Herren, a McDonald's All-American who played college basketball at Boston College and Fresno State, struggled for years with a powerful drug addiction. His talent carried him to the NBA with the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics, but his reliance on drugs derailed his professional career and sent him overseas to play ball in Europe and China. Still unable to overcome his addiction, and on the verge of losing his family and his life, Herren returned to the United States and eventually checked into rehab. He has been drug-free since 2008.
Herren now tells his story with the hope that he can prevent others from going down the same troubled road. His story of overcoming addiction was recently the focus of an ESPN documentary, Unguarded, which aired on Nov. 1.
The Stony Brook Athletics 'Book of the Year' program was instituted by Director of Athletics Jim Fiore in 2004. Every year, a book is purchased for staff members to read that highlights important topics relevant to professional and personal development. The program culminates with the author's visit to campus and a discussion with the staff and student-athletes. The various book topics are relevant to the core values of the Department of Athletics.
