EAST LANSING, Mich. - Detroit Edison head coach Brandon Neely won his first state championship as a head coach, beating Maple City Glen Lake for the Class C title.
But it was not his first time celebrating a basketball state title victory. In 1983, when he was a freshman in high school on Detroit's east side, he won a Class D title at East Catholic. He did it again in 1986 as a senior, leading the Chargers and head coach David Soules to the program's sixth title in program history. Neely has won a lot on the basketball court but has won more in life. Because he almost lost his September 17, 1984.
There used to be a McDonald's on Gratiot and Townsend, near the former location of East Catholic High. Neely, who was just beginning his junior year, and three of his classmates were walking back from eating lunch there, when they became victims of an armed robbery.
They were walking through a back alley, when a car pulled up, and two men got out demanding Neely's Adidas. His three friends ran but Neely refused to give up his shoes. One of the assailants hit him across the face with the gun, knocking him to the ground. The other one yelled, "Shoot him", and that is exactly what he did. Neely was shot between his right shoulder and neck, missing the jugular vein and spine by a fraction of an inch. The bullet exploded in his diaphragm and fragments lodged in his liver. He still has the bullet inside him.
"The whole time, I was wondering whether I was ever going to play basketball again," said Neely. "That was all that was on my mind and that's when I really realized how much basketball meant to me. I didn't want to live and not be able to play anymore basketball."
The robbers got out of their car flashing their guns, so Neely thought he would still get shot even if he did volunteer to give up his black and red patent leather Adidas Top Tens. That was the only reason why he said no. He ran back to school, wounded and bloody, and was taken to the principal's office. He spent days in Children's Hospital, with some serious injuries. But all he could think about was his shoes and playing basketball.
"l'll never forget these shoes," he said. "I begged my grandmother to get them. They were brand spanking new and cost $93. That was extremely expensive back then, but she got them for me anyways. She felt horrible for buying them for me afterward."
Neely said he has never told his players about the shooting incident in full detail, but has let them know how the incident occurred, and is very protective of them leaving Edison to go to lunch. That experience, combined with his success on the hardwood as a player and coach, is why they Pioneers can call themselves state champions, the first school in program history for the boys.
"Just being there as a player and knowing what it takes to win helped us out a lot this year," said Neely. "Me and guys have been through a lot this season, both on the court, and in their personal lives. We didn't start the year off great and we had a lot of doubters, but we were the last ones standing with the championship trophy."
