by By Dan Ninham
The wave of top level Minnesota Section 8 basketball talent is continuing to rise at Cass Lake-Bena High School. One of the team leaders is making potential adversity into his strength.
LeRoy Staples Fairbanks IV, 16, is from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and his clan is Makwa (Bear).
“My spirit name is Niiwin Makwa, meaning Four Bears,” said LeRoy. “My hometown is Cass Lake, MN. I am a junior at Cass Lake-Bena High School. My parents are LeRoy Staples-Fairbanks III and Becky Fairbanks.”
“I play basketball, golf, and football,” said LeRoy. “I used to wrestle when I was younger. I wrestled from preschool to sixth grade, and I went to state two times once in kindergarten and another time in second grade where I took 3rd in state.”
“I’ve been playing varsity football since the end of my eighth grade year,” said LeRoy. “I used the workouts to stay in shape for the basketball season. For golf, I have been on the varsity team since seventh grade. Played in sections every year and hopefully going to make a good run at state this year. I play in a lot of summer golf tournaments and win here and there,” added LeRoy.
“For basketball, I was very honored and grateful I got to be a part of 14U Team Minnesota, for the Native American Indigenous Games (NAIG) in 2017, and won the gold medal,” said LeRoy. “This summer I was selected to be on the Team Minnesota 16U roster but got cancelled to next year because of the pandemic.”
“I have been playing varsity basketball since eighth grade,” said LeRoy. “In eighth grade in 2018 we made it to state and took fourth place. We made it to the section championship for the last three years. I feel like we had a great chance to make it back to state this past year but we didn’t get to see the outcome because the season got cancelled while we were on our way to the gym to play the section championship game.”
“I play AAU with WI Playmakers North,” said LeRoy. “We had a pretty good AAU season last year, we definitely improved as a team throughout the season, but I feel I took some big strides with my game last travel season as well. I can’t wait what the future holds for accomplishments with me in these sports I love.”
“Last summer I was recognized by Prep Hoops Minnesota as the Top Preseason small forward in my section and top Breakout Player candidate for Section 8A,” said LeRoy. “I was also named Prep Hoops Big Jump Stock Riser for the 16U AAU season.”
“My core values that define me as a player are confidence and respect,” said LeRoy. “Confidence is key to a lot of things and I feel like nothing is in your way. I use respect with my opponents and use great sportsmanship and respect with other players on our team. I get a lot of wisdom from other coaches and teachers and it helps my game a lot.”
“First and foremost my father has been a positive influence,” said LeRoy. “He’s been there every step of the way from when I first picked up a basketball to my most recent game. He’s there every time supporting and cheering me on but he also pushes me through the time I don’t want to work and it helps out.”
“We are a basketball family, so it was naturally expected for LeRoy IV to pick up a basketball,” said dad LeRoy Staples Fairbanks III. “He grew up watching Cass Lake-Bena’s run of state tournaments, and traveled the region watching his uncle Brady play ball during his college career. I have enjoyed watching LeRoy IV grow into the player he has become today and his fundamental growth is starting to take off.”
“I coached LeRoy IV from third-sixth grade with the Leech Lakers program, and was able to watch him be a team leader for much of those teams. He is the friendliest person you will find, and very outgoing. He is learning the differences between friendships, teammates, leading a team, and does a great job finding a good balance,” added LeRoy III.
“LeRoy is very committed to his game, he does a great job balancing out his schedule of school, work, workouts, and competition,” said LeRoy III. “He is a great role model for his younger siblings and is set on playing basketball at the next level.”
“Uncle Brady Fairbanks teaches me all the knowledge about basketball,” said LeRoy. “It seems to me he knows this game head-to-toe, but he says there’s still a lot to learn. He teaches me things and shows me in a way different perspectives and I’m very grateful for him and my father.”
Leech Lake Tribal College head men’s basketball coach and uncle Brady Fairbanks talked about his nephew: “LeRoy is the oldest nephew I have and I have had the pleasure to watch him transform into a great young man. He always had love for the game and always worked extremely hard. I have watched his progress these past three years. Each year he had to prove himself and each year he’s improved his game.”
“Last year before Covid-19 hit, Cass Lake-Bena was one game from state and I believe they would have got past a strong Ada-Borup. LeRoy would have had a tough task guarding 6-8 Mason Miller. He was looking forward to it,” added Brady.
“Phil Roe is the program director for Playmakers North,” said LeRoy. “He has been a big supporter of my development and helping out with additional opportunities.”
“Last summer Playmakers North had 18 teams for boys and girls and I’d give my most improved award to LeRoy,” said Phil Roe, Playmakers North program director. “In one year LeRoy dramatically got stronger taking it to the basket, shooting the ball and making the right play at the right time. There were games he would take over with his shooting ability. He works extremely hard and it shows. Not only is LeRoy a hard worker on the court, he is a great leader who has the respect of all his teammates. He will speak up when he needs to and also got his 16U Playmakers North Showcase team connected before the season by spearheading a team snapchat. LeRoy will do whatever it takes for himself and his team to get better. He is about winning, staying positive, and working hard. I am very proud of LeRoy’s progression and look forward to seeing another massive jump in his game cause I know he will be in the gym.”
“I prepare myself to perform physically to stay in shape by stretching, doing basketball workouts and lifting,” said LeRoy. “Also, keeping my blood sugars level and staying good for long and short term. Mentally I just want to know more about the game. Emotionally you just got to stay focused and stay on the course with what your goal is. Spiritually, I use my asemaa (tobacco) and pray for minobimaadizwin (living a good life).”
“Something most people don’t know about me is that I have Type 1 diabetes,” said LeRoy. “I’m not shy or ashamed of it but I just don’t tell a lot of people. This could be the first time I have said something publicly about it. I was diagnosed two years ago, and I wear a full time Dexcom blood sugar monitor in my arm that I use to keep track of my blood sugar numbers. I take insulin through a shot every time I eat or need to correct. I do this because my pancreas no longer produces insulin in my body so I have to do it for myself. It has been a huge learning experience and lifestyle change, living with diabetes.”
“I can’t change it, and will live with it the rest of my life, so I figure it’s just a part of my path and I take it in stride. I have to prepare differently for training and competition and have to manage my blood sugars differently before playing, during and after, but I think I’m getting the hang of it. I really don’t think it hit me yet that I have to do this for the rest of my life. Sometimes I forget to bring my insulin shot with me everywhere I go, but when that happens I have to make healthy food choices that are low in carbs. I still try to do that even though I can take shots for bad eating but I just want a healthy body,” added LeRoy.
“Sometimes there are just points at a time where my blood sugar numbers are high and I try to take correction and correction but it doesn’t work,” said LeRoy. “Something I still have to work at is to try to be perfect with diabetes but it makes me different from a lot of people and I don’t take it as a bad thing and just use to it as a positive.”
“Two years ago we learned that LeRoy was a Type 1 diabetic, and was a huge shock to our family,” said dad LeRoy III. “We had to learn the differences between relatives we knew with Type 2 and now how to live with Type 1. Since the day we found out, LeRoy IV has been awesome about how he deals with it. He has taken the challenge of dealing with this disease, and done so with a smile.”
“As a family we are so grateful for the latest blood glucose monitoring technology which has allowed me and my wife to help LeRoy monitor his blood sugars from our phones. Our family is learning about carbs, sugars, insulin and managing blood sugars. I think it helps a lot for Leroy to have the support so he can live a more normal lifestyle,” added LeRoy III.
“My mother is probably like the best diabetic mother in the world and she helps out so much with this it’s crazy,” said LeRoy. “If she wasn’t here helping I don’t know if I would be doing this good with diabetes and I’m thankful for her and what she does for me and my health.”
“LeRoy is a very strong, caring, and outgoing young man,” said mom Becky Fairbanks. “LeRoy has shown such strength with this new lifestyle that he and us as a family has adapted to. On the day that LeRoy was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, I was devastated as a mother feeling like why is this happening to our child, but LeRoy was cool, calm and collective about the whole situation. Still to this day he never gets upset or too emotional about his situation, he just does what he has to do to continue to live a healthy life. I believe that these traits show how he is a great leader at such a young age to be in control of this disease and not letting this disease control his life.”
“I have been watching him since he was a little bitty guy, playing the sports he loves so much,” said Becky. “On the court, I watch how he leads the team with playing in an unselfish manner. I see him always making the extra pass, making sure his teammates are involved in the game and helping them know where they should be on the court.”
“When Leroy was in third grade, his class had a project to raise money for certain organizations,” said Becky. “LeRoy took it upon himself to raise $480 for breast cancer research. He sat at the local grocery store and asked for donations to his cause, then sent a check to the Piper Breast Cancer Center in Minneapolis, MN.”
“This shows that LeRoy has a big heart, off the court as well,” added mom Becky.
Photo Credit: Holden Phillip Law
Keep up the good work Lil Leroy, your a good role model for the Lil kid’s…. they look up to the big kid’s! Peace and good vibes.