, he knew he had what it took to get recruited. So, his older brother moved him to Florida to play with an international prep team in order to get scouted, in which Lance had a great year and also learned the ways of independence living on his own.

Coming back for his senior year he was ready to finally prove himself and continue his journey to college basketball, and that he did!

TEST OF ADVERSITY

By the time his senior year came to an end, he had plenty of colleges knocking on the door but unfortunately that last year came with COVID-19. This led the world to shut down, and unfortunately that came with most colleges backing out of their offers and leaving interest completely.

“80% of the schools that recruited me during that time stopped or backed off.”

— Lance Waddles

Through that tumultuous journey, deciding over local JUCOs, etc. Lance persevered and landed at North Dakota State University, a university that’s close to home and provided the highest level of play, D1 basketball.

After that long journey, Lance was ready to prove himself but the chance never showed itself. Not playing as much as he wanted, and never truly feeling like family by the coaching staff or the team, he entered the transfer portal.
Finally landing at the University of Nebraska, another D1 school playing under the Omaha Mavericks. Lance got to play in the NCAA tournament and put up solid numbers, averaging 9 points and 4 rebounds.

Now heading into his senior season, he is ready to go out there and play with a tenacity and a hunger like never before, its all been leading up to this moment.

“Ever since I was little I wanted to be able to do something special for us, for my tribe.”

— Lance Waddles

Through all of that, he stays connected to his roots, touching base with the rez, allowing his spirit the silence amidst nature, in which he loves to hunt and more. Lance keeps himself grounded by reminding himself that everything he is doing is for a reason and he hopes to inspire his community through his basketball skills.

THE PAY OFF

To end it off, witnessing that resilience, that passion and that determination, many like to say that playing sports isn’t worth it unless you’re guaranteed to go to the league. Lance Waddles has what it takes to reach the next level but regardless of what comes after basketball, that hard work will always pay off, in ways unprecedented. Putting in the work is always worth it, regardless of the ultimate outcome.

That hard work will trickle down to others, it will influence and inspire. I know it inspired me, and I’m sure it will inspire you too. So, go check out the interview below and support Lance Waddles in everything that he does.

Stay up to date on everything Lance Waddles:

https://omavs.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/lance-waddles/15812

https://www.instagram.com/lancekabob