Carlee Hoffman
Encyclopedia
Carlee Hoffman is an American female wheelchair basketball
player from Cutlerville, Michigan
. She plays the power forward
position and was a gold medalist for the United States in the 2004 Summer Paralympics
in Athens
.
Hoffman says she has been a basketball fanatic for as long as she can remember. However, when she was three years old, her love for the game was tested when she was injured in a lawn mower accident, resulting in the loss of both of her legs bilateral below-knee amputee.
, Hoffman was introduced to wheelchair basketball and began playing for the Junior Pacers (Michigan). As Hoffman's basketball stills improved and her spring graduation just around the corner, she had two Universities fighting for her attention and offering full ride scholarships. Huffman ulimantly chose the University of Illinois over the University of Arizona
because she wanted to sharpen her basketball skills under the tutelage of coach Michael Frogley.
, a non-profit group, and the Palestinian Paralympic Committee
to develop a wheelchair basketball program there.
Hoffman majored in Recreation Sport and Tourism Management, so she was not going to Israel to make nice and shoot some hoops. The primary focus was to help the Palestinians develop a coaching program, and develop some fundraising options and help draft a strategic plan for the next five years for the programe. Hoffman credited coach Frogley with helping her land this fantastic opportunity. She spent a week with the Palestinians in early November 2008. She and Matt Buchie, an assistant coach at the U of I, put on a week long camp for adult players. Carlee related that many of the players didn’t even have the proper equipment. Wheelchairs designed for basketball and other sports typically have a fifth wheel located in the back to keep the chair from tipping over. Several of the Palestinian players had regular chairs with four wheels and found themselves on their backs during practice sessions. Carlee realizes that she will have her work cut out for her during her internship, but she was very excited about the possibility of turning it into a job.
Hoffman also successfully qualified for the 2004 U.S. Paralympic Women's Sitting Volleyball Team but declined the offer so she could play basketball.
Wheelchair basketball
Wheelchair basketball is basketball played by people in wheelchairs and is considered one of the major disabled sports practiced. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation is the governing body for this sport. It is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as the sole...
player from Cutlerville, Michigan
Cutlerville, Michigan
Cutlerville is an unincorporated community in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes...
. She plays the power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
position and was a gold medalist for the United States in the 2004 Summer Paralympics
2004 Summer Paralympics
The 2004 Summer Paralympics were held in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to September 28. The twelfth Paralympic Games, an estimated 4,000 athletes took part in the Athens programme, with ages ranging from 11 to 66. Paralympic events had already taken place during the 2004 Summer Olympics as...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
.
Early life
Carlee Hoffman was born on July 10, 1986 to parents Dave and June Hoffman. Carlee is the youngest of the three Hoffman children. Her older sister Bree is married and she and her husband Brian are responsible for Carlee’s favorite nephews: Zack and Jarrett. She also has an older brother, Reed, and is quick to point out how important the whole group is to her.Hoffman says she has been a basketball fanatic for as long as she can remember. However, when she was three years old, her love for the game was tested when she was injured in a lawn mower accident, resulting in the loss of both of her legs bilateral below-knee amputee.
Education
While attending South Christian High SchoolSouth Christian High School
South Christian High School is a private Christian high school in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It offers classes from the 9th through 12th grade. SCHS is affiliated with Byron Center Christian School, Dutton Christian School, Legacy Christian School, and Moline Christian School, all of which provide...
, Hoffman was introduced to wheelchair basketball and began playing for the Junior Pacers (Michigan). As Hoffman's basketball stills improved and her spring graduation just around the corner, she had two Universities fighting for her attention and offering full ride scholarships. Huffman ulimantly chose the University of Illinois over the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
because she wanted to sharpen her basketball skills under the tutelage of coach Michael Frogley.
Palestinian internship
Carlee walked with her classmates at U of I in May of 2008, but she will not officially get her diploma until she completed an upcoming internship. Huffman spent several months on the West Bank in Gaza working with Mercy CorpsMercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a global aid agency engaged in transitional environments that have experienced some sort of shock: natural disaster, economic collapse, or conflict. People working for it move as quickly as possible from bringing in food and supplies to enabling people to rebuild their economy with...
, a non-profit group, and the Palestinian Paralympic Committee
Palestinian Paralympic Committee
The Palestinian Paralympic Committee is the National Paralympic Committee of Palestine.In 2010, the Palestinian Paralympic Committee and the global aid agency Mercy Corps, started a 2-year program, funded by the European Union...
to develop a wheelchair basketball program there.
Hoffman majored in Recreation Sport and Tourism Management, so she was not going to Israel to make nice and shoot some hoops. The primary focus was to help the Palestinians develop a coaching program, and develop some fundraising options and help draft a strategic plan for the next five years for the programe. Hoffman credited coach Frogley with helping her land this fantastic opportunity. She spent a week with the Palestinians in early November 2008. She and Matt Buchie, an assistant coach at the U of I, put on a week long camp for adult players. Carlee related that many of the players didn’t even have the proper equipment. Wheelchairs designed for basketball and other sports typically have a fifth wheel located in the back to keep the chair from tipping over. Several of the Palestinian players had regular chairs with four wheels and found themselves on their backs during practice sessions. Carlee realizes that she will have her work cut out for her during her internship, but she was very excited about the possibility of turning it into a job.
Basketball career
She was selected as an alternate for the 2003 U.S. Paralympics Women's Wheelchair Basketball National Team before making the team the following year. In Athens, Hoffman won a gold medal with the team. Four years later, Hoffman helped Team USA to another gold medal, scoring 10 points in the final game against Germany.Hoffman also successfully qualified for the 2004 U.S. Paralympic Women's Sitting Volleyball Team but declined the offer so she could play basketball.
Major achievements
- 2010: Gold medal – IWBF Gold Cup, Birmingham, England
- 2008: Gold medal, U.S. Paralympic Women's Wheelchair Basketball Team - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
- 2008: First place - North American Cup, Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, AlabamaBirmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
- 2008: First place - Joseph F. Lyttle World Basketball Challenge, Warm Springs, GeorgiaWarm Springs, GeorgiaWarm Springs is a city in Meriwether County, Georgia, United States. The population was 478 at the 2010 census.-History:Warm Springs first came to prominence in the 19th century as a spa town, due to its mineral springs which flow constantly at nearly 32 °C...
- 2008: NWBA Women's Division National Championship - University of Illinois
- 2007: Gold medal - Parapan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 2007: National Championship, MVP - University of Illinois Wheelchair Basketball
- 2006: National Championship - University of Illinois Wheelchair Basketball
- 2006: Silver medal - IWBFInternational Wheelchair Basketball FederationThe International Wheelchair Basketball Federation is the international governing body for the sport of wheelchair basketball. IWBF is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as the sole competent authority in wheelchair basketball world wide...
Gold Cup (World Championships), Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 2004: Gold medal - Paralympic GamesWheelchair Basketball at the 2004 Summer ParalympicsWheelchair Basketball at the 2004 Summer Paralympics was staged in the Olympic Indoor Hall from September 18 to September 28.Teams consisted of twelve players, of whom five were on court at any one time. Each player was rated between 0.5 and 4.5 points based on the extent of their disability, with...
, Athens, Greece