Hope College’s Grant Neil is joining a friend and mentor as an Allstate National Association of Basketball Coaches Good Works Team honoree this weekend.
Neil will be recognized during Saturday’s Men’s Basketball Final Four at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The senior from Holland (West Ottawa HS) will join former college and high school teammate Colton Overway (’13) as an Allstate NABC Good Works recipient. Overway received the same award in 2013.
“I’ve looked up to Colton as a friend since I was a little kid,” Grant said. “Colton was my captain in high school and in college. I was able to learn from him. To see him give back has taught me a lot.”
Neil will be recognized along with nine other Allstate NABC Good Works Team honorees during the second half of the Kentucky-Wisconsin national semifinal. The ceremony will come at the first media timeout of the second half, around the 16-minute mark.
Neil, son of Hope men’s basketball coach Matt Neil, is pursuing a degree in business management at Hope. He played soccer and basketball for the Flying Dutchmen.
Off the court, Neil volunteers at Community Reformed Church in Zeeland to watch four- and five-year-olds. He also helps tutor at Holland Heights School once a week. Every summer, he works at Camp Sunshine, which serves people ages 12 to 50 who have developmental disabilities. Overway said Neil is deserving of the national recognition.
“He did it all on his own,” Overway said. “I’m very proud of him. He put in a lot of hard work. I know he’s definitely spent time giving back to the community. He gave a lot back.”
Neil said he is grateful for the inspiration and role model he had in Overway.
“We as athletes are put on a platform. How we give back using that platform is on us,” Neil said. “Colton showed me the right way to give back and serve, to make the world a better place. He’s a caring guy. It’s been great learning from him. To be able to share this award with him is great.”