Dorchester boy is new draftee on BU men's basketball team

BOSTON, Mass. — T’Andre Cephas-Harris loves basketball. He also has a severe form of asthma, but that isn’t stopping the 7-year-old from joining the world of college hoops.

T’Andre, who lives in Dorchester, is the newest draftee of the men’s basketball team at Boston University.

“He made basketball hoops out of crates, boxes anything he could possibly hang on the walls,” said his mother, Sherika Elliott.

T’Andre, who has been hospitalized more than 20 times for his asthma, can’t play basketball outside once the weather gets cold. So his mother looked for a place where he could play hoops indoors during the winter.

That’s how she learned about Team Impact, which connects sick kids with college teams.

“For the kids we're really looking to improve their quality of life, through improved optimism, a sense of belonging, to help remove that sense of isolation,” said Seth Rosezweig of Team Impact.

T’Andre was welcomed onto the BU team with a press conference, a uniform and multiple hugs from the mascot.

BU Basketball Coach Joe Jones said Team Impact is a two-way street.

“We want to be part of the community. We want to give back. We have such great kids that can be mentors to young people and we want them to understand that's what life is all about,” Jones said.

This is only the second time the BU men's basketball team has drafted a Team Impact kid. The last time was six years ago in 2012.

Jones said he still stays in touch with that draftee, because a bond develops.

And now, T’Andre has joined 14 men to make one awesome team.

“Thank you,” T’Andre said.

The team kicks off its season on Tuesday night.

Cox Media Group