In a ceremony prior to Friday's game against Cortland, Buffalo State presented a game jersey to Hezekiah (Heze) Johnson and named him an honorary member of the 2015-16 Bengals.

Through its parntership with Team IMPACT, a non-profit chartered organization to improve the quality of life for children facing life-threatening and chronic illness, Buffalo State's men's basketball team was connected with Johnson.  Heze, an 18-year-old from Buffalo, was diagnosed at birth with chronic renal failure and at four months of age began dialysis treatments.  When he was 2 years old, he had a kidney transplant which he rejected.  He had another kidney transplant at age 10 which his body rejected as well.  Heze is currently on the transplant list awaiting another kidney.  In the meantime, he goes to dialysis three days a week and attends school twice each week.  In June of 2014, Heze had a stroke which has left him blind in his left eye.  He has had many surgeries over the years, yet despite all of his challenges, Heze loves the sport of basketball and plays in his neighborhood whenever he can.  

For more information on Team IMPACT, visit: http://www.goteamimpact.org/