New kids on the block: Skal Labissière

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Back in 2010, Skal Labissière could only think about surviving.

After an earthquake rocked his home country of Haiti, the furthest thing from Skal’s mind was basketball.

Now, even on the court, it’s something he still thinks about.

“I think about it sometimes,” Skal said. “God has shown me favor. Showed me He had a plan for me and it’s been a crazy journey I would say. Coming from where I came from..everything I’ve been through.”

Skal had experienced an earthquake for 2010, but the one in 2010 was different.

“It was just the magnitude was higher I would say,” said Skal. “It was crazy. I was in the bathroom washing my hands and the house started to shake.  I went to my mom who was in the living room and my brother did the same thing.”

“The house collapsed on us.”

“I thought I was dreaming at first,” Skal remembered.

But it wasn’t a dream.

“I heard people screaming out there. I shook my head and ‘wow, this is really happening.'”

Skal thought his father was dead.  They knew he was outside when the earthquake struck, and couldn’t hear him after.

“I just thought I was going to die.”

A powerful statement from a powerful young man.  Basketball has its place in Skal’s life, but he knows hoops isn’t a life or death matter.

That moment in 2010 put things into perspective for Skal.

“I still have so much to work on,” Skal said. “I have so much to learn.”

The potential No. 1 overall pick in next summer’s NBA draft knows there’s still plenty of work to be done to become the “best version” of himself.

He’s well on his way though.  Former Cats Karl Towns, Trey Lyles and the Harrison twins came back to scrimmage the new crop of Cats in the off-season.

It’s what makes Kentucky unique and it’s why Skal is in Lexington.

“The guys still care enough to come back and play with us,” Skal said. “There’s a reason I chose Kentucky. Cal knows how to put players in good positions to be successful.”

Skal doesn’t talk much trash despite being the best player on the floor.

He’s put the talk of going pro on the back burner in order to focus on getting better.

That’s the goal for now. Be the best Skal he can be.

More in the video.