Norman Kakwitch (Menominee): Scored School Record 53 Points In Game For Menominee Indian HS (WI)

By Dan Ninham (Oneida)

There was a battle and a war at the Oneida Nation HS Thunderhawks hosted boy’s basketball game last Monday night. The visiting Menominee Indian HS Eagles lost the varsity game 79-74. However, MIHS 6-1 senior Norman Kakwitch made nine – 3 pointer’s and scored a school record 53 points.

“My parents were addicts,” said Norman. “I grew up with my parents rarely in my life. Both of them told me I wasn’t going to be anything when I grew up. Still to this day my parents say negative things about me. Basketball was my escape from reality. Whenever something negative was going on, I would go to the outside court and just clear my mind and feel free. Many native kids who go through a difficult time, fall to a drug or alcohol. Not me, basketball was my drug.”

“I live by the ‘Seven Virtues’ which are Compassion, Courage, Forgiveness, Generosity, Honesty, Humility, and Respect,” said Norman. “I am also a competitor, not just in sport but in school as well.”

“Basketball runs in my family’s blood,” said Norman. “As a little kid, I watched my older brothers and uncles play basketball and I wanted to do the same thing. My uncle Aaron Waukau had the biggest influence on me. He seen something in me that nobody else seen. He continued to help me become a better athlete but he also helped build my character and help to shape me into a young man.”

Aaron Waukau has been Norman’s trainer for the past five years. He shared: “Two weeks after last season was done we started training immediately and didn’t stop until October 1st. During the summer after school was out I made him workout five days a week eight hours per day while I was working my day job. 5am-8am he would do ball handling. 8am-11am was shooting. One hour break. 12pm-4pm was footwork, off dribble shooting and conditioning. This was repeated throughout the entire summer. I do have video of everything just so we’re not lying about his grind or commitment.” 

“Norm has been sober his whole life, has a 3.4 GPA, and is looking for any opportunity to come his way,” said Aaron. “I really hope everyone understands how hard this young man had to work. Norman was never supposed to be this gifted star. He worked his butt off and earned every single bit of recognition. He would be such a great asset on any college team and I hope he gets a chance to prove himself somewhere. To me his great attribute is his DEFENSE, the offense is just a plus.”

“My high school basketball coach James Oshkeshequom has been another big influence,” said Norman. “Ever since I was an incoming freshman, he always demanded more out me because he seen the potential that I had and still does to this day. 

Coach James Oshkeshequoam said: “Norman has always been involved in our program’s infancy. Our hoops and youth program has only been in existence for a few years. Norman has always took it upon himself to get involved with our youth camps and mentoring all aspiring ball players who look up to him. Norman is as unselfish is they come and I am so proud of how he has matured over the years I have coached him. Norman understands the impact he has on our youth and he accepts the leadership and role modeling that comes with it.” 

“Another person who helped me along the way was Warren Wilber III,” said Norman. “I considered him to be my big brother. When I was an incoming freshman, he made sure I was there to work out in the offseason. We would always have talks about each other’s future and he always said that I was going to be something special if I kept working at it.”

“Norman is a very special kid,” said Warren Wilber III. “He’s definitely one of them kids you can always rely on to give 100 percent every time he touches the floor. Not only on the court but he’s doing his best to make sure he lives a good life off the court as well. You always hold him a little more accountable then others. You just expect his best in everything he does. Ever since he was a freshman playing up on varsity with us you could tell he was going to do big things.”

“There was a game when he was a junior where the team was down by 24 points to one of the better teams in the conference. Just as it seemed everybody was giving up, Norman came out of nowhere. Hitting shot after shot, trying to bring his team back from a big deficit. This was a game where he literally left it all out on the court. That was the moment I knew he was ready to be the leader of his team. It’s been an honor watching this kid grow since his freshman year and seeing all his hard work pay off,” added Warren.

“Being a student-athlete is amazing but student comes before athlete,” said Norman. “My grandparents made sure I was on top of my grades. Anytime I had a C, I could not do anything till it was up to a B. I made the honor roll all four years of high school. I am currently taking all college classes at NWTC through the 4×4 program that the school provides. When I graduate, I will finish with 25 college credits.”

Successful student-athletes provide advice to other student-athletes. “Just keep working and don’t give up. Use whatever is going on in your life, positive or negative, for motivation to do better. Prove to everybody who doubted you to be wrong. That goes for school as well. The ‘Rez’ will always be here, go to school or join the job force and always give it your all. Time is precious so make the most of it.”