by By Dan Ninham (Oneida)
Kahletsyalu’sla is one of the core values of the Oneida Nation. It is translated as the heartfelt encouragement in each of us. Our life paths are encouraged to be moving forward, occasionally we hit a bump and then we adjust and stay on the right path. Lahsakayutetha Hill is moving forward as he is winding down his senior year of playing high school basketball.
Lahsakayutetha Hill is a 6’1, senior basketball player for the Oneida Nation High School Thunderhawks, Oneida, WI. His parents are Tehassi Hill and Michelle Denny.
“My tribal core values define me as a student-athlete by having a strong mind, good heart, and remaining humble,” said Lahsa. “A part of being Oneida is to always keep a good mind no matter what and to always seek out to do good as people.”
“My dad Tehassi Hill, brother Loliwaytati Hill, coach Jamison King and all of my coaches from the past have all had a major impact on me as a basketball player,” said Lahsakuyutetha. “As a kid I remember me, my dad, and my older brother would be outside all day into the night playing 21 or 26 tip and though at the time I didn’t realize it or pay attention to it this is where my love for the game started. Then as I was growing my older brother Lolihwaytati would show me new moves and always push to be a better player, always motivating me telling me I need to get faster stronger and more athletic making me shoot shots with him and work on finishing around the rim. My dad would always bring me to the gym and make me work on post moves. Usually whipping the ball at me under the rim and making me do different types of finishes he’s also the one who taught me how to shoot and how to keep me cool if I mess up.”
Dad Tehasi? Hill said: “My youngest son, Lahsakuyutetha, age 18, born during a thunderstorm in August. He has a good heart, and a strong fire within him. ‘Lahsa’ never complains when asked to put in extra work, at home or on the court. Lahsa was been working the last few years and going to school.”
“His love for basketball has been growing over the years. He likes to spend as much time as possible playing and practicing basketball with his teammates. Basketball is the biggest sport in our family, at family gatherings there is always a competitive game going on in the driveway,” added Tehasi?.
“I don’t want to paint a pretty picture, there definitely has been some bumps in the road for him,” said Tehasi?. “I had to petition the family court to get full placement and custody of him a few years ago because his biological mother could not provide a healthy environment for him. Since then, he has had a run-in with the justice system, for possessing marijuana. He got counseling at Oneida Behavior Health, paid his fines, and I hope he stays on this good path that he is on.”
“Lahsa does plan on attending college after he graduates this year from Oneida Nation High School,” said Tehasi?. “Lahsa keeps working on his game, so someday he can take on his dad on the court … after he gets by me (maybe), his uncles are waiting.”
“My current coaches Jamison King and Tèk really showed me a lot as well expanding my amount of moves and I’m improving my IQ and footwork in the paint,” said Lahsa. “They are also the ones that really brought the confidence out of me and made me open up as a player. Growing up on the ‘Rez’ is never easy and I feel like you see a lot more as kid and it’s a lot easier to get exposed to things but all the bad I seen.”
“Lahsa Hill has been one of the first kids I’ve have for four years in the Oneida program,” said ONHS Thunderhawks head boys’ basketball coach Jamison King. “He has a great love for the game. He’s a kid who never complains and always shows up everyday with a good attitude.”
“He has made improvements every year he’s been in high school, in his junior year he was the named the most improved player and has had some very good games in his senior year,” added Coach Jamison.
“Growing up my dad was always there for me and taught me to use any bad that ever happens to turn against it and use it as motivation,” said Lahsa. “This is not only on the court but in life overall.”
“Advice I have for other student-athletes is to always remember who you are and where you came from,” said Lahsa. “Always remain focused and if you really want it you have to go get it and it’s not going to be easy. There can’t be no distractions and staying focused is a measure of how bad you really want it.”
Photo Credit: Amanda Perrotte
