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Kevin Atlas        

First Disabled Player in NCAA History to Receive a Full Division I Athletic Scholarship; Subject of the Film "Longshot"

Kevin Atlas, standing at nearly seven feet tall with a left arm discontinued just below his elbow, overcame early life challenges in the Bay Area of California. A top high school basketball player, he secured a full athletic scholarship to the Manhattan College Jaspers in New York City, becoming the first disabled player in NCAA history to receive such an honor.

Post-college, Atlas played professionally in Asia and transitioned into a prominent professional speaker known for his humor and strong delivery. His extraordinary life story is documented in the Oscar-qualifying film "Long Shot: The Kevin Laue Story." Atlas leverages his journey in speeches to explore universal challenges, providing fresh perspectives.

Beyond inspiring domestic and international audiences, Atlas has been active in philanthropy, serving as a spokesperson for Boys and Girls Clubs, a board member at Special Olympics, and speaking at prestigious venues worldwide. He hosts "Believe in You," a motivational video series sponsored by Varsity Brands that is shown in middle schools and high schools, and is the author of "Get in the Game."

Speech Topics


Everybody Has A Nub

When his left arm was severed in-utero, Kevin Laue was left with a “nub” that barely extended below his elbow. Despite his prodigious height, red hair and extraordinary athleticism, the “nub” was the thing that defined him and held him back.

With the help of a dedicated AAU basketball coach, Kevin eventually learned to see his “nub” as a strength rather than a handicap and channeled that strength on to the basketball court where he became the first player missing a limb to play NCAA Division 1 basketball.

Today, Kevin challenges his audience to “find their nub” and turn their own weakness in to a strength by understanding it better.

Topics covered include:

  • The need to innovate; “Sometimes we have to find new ways to do old things”

  • Finding strength in the team around you

  • Overcoming obstacles

  • What it means to be a leader

  • Finding positive direction among negative influences

  • Tales from the basketball court

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