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CLEARFIELD — Most likely you haven’t heard his name or purchased one of his jerseys. You probably haven’t followed his team — even though it's consistently shut down teams from Seattle, Denver, San Diego, Phoenix, and the Bay area, including a slam-dunk victory in the tough Western Regional tournament held last November.
And yet, living quietly in Clearfield, tucked away in northern Davis County is one of the nationally acclaimed athletes participating in the junior NWBA — the National Wheelchair Basketball Association.
Seventeen-year-old Spencer Heslop is an amazing young man and student-athlete, and is a member of the top-ranked Neuroworx Junior Wheelin’ Jazz basketball team.
“I played regular Junior Jazz basketball when I was younger,” said Spencer, “but by the age of 8 I couldn’t keep up with other kids. We found a city wheelchair basketball team which I absolutely loved.”
In 2010, Spencer became assistant coach for his city team and also joined the new Junior Wheelin’ Jazz team that had started a year earlier as a shooting guard. His passion for the sport not only allowed him to continue to play the game he loved, but it opened up international sports opportunities.
A 4.0 GPA senior at Clearfield High School, he was one of only seven athletes chosen for the U.S. delegation by the U.S. Paralympics Committee to attend the annual International Paralympics Youth Camp held in Graft-de Rijp, the Netherlands in 2011. The camp, part of the International Paralympics Committee’s Youth Development Initiative, was aimed at boosting participation in and understanding of adaptive sports programs throughout the world.
Upon arrival in the Netherlands, he was joined by other adaptive sport participants from Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, South Korea, Suriname, Turkey, and the Netherlands for a full week of leadership activities, sports sessions, team building, and cultural immersion experiences.
A life-long resident of Clearfield, Spencer was born with a neuro tube defect known as Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida, a birth defect involving the incomplete development of the spinal cord or its coverings, gave Spencer minimal lower body strength, which affects his mobility. He uses a wheelchair or forearm crutches for sports and endurance.
Even though his condition limits his mobility, it doesn’t limit his drive for excellence. He plays alto saxophone in his high school’s symphonic band as well as Clearfield’s community band. He also plays the piano and is an Eagle Scout.
“I work hard academically and I love science and math,” said Spencer. “My involvement with the National Honor Society has given me opportunities to help with various service projects. I work with Link Crew, a group that assists new high school sophomores. Our goal is to help them be comfortable throughout their new year of high school. We teach classes to help them learn life skills. I’m always looking for other service opportunities as well, to help through scouting, church, and community youth groups.”
As a member of the Junior Wheelin’ Jazz basketball team, Spencer has a rigorous practice schedule. In addition to lengthy bi-weekly team practices, he also maintains personal practice sessions. The team is co-ed, with team members coming from as far north as Henefer and as far south as Springville. Teammates are: Sam Blakley, Ryan Nelson, Marshall Lindsay, Eliza McIntosh, Aimee Vargas, Jason Hall, Justin Rosvall, and Dallin Eggers.
Team players become involved in wheelchair basketball for any number of reasons: some through birth defects, others as amputees, or victims of accidents or infections. They are coached by Marilyn Blakely, Craig Johnson, and Layne Mangum. Mangum, a 29-year participant and mentor in the wheelchair basketball sport, is also a player on the adult team.
It's amazing to see the commitment of the Wheelin’ Jazz to their junior and adult-level players. Through clinics, coaching, and tournaments, the teams develop and inspire adaptive basketball athletes.
Training and coaching are also made available for U.S. Paralympics Team hopefuls. The teams are non-profit and rely on generous donations from communities and supporters to continue providing opportunities for these very talented athletes. Read more about the Wheelin’ Jazz programs by going to their website: [www.wheelingjazz.com](<http://www.wheelingjazz.com or>) or by finding them on Facebook at facebook.com/wheelinjazz.
Spencer recently committed to the University of Illinois with a scholarship to play wheelchair basketball.
