Grace Mbugua and her DCA teammates with the L’s up at her ceremony Tuesday celebrating her signing with Louisville. (Larry Vaught Photo)
It has been quite a journey for Grace Mbugua who left Africa at age 12 to come to the United States and eventually develop into a star basketball player at Danville Christian Academy.
Tuesday night the school held a ceremony to celebrate her signing with Louisville and it was filled with both smiles and tears.
Mbugua, who injured her knee in the summer but is expected to be back playing in January, had family in Kenya watching the ceremony via live stream.
Her father sent a message of congratulations that DCA coach Billy Inmon read that praised her for what she has done.
“So pleased to see you accomplish great things,” the message said. “Your hard work is truly inspiring my precious daughter. You have proven you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Wherever you go and whatever you do we are always here for you. We are so proud of everything you have achieved Grace. Your dedication to basketball and your hard work at school have led you to this moment of success.”
The 6-5 Mbugua had a spectacular junior season averaging 25.7 points and 15.4 rebounds per game. She led the state in rebounding for the third straight year, was fifth in the state in scoring average and ranked seventh in field goal percentage at 61.8 percent to put herself on the radar screen of big-time schools, including LSU.
Inmon still remembers her arrival as a shy 12-year-old who would throw up or cry almost daily in basketball practice the first month after she got to Danville.
“I thought her parents are going to find somewhere else for her to go or she is going to quit basketball. But she just kept growing and pushing,” Inmon said. “She is a natural talent but this stuff does not just happen. I don’t care how talented and how athletic you are, if you do not put in extra hours you are just another kid who could be something. She sacrificed. She did her drills. She got her shots up. Watched her diet incredibly close. Her phone goes up (put away) at night so she gets her rest.
Mbugua’s oldest sister, Esther lives in Tennessee but was in Danville for the ceremony Tuesday night to speak for her mother and dad in Kenya.
“It has been very amazing for Grace to be here. She has thrived and been able to be herself. She came here when she was very young and it was not an easy decision to make. Thank you for loving and accepting here,” Esther told friends and teammates at the event.
She thanked Inmon and his wife for “standing in for us” and helping Grace.
“We thank God for you every day. You changed our lives completely and we do not take that for granted,” Esther said between tears.
Mbugua tried not to cry but had to stop several times to compose herself. Her faith is a huge part of her life and that was clear in her remarks.
“I want to thank the Lord for how far he has brought me and for his mercy and grace that I do not deserve,” Grace said. “Thank you teammates for growing with me. It has been a fun journey so far and I am excited to play this season. Thanks to my family for letting me come here across the world and take a chance to play basketball.”
Inmon, a life-long Kentucky fan — Kentucky was one of her final four schools — wore a red Louisville sweatshirt for the ceremony and several others at the ceremony also proudly wore Louisville swag to show their support for Mbugua.
“She is a much better young lady than she is a basketball player. She is a heck of a baseball player. She loves the Lord. She is praying daily. It is no shock to me that God has blessed her the way he has,” the DCA coach said. “She is truly a child of his. She has a gigantic amount of faith.
“I am just incredibly thankful for her and incredibly proud of her. She deserves everything she has gotten and then some.”
Mbugua led DCA to its first 12th Region championship last year. She had 101 points and 51 rebounds in three games. She was 39 of 58 from the field. She had 40 points in the first round and then pulled off 28 rebounds in the title game. At the state tournament, despite playing the second half with four fouls she had 34 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks, three assists and two steals. She was 12-for-18 from the field, including 3-for-4 from 3.
2 Responses
I was hoping she signed with Kentucky but I can understand why she chose Louisville. We have the 4 and 5 pretty much set in stone for the next couple of years. She can go to Louisville and start at the 5 as a freshman. I think she is probably going to be the best center in college basketball as a junior and senior. But no way she would come to Kentucky with all the depth we have at the 4 and 5. I wish this girl the best. Because with hard work she will take Louisville back to the top of the ACC.
I think you are right Terry
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