MONTAGUE, Mich. — A Muskegon County coach is making a difference for one of his players. A sophomore on his junior varsity basketball team has trouble finding the right pair of shoes because he needs a size 17.
Montague Wildcat Lex Hanson hits the hardwood, towering over many of his teammates.
"I'm supposed to be like over seven foot," Hanson told FOX 17.
With height like that comes big feet for the 15-year-old.
"I have size 17 and like every half a year, I go up a size," Hanson said.
He explains that last year, he was wearing a size 15.
"It's hard to find shoes because I wear size 17. So, it's just, I have a bunch of crappy shoes, cheap ones. Then Mr. Thaler got me some pretty cool ones," Hanson said.
Montague Basketball Coach Nick Thaler says Hanson has a lot of potential.
"He's putting a lot of time and effort in developing his body and kind of growing into it as he's gotten older," Coach Thaler added.
When Coach Thaler saw the shoes Hanson was playing in, he thought the shoes looked like they were on their last leg.
"He wears size 17 shoes. It's difficult to find that size a shoe. And, you know, some of us financially just aren't equipped for a purchase like that because basketball shoes are expensive," Thaler said.
So, he reached out on social media for some help. Former Olympian and current NBA Coach Shane Lawal sent Hanson as pair of Nike Kobe 5 Protro Bruce Lee shoes. Thaler adds the pair originally belonged to Sacramento Kings and NBA All-Star Domantas Sabonis.
"I just wasn't expecting it. So, I was just kind of dumbfounded," Hanson said.
So much so that he only wants to wear them on game days.
"I didn't know what to think. Like, he's just been so great and nice. And he's a great coach. Like, the best coach you can ask for, probably," Hanson said.
"I'm just really appreciative of another coach looking out for another student-athlete," Thaler said. "It's incredible to see people actually caring for one another."
Hanson's first game with his brand-new pair of shoes is on November 28.
