Aaron Simpson, Wright State's former recruit
Jan 30, 2007 22:21:15 GMT -5
Post by Admin on Jan 30, 2007 22:21:15 GMT -5
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Northwood's Simpson finds peace, strength through God, family, and basketball after brother's death
By Fred Kelly
01/30/2007
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Aaron Simpson is no stranger to adversity.
During his senior year in high school, he saw his dreams of playing Division I basketball go up in smoke following knee surgery.
He overcame that setback by refocusing his goals, coming to Northwood, and becoming one of the best young players in the GLIAC.
Now, however, Simpson is once again faced with adversity.
And, once again, he is finding the strength to overcome.
Only 10 days after the heartbreaking death of his older brother, Ian, Simpson spoke of the tragic incident with a maturity and composure which belie his young age – a mere 19.
"I just pray," said Simpson, a sophomore guard at NU. "That’s one thing I’ve learned the past couple of years – just keeping the faith and building a better relationship with God.
"And my family’s been a strong backbone, too," he added. " ... I’ve gotten to see all my family (recently) under bad circumstances, but it’s kind of brought us all together. My family’s played a big part in keeping my spirits up."
Basketball has been therapeutic for Simpson, too.
The day after learning of his brother’s passing, Simpson opted to play against Findlay and led the Timberwolves with 17 points. He left with his family shortly afterward to go back home to Detroit.
"After I was done grieving, I was like, ‘I’ve got to play, just take my mind off of it,’" he recalled. "So I did (play), but then I just broke down after that."
Simpson remained with his family until Ian’s funeral last Thursday. After the funeral luncheon, he traveled all the way back to Midland to play against Northern Michigan.
Understandably, Simpson struggled, going scoreless in the first half before deciding to return home after halftime.
"I was debating whether to come back (and play) or not. My heart told me to stay with my family, but I think pride got in the way," he admitted. " ... My gut feeling told me I should’ve stayed home, and when I came and played in the first half I couldn’t think of anything but (my brother)."
In two games since, Simpson has returned to form, leading the Timberwolves with 25 points against Michigan Tech on Saturday and 17 points against Rochester on Monday.
"Just getting back in the swing of things, just getting back into my normal routine, kind of takes my mind off of it. It keeps you busy," he noted. "But it’s going to be tough for a little bit. This is the tough part – when you’re away from family and back in school by yourself."
Simpson is nothing if not mentally tough, though.
Otherwise, he could have easily turned his back on basketball long ago.
But he didn’t give up on himself – and neither did Northwood.
Simpson’s dream of playing at the NCAA Division I level disappeared after he suffered a serious knee injury 10 games into his senior season at Detroit Jesuit High School. Wright State of Dayton, Ohio had already offered him an athletics scholarship, but all of that changed after Simpson had surgery.
"Some things happened, and I guess (Wright State) didn’t want to take a chance. But that’s behind me now," Simpson said.[/u]
Enter Northwood.
Former NU assistant coach Lonnie Griffin kept after Simpson, and that persistence has paid off in a big way.
During his first season in a Timberwolves’ uniform, Simpson averaged a team-best 13.7 points per game and was named GLIAC Freshman of the Year.
Thus far in his sophomore campaign, he has been among the league’s scoring leaders right from the start and is averaging 16.6 ppg.
Northwood coach Bob Taylor thinks Simpson has the potential to be one of the school’s best by the time he is through.
"He’s got all the attributes to be very good," Taylor said. "He’s strong, he can jump, he’s coachable.
" ... We’ve had some good guards (in the past)," Taylor added. "We’ve had Sam Jones, we’ve had Dallas Logan, and they’re both playing overseas now. We think Aaron’s right there (in that group)."
In addition to Wright State, Simpson also had a handful of other Division I schools interested in him, including the University of Detroit, Boston University, and Norfolk State.
That interest faded after he underwent surgery – but Simpson’s desire to play college basketball did not.
"Everything happens for a reason, and I’m trying to make the most of it here at Northwood, and we’re trying to turn things around," Simpson said. " ... (Northwood) kept sending me letters. And after all those D-I scholarships kind of faded away, Northwood was always there.
"It’s just a blessing that someone still wanted me and took a chance on me," he added. "I’m glad to be here."
Taylor said he never hesitated to offer Simpson a scholarship.
"No, no," Taylor replied when asked if Simpson’s knee surgery was cause for alarm. "I mean, he was dunking like a fool on his (visit) here."
That visit made a big impression on Simpson, too.
"When I came on my official visit, everybody treated me like I was part of the team already," he recalled, adding that he enjoys the small campus. "As my freshman year started, I just got more comfortable. You see the same faces every day, so you get comfortable with them. It’s like one big family here."
And Simpson does his part to foster that family atmosphere at Northwood. On any given game day, he might be seen playing with children at the Bennett Center while waiting for the men’s game to start.
He said that it’s just an extension of his personality.
"I love playing with kids," he said. "I’m the youngest of five, so I always wanted a little brother or a little sister."
Simpson said his mother, an employee of Southfield Public Schools, works with the district’s program for latch-key children. When he was in middle school and high school, he used to help her take care of those kids.
"I’m a big kid myself," he said with a smile. "I’m goofy all the time, I’m silly, and so I fit in real well with the kids."
Not surprisingly, Taylor speaks highly of his sophomore star and almost seems to view him as an adopted son.
"He’s brilliant. His personality’s brilliant. ... I really think Aaron someday will be the homecoming king (at NU)," Taylor noted. "He’s the kind of kid who, if he knocked on the door and wanted to take my daughters out, it would be no problem.
"He’s a good role model, and ... he’s just a likable person."
A solid student who is majoring in advertising, marketing and management and who carries a 3.2 grade point average, Simpson said he would like to create sports-related commercials when his playing days are over.
"I like being creative. I like coming up with ideas," he said. " ... I just like being behind the scenes."
To those who know him well, Simpson is affectionately referred to most commonly by his nickname – "Ace."
That moniker, Simpson explained, came from a basketball mentor he had in high school who thought Simpson looked like the character A.C. Slater from the television series Saved by the Bell.
"One day he shortened (the nickname ‘A.C.’) to ‘Ace,’" Simpson said. "It’s stuck with me ever since."
Another thing which undoubtedly will stick with Simpson is the memory of his brother.
Ian Simpson, the fourth of five Simpson children, had suffered from Crohn’s Disease – an incurable condition which causes inflammation of the digestive tract – since he was 15. Surgical complications resulted in Ian’s lungs collapsing, and he went into a coma shortly before Christmas.
He died on Jan. 19.
Simpson said he keeps a newspaper clipping about his brother on his wall and still has Ian’s name written on his basketball shoes.
"He’s always going to be with me," Simpson said, adding that his brother’s passing has given him a renewed appreciation for life.
"What it’s taught me is, if you have a dream, go for it. You never know when you’re going to (die)," Simpson said.
"You can’t procrastinate. You can’t be lazy. If you’ve got a dream, you’ve got to shoot for it; you’ve got to shoot for the stars. Even if you don’t get it, you might still land on the moon."
©Midland Daily News 2007
Northwood's Simpson finds peace, strength through God, family, and basketball after brother's death
By Fred Kelly
01/30/2007
Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendlyAdvertisement
Aaron Simpson is no stranger to adversity.
During his senior year in high school, he saw his dreams of playing Division I basketball go up in smoke following knee surgery.
He overcame that setback by refocusing his goals, coming to Northwood, and becoming one of the best young players in the GLIAC.
Now, however, Simpson is once again faced with adversity.
And, once again, he is finding the strength to overcome.
Only 10 days after the heartbreaking death of his older brother, Ian, Simpson spoke of the tragic incident with a maturity and composure which belie his young age – a mere 19.
"I just pray," said Simpson, a sophomore guard at NU. "That’s one thing I’ve learned the past couple of years – just keeping the faith and building a better relationship with God.
"And my family’s been a strong backbone, too," he added. " ... I’ve gotten to see all my family (recently) under bad circumstances, but it’s kind of brought us all together. My family’s played a big part in keeping my spirits up."
Basketball has been therapeutic for Simpson, too.
The day after learning of his brother’s passing, Simpson opted to play against Findlay and led the Timberwolves with 17 points. He left with his family shortly afterward to go back home to Detroit.
"After I was done grieving, I was like, ‘I’ve got to play, just take my mind off of it,’" he recalled. "So I did (play), but then I just broke down after that."
Simpson remained with his family until Ian’s funeral last Thursday. After the funeral luncheon, he traveled all the way back to Midland to play against Northern Michigan.
Understandably, Simpson struggled, going scoreless in the first half before deciding to return home after halftime.
"I was debating whether to come back (and play) or not. My heart told me to stay with my family, but I think pride got in the way," he admitted. " ... My gut feeling told me I should’ve stayed home, and when I came and played in the first half I couldn’t think of anything but (my brother)."
In two games since, Simpson has returned to form, leading the Timberwolves with 25 points against Michigan Tech on Saturday and 17 points against Rochester on Monday.
"Just getting back in the swing of things, just getting back into my normal routine, kind of takes my mind off of it. It keeps you busy," he noted. "But it’s going to be tough for a little bit. This is the tough part – when you’re away from family and back in school by yourself."
Simpson is nothing if not mentally tough, though.
Otherwise, he could have easily turned his back on basketball long ago.
But he didn’t give up on himself – and neither did Northwood.
Simpson’s dream of playing at the NCAA Division I level disappeared after he suffered a serious knee injury 10 games into his senior season at Detroit Jesuit High School. Wright State of Dayton, Ohio had already offered him an athletics scholarship, but all of that changed after Simpson had surgery.
"Some things happened, and I guess (Wright State) didn’t want to take a chance. But that’s behind me now," Simpson said.[/u]
Enter Northwood.
Former NU assistant coach Lonnie Griffin kept after Simpson, and that persistence has paid off in a big way.
During his first season in a Timberwolves’ uniform, Simpson averaged a team-best 13.7 points per game and was named GLIAC Freshman of the Year.
Thus far in his sophomore campaign, he has been among the league’s scoring leaders right from the start and is averaging 16.6 ppg.
Northwood coach Bob Taylor thinks Simpson has the potential to be one of the school’s best by the time he is through.
"He’s got all the attributes to be very good," Taylor said. "He’s strong, he can jump, he’s coachable.
" ... We’ve had some good guards (in the past)," Taylor added. "We’ve had Sam Jones, we’ve had Dallas Logan, and they’re both playing overseas now. We think Aaron’s right there (in that group)."
In addition to Wright State, Simpson also had a handful of other Division I schools interested in him, including the University of Detroit, Boston University, and Norfolk State.
That interest faded after he underwent surgery – but Simpson’s desire to play college basketball did not.
"Everything happens for a reason, and I’m trying to make the most of it here at Northwood, and we’re trying to turn things around," Simpson said. " ... (Northwood) kept sending me letters. And after all those D-I scholarships kind of faded away, Northwood was always there.
"It’s just a blessing that someone still wanted me and took a chance on me," he added. "I’m glad to be here."
Taylor said he never hesitated to offer Simpson a scholarship.
"No, no," Taylor replied when asked if Simpson’s knee surgery was cause for alarm. "I mean, he was dunking like a fool on his (visit) here."
That visit made a big impression on Simpson, too.
"When I came on my official visit, everybody treated me like I was part of the team already," he recalled, adding that he enjoys the small campus. "As my freshman year started, I just got more comfortable. You see the same faces every day, so you get comfortable with them. It’s like one big family here."
And Simpson does his part to foster that family atmosphere at Northwood. On any given game day, he might be seen playing with children at the Bennett Center while waiting for the men’s game to start.
He said that it’s just an extension of his personality.
"I love playing with kids," he said. "I’m the youngest of five, so I always wanted a little brother or a little sister."
Simpson said his mother, an employee of Southfield Public Schools, works with the district’s program for latch-key children. When he was in middle school and high school, he used to help her take care of those kids.
"I’m a big kid myself," he said with a smile. "I’m goofy all the time, I’m silly, and so I fit in real well with the kids."
Not surprisingly, Taylor speaks highly of his sophomore star and almost seems to view him as an adopted son.
"He’s brilliant. His personality’s brilliant. ... I really think Aaron someday will be the homecoming king (at NU)," Taylor noted. "He’s the kind of kid who, if he knocked on the door and wanted to take my daughters out, it would be no problem.
"He’s a good role model, and ... he’s just a likable person."
A solid student who is majoring in advertising, marketing and management and who carries a 3.2 grade point average, Simpson said he would like to create sports-related commercials when his playing days are over.
"I like being creative. I like coming up with ideas," he said. " ... I just like being behind the scenes."
To those who know him well, Simpson is affectionately referred to most commonly by his nickname – "Ace."
That moniker, Simpson explained, came from a basketball mentor he had in high school who thought Simpson looked like the character A.C. Slater from the television series Saved by the Bell.
"One day he shortened (the nickname ‘A.C.’) to ‘Ace,’" Simpson said. "It’s stuck with me ever since."
Another thing which undoubtedly will stick with Simpson is the memory of his brother.
Ian Simpson, the fourth of five Simpson children, had suffered from Crohn’s Disease – an incurable condition which causes inflammation of the digestive tract – since he was 15. Surgical complications resulted in Ian’s lungs collapsing, and he went into a coma shortly before Christmas.
He died on Jan. 19.
Simpson said he keeps a newspaper clipping about his brother on his wall and still has Ian’s name written on his basketball shoes.
"He’s always going to be with me," Simpson said, adding that his brother’s passing has given him a renewed appreciation for life.
"What it’s taught me is, if you have a dream, go for it. You never know when you’re going to (die)," Simpson said.
"You can’t procrastinate. You can’t be lazy. If you’ve got a dream, you’ve got to shoot for it; you’ve got to shoot for the stars. Even if you don’t get it, you might still land on the moon."
©Midland Daily News 2007