Ex-NBA player speaks to Maumee teens about drug battle

Former NBA star Chris Herren speaks Wednesday to students at Maumee High School as part of its "Ready for College ... Beyond the Books" program.

Former NBA player Chris Herren, whose well-publicized battle with drugs was featured in the ESPN documentary Unguarded last year, shared his story with about 800 Maumee High School students Wednesday.

Herren, a heralded college basketball player from Massachusetts, played basketball on the Denver Nuggets and the Boston Celtics as well as on several international teams.

But his addiction to heroin, Oxycontin, and other drugs ultimately cost him his basketball career — and almost his family — as he went from an athlete once featured in Sports Illustrated to someone who was considering becoming homeless.

His anti-drug message was sponsored by the Substance Abuse Intervention League.

“That’s why I come to schools like this. To give kids a voice,” said Herren, now a Portsmouth, R.I,, resident and a father of three who runs youth basketball gyms and started a nonprofit to help recovering addicts. “Thanks for letting me tell my story.”