Faith. Courage. Perserverance. Three words that have defined Antoine Hood as a professional basketball player and his journey throughout life. Welcome to the back yard of a man who knows what it means to fight for his life and the dream placed in his heart.
By Chante Hood
Graduating from the Air Force Academy in 2006 after leading his basketball team to several victories, and being named one of the Academy’s Fifteen Greatest Players of all Time, bigger things were destined to take place. The journey began for this man of valor when he was first introduced to basketball at nine years old. Playing at the local youth centers and junior leagues, a foundation was laid for his future. As he continued to develop his love and passion for the game, things took an interesting turn when he woke up with a large mass on the side of his ear at age thirteen. Although no initial pain or discomfort was present, Hood’s parents took him to the Children’s Hospital where a biopsy determined that he had lymphoma. Time seemed to stand still as he received news that he would undergo chemotherapy, spinal taps, medication and a series of CT scans. As an adolescent with a yearning to just be normal again, something new was born through the battle he faced: hope. The days of playing outside and attending school activities were put on hold as he spent his time receiving treatment at the hospital. The choice that made the difference between life and death for Hood was his decision to speak scriptures from the Bible daily. Hearing words of encouragement in the passages enabled him to keep a smile on his face and receive the gift of faith that carried him through. As a result of his
childlike faith that allowed him to believe that he would be healed, he received this miracle from the hand of God after eight months of continuous treatment. Entering the world of high school with his gift of faith, Hood wanted to show the skills he had mastered through the years on the court. Although he had great intentions and a strong will, he spent his days as a professional bench warmer until his senior year, when he started every game. Triumphs soon followed as he maximized the opportunity on a team that ranked Top Ten in the state, as well as an individual player rank of 72. Upon graduating high school, he decided to challenge himself and attend one of the top schools in the country: the Air Force Academy. During his tenure at the Academy, their basketball team won the most games since 1950 and continued to boast a winning season his sophomore, junior, and senior year. These winnings brought them to the NCAA tournament and allowed Hood to set a record of receiving the Bob Spear award twice, an award given to basketball players who have demonstrated excellence in athletics, academics and military performance. Life continued to show silver linings toward his aspirations to play professional ball when he received an invitation for training camp for the Denver Nuggets. Upon being offered a contract after playing the entire pre-season with them, duty called for the completion his service commitment with the Air Force. The devastation and disappointment shook him to his core as he contemplated where this would lead him. Realizing the difficulty of fulfilling his obligation and his dream did not stop Hood from training on and off the court. He developed a daily routine of getting up at 4:00 am to run through a gauntlet of drills in the gym, and he managed to keep hope alive in anticipation of a future opportunity. As each day came and went, the expectation for a chance to play intensified. Knowing that he had to serve his country and somehow keep his dream alive, he purposed it in his heart to remain faithful and pray for his next big break. The long awaited break arrived for the second time, but with strings attached. He was given an opportunity to play in the Development League for the Colorado 14r’s; however other clauses in his Air Force commitment contract withheld the chance for him to receive the call-up to the NBA that he desperately longed for. With each passing year feeling like sand in his hand, Hood walked in and out of