Illinois Gives Cameron Reicheneker Day to Remember Before Cancer Treatment

An Illinois high school basketball player received some unexpected access at Sunday's Illinois-Wisconsin game in Champaign.

Cameron Reicheneker will begin chemotherapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma this week, and he and his family had planned on taking in the Illini's game from the stands. But, once Bruce Weber and the coaching staff received word of Reicheneker's situation, they decided to do one better. Cameron was allowed in the Illinois locker room for Weber's pregame speech, and the coach also spoke directly to him before the Illini's 69-61 win.

"He told me that life has speed bumps, and we all have to get over them,'' Reicheneker said. "I can make it through this tough time.''

Decked out in a Demetri McCamey jersey, Cameron left the arena that day with a hat signed by the entire team. He plans to keep the hat in a case in his room.

Reicheneker will begin nine weeks of chemotherapy treatment Wednesday in Peoria.

(h/t ESPN College Basketball Nation Blog)

 

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