Labissiere speech thanks Hamilton family

Forward officially signs with UK

Less than 24 hours after making a verbal commitment to Kentucky, Skal Labissiere signed his national letter of intent on Friday during a ceremony at Lausanne Collegiate School.

“I’m just so glad I signed,” Labissiere said. “It’s such a big relief. I’m excited, very excited to move on to the next level.”

With the entire Lausanne student body in attendance, Labissiere made permanent his commitment to Kentucky by putting pen to paper at 12:17 p.m. He was joined on stage by his guardians, Gerald and Sheneka Hamilton, and their daughter, Sha kerian. Applause echoed through the auditorium as Labissiere, a 6-foot-11 forward rated as high as the No. 3 prospect in the country, solidified his pledge to the Wildcats. He had also considered the University of Memphis.

The decision, he said, was made roughly a week ago. Kentucky was a unanimous selection among the family members.

“It’s a big relief,” Labissiere said after the brief ceremony. “Not every kid gets to go through what I’ve been through as far as recruiting and having all the best schools in the country looking at them. So I’m very thankful for that. I’m just glad it’s over with.”

Before signing his name, Labissiere, who sported a blue Kentucky sweatshirt, stood stage right behind a podium and addressed a crowd of several hundred. Three rows of seats were reserved for his family and friends, while the rest were filled by Lausanne faculty and students. The entire boys basketball team, wearing button- down shirts and ties, was in attendance as well.

Labissiere addressed the crowd for three minutes and 45 seconds on topics listed on a piece of notebook paper. He offered a long list of thank-yous — to God, to his coaches, to his personal trainers, to Lausanne for accepting him into the student body — and was overcome with emotion.

His voice caught and his eyes welled when of-

fering a personal message to Gerald Hamilton and his family, the people who brought him to the United States from Haiti. Labissiere broke down on stage, pausing for several seconds as he gathered himself to continue thanking the people who welcomed a gangly eighthgrader into their home four years ago.

“I want to take a second to thank my family here,” Labissiere said. “I’m so thankful for you guys, everything you guys have done for me to this point. You took a complete stranger into your house, supported him, fed him ...”

After several seconds of tears and a round of applause from the audience, Labissiere continued: “… put clothes on his back and really supported him. I really want to thank you guys. I’m so thankful for you.”

The endorsement of the Hamilton family was Labissiere’s first public comment since a pair of stories brought into question Gerald Hamilton’s motives when it comes to Labissiere. The first, from The Commercial Appeal, detailed the account of Samuel Jean- Gilles, another Haitian basketball player, who claims he was cast off by Hamilton when he lacked Division 1 talent. The second, published by CBSSports.com, quoted an AAU coach who said Hamilton asked him how to profit off a basketball player.

In an interview conducted at the Hamilton household three weeks ago, Labissiere said he had learned to tune out the negative attention and comments directed at his guardian. Toward the end of his speech Friday, Labissiere reiterated his support for Gerald Hamilton.

“Mr. Hamilton here, I’m so thankful for you,” Labissiere said. “I know people are always jealous of you, talk bad about you. But just know I have your back. Don’t worry.”

Hamilton nodded in appreciation. His wife, Sheneka, wiped away tears.