by By Dan Ninham
Student-athletes are positive role models when they work with the youth in their communities.
Spencer Moran, 18, is a senior at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte HS in SD and he uses his skills to help the younger ones.
“I am Cheyenne River Sioux and I’m from the Mnicoujou, planters by the water,” said Spencer.
“I started as every other kid on the rez starts, with their friends or family outside the house or at the courts,” said Spencer. “I run cross country and play basketball. I competed in the state cross country meet.”
Spencer received honors in basketball and cross country. He had five triple-doubles during last basketball season.
“My tribal values define me with respect,” said Spencer. “I respect the coaches, the teachers, and the knowledge they pass down to me every day, because I am a student not only in the classroom but in life.”
“I take all the wisdom I’ve soaked in all my years of basketball,” said Spencer. “I help with camps and teach the youth about the importance of basketball and all the life lessons. To love and appreciate everything it gives you.”
“I take wisdom from my years of school and tell the youth how important it is to get an education and to stay in school. Even though it is hard, the end results is the life you dream of,” added Spencer.
“Lance Eaglestaff positively influences me,” said Spencer. “He has been there from the start and helped me become the athlete and person I am today. He taught me nothing will come easy without hard work. He’s pushed me to my limits, broke them and made new ones. He has been my mentor since I can remember, he is constantly teaching me new things about not only basketball but life.”
“Spencer has great qualities as a ball player and works hard on and off the court,” said Lance Eaglestaff, head boys’ basketball coach at Cheyenne-Eagle Butte HS. “I am very fortunate to have coached him for three years. He has become one of those players who people take a liking to because he plays with passion. I am very happy he gets the opportunity to play at the next level. I will always stand by and support players who played for me.”
“Spencer is a good person and great role model for native athlete across Indian country. I am very excited for what the future brings him,” added Lance.
“Jordan Davis has worked with me 1v1 for years now,” said Spencer. “He would wake me up at 5:30 am to work out and push me to be better, and he keeps me on my feet when I feel low. He is always giving me knowledge on the game and is straight up and tells me what I’m weak at not to make me feel bad but to make me better. He is one of the most important people in my life.”
“Spencer is one of the hardest workers I know,” said Jordan Davis, paraprofessional at Eagle Butte Elementary School. “He does all the little things on the court that often go unnoticed. He rebounds, distributes the ball, defends the others teams best player and communicates with his teammates. I’ve known him since he was eight years old and he’s always said he was going to do big things and he’ll do whatever he needs to do to accomplish those things. This showed to be true during his junior year of high school when he would come to do plyometrics and lift weights every morning at 6 am with me.”
“During the pandemic, I would wake up early and go for runs,” said Spencer. “We have a workout set in our basement so I could work out there. I would also practice on my basketball hoop outside.”
“I was born with a cleft lip and palate and been through 17 surgeries in my life,” said Spencer. “I was told many times by doctors I wouldn’t be able to do half the stuff I did in my life. I was also born deaf in my left ear and was bullied in my lifetime. With the negative came the positive. It made me want to work harder and prove myself that I can be what I desire to be. Even though I have all these trials and tribulations, I can be somebody. Even though I was different from other people I never felt less than. I always knew I was going to be something one day.”
“So to the youth out there, it’s not about what’s on the outside, but what’s within. If you have a good mental outlook you can outwork anybody, even the biggest and fastest guy in the room. Coming from a guy with speech problems and all these other conflicts, I did it. I did what nobody said I would. I proved I am worthy of having respect from others. I continue to this day to prove I deserve to be in the conversation of the good in life,” added Spencer.
“People tend to use their difficulty problems as an excuse to not do anything,” said Spencer. “I try my best to keep a smile and good head on my shoulders every day because I know there are kids out there watching.”
Photo by Ryan Coody/NDNSPORTS
