New Mormon Books

His 6′11″ frame aside, Lance Allred is just about the least likely candidate for the NBA you could imagine. He’s deaf. He grew up on a polygamous Mormon commune. He has obsessive compulsive disorder. He was belittled by his mentor and first college coach Rick Majerus. But despite these limitations and personal struggles, in 2008, Allred signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Lance Allred - a true longshot
By Dana Greene
Salt Lake City UT ABC TV 4, June 5, 2009
http://www.abc4.com/sports/story/Lance-Allred-a-true-longshot/pUeuO9Gv3EiwhOIik84AVg.cspx?rss=24

In the book, Allred recounts his complicated life. He’s the grandson of murdered polygamist leader Rulon Allred, was born into a polygamist community in Montana. While learning to play at basketball’s highest level, Allred had to overcome a 75 percent hearing loss and obsessive compulsive disorder. He took speech therapy classes for 15 years and was the first player to publicly talk about legendary Utah coach Rick Majerus’ abuse of players.

Books: Allred’s long, strange journey to the NBA. Utahn’s stardom was preceded by life in a polygamist community.
By Tom Wharton.
The Salt Lake Tribune, 05/30/2009
http://www.sltrib.com/food/ci_12470989

Once when he was a student at the University of Utah, Lance Allred received an incomplete for his grade in a Middle East history class. It didn’t make sense to the academic all-conference basketball player with a 3.8 GPA, who had submitted a well-researched 10-page final paper. Apparently the paper was so well-written that the professor assumed the paper had been plagiarized because Allred was an athlete.

Utah Utes basketball: Lance Allred chronicles his amazing life in new book
By Mike Sorensen
Deseret News, May 31, 2009.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705307607/Utah-Utes-basketball-Lance-Allred-chronicles-his-amazing-life-in-new-book.html?linkTrack=rss-32

Life has dealt Allred his fair share of blows, but he has taken his shots and not only remained on his feet, he has counterpunched his way to a successful life and basketball career that culminated with a call-up to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2008.

Q&A: Former Stampede center Lance Allred has an amazing story to tell
BY CHRIS LANGRILL
Boise ID Statesman, 05/26/09
http://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/story/781703.html