‘97-‘98 UTTC Men’s Basketball Team inducted into ND Native American Hall of Honor

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Once in a lifetime, you might witness a feat so great it sticks with you.

The United Tribes Technical College’s 1997-1998 men’s basketball team provided that to its fans.

Now, 26 years later, the team and a few athletes are being honored for their achievements.

It’s a moment that means so much to so many. Nostalgia filled the Russel Reid Auditorium of the Heritage Center as former UTTC basketball players made their way to the stage to receive an award that’s been a long time coming.

“I was one of our team captains, and I was also more of a center-forward player,” said Travis Albers.

Former UTTC basketball player Travis Albers said he played on the team with his brother and friends from his reservation.

“Making history was — it’s sinking in now over 25 years later, but at the time I don’t think that we knew how special it was. But, I definitely do now,” said Albers.

A role model on the court, Albers and his teammates paved the way for other natives in the sport.

“You can bring a lot of little res kids together from all over the nation, and they could do something very special — especially with their coaches,” said Albers.

That group of kids became a team and made their way to the NJCAA National Finals under assistant coach Rusty Gillette.

They finished eighth out of 208 teams — a time that makes Coach emotional to this day.

Friday, that team was inducted into the North Dakota Native American Hall of Honor for its achievements.

“That team really taught me about life. Every one of those kids came out of high school with highly acclaimed awards and hype and big dreams and for whatever reason a lot of those players didn’t work out. And they ended up at Tribes,” Rusty Gillette

25 years later, their days on the UTTC court might be behind them, but their impact, and the inspiration they’ve cultivated lives on in each Native American — in each person — who witnessed their feat or hears their story.

https://www.kfyrtv.com/2024/11/16/97-98 ... all-honor/