Photo Gallery | Video: Iycelin's Draft Day | Iycelin's Roster Bio
DETROIT (11/14/2015) -- The University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball team welcomed a new member to the Titan family on Saturday afternoon after announcing the addition of 9-year-old
Iycelin Craigmiles to the squad through Team IMPACT. A draft day was held and Iycelin signed her National Letter of Intent with the entire Detroit women's basketball team and staff in attendance at Calihan Hall.
Iycelin was introduced to the crowd and walked into the Ed & Brooks Room with sophomore forward
Chea Taylor and the Detroit Titans mascot, Tommy Titan. Head coach
Bernard Scott spoke about how much it meant having Iycelin join the program before presenting her with a white No. 1 jersey with "Craigmiles" on the back.
"When we look at student-athletes to add to our program, we look at the person first," Scott said at the podium. "We couldn't have found a better person to join the Titan family. By drafting Iycelin, she's going to bring qualities to our program that you can't teach, like her smile and her toughness."
Iycelin was diagnosed in 2006 with Hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The whole left side of her heart is small, which forced her into surgery as a baby to reconstruct. She has had four surgeries in total with great success in each one. There is also fluid buildup in her stomach from the heart which can be painful for her. When Iycelin was born, her bowels were rotated and there was a leakage in her lung so separate surgeries were needed to correct the bowels and the leakage. She continues to battle through it all and with a smile on her face.
Iycelin was joined by her mother Kimyatta and step-father Elijah, as well as sister Quennatta, and other family members at the draft day ceremony. Her mother, father and sister signed the National Letter of Intent making Iycelin an "official" member of the Titans for this season and beyond.
Scott said that although Iycelin's favorite number is 4, giving her the No. 1 jersey was important for the reasons behind it.
"We thought you were too special for No. 4," Scott said. "With the strength and determination that you've shown as a young lady and what you're going through, I can't think of a better number to give you than this No. 1. She will be the No. 1 reason why we push through when we are tired. Iycelin is a No. 1 example of what it means to be a fighter."
The Craigmiles family -- including Iycelin -- will be honored at halftime of Detroit's Sunday contest with the University of Michigan. Game time at Calihan Hall is set for 2 p.m.
About Team IMPACT: This Draft Day has been facilitated by the 501(c)(3) non-profit, Team IMPACT, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Team IMPACT children are drafted onto college athletic teams, local to where they live, and to the greatest extent possible, become a member of the team from Draft Day through to Graduation.
Team IMPACT is national organization, based in Boston, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illnesses through the power of team. Team IMPACT children are drafted on to college athletic teams, local to where they live and, in effect, become official members of the team from Draft Day through to Graduation. Established in 2011, Team IMPACT has already matched over 700 children with collegiate teams at over 300 institutions in 43 states, improving the quality of life of hundreds of courageous children and touching the lives of over 20,000 student athletes.
