NWADB

Players

Ken Anderson
Gooding, Idaho
In 1979-80, as freshman, Ken Anderson stood 6'7", 180 lbs and grew to be tallest student/player in Idaho School for the Deaf history. After playing couple of years for ISDB, he transferred to Gooding High, standing 6'10" and weighed 250 lbs during junior year. Gooding High team came in as number one, undefeated until the first game in the state tournament where he broke his ankle. During his senior team, Gooding High was number one in the state. He scored over 30 points frequently in his last year of high school. He received full scholarship from Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho and was in the top 12 out of 85 in the state of Idaho. Went to junior college regional tournament, during that time, his team defeated College of Southern Idaho, stopping their 18 straight championships. His team went to Junior College National Championship in Hutchison, Kansas, won the opening and third game, losing twice, to place 6th place out of 16 best junior college teams in the nation. He also played on a championship team in AAAD basketball tourney, playing only three games at that time. He received an invitation to play for USA Deaf Olympics, but due to his calling as a missionary, he chose not to go for a tryout in 1985. Enrolled at Gallaudet in 1989, played two more years, winning championship in Metropolitan Washington Conference, during that time, he was member of other AAAD National Championship team. He went to New Zealand in 1989 for Deaflympics and winning gold at that time, qualifying as first basketball player from ISDB. He played entire his career with Idaho team from 1990, 1992 - 2002 and 2005, with his team being top team for many years, but not quite over bump for NWAAD Championship. He was member of first team All-Stars in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997. He was also 2^nd Team All-Star in 1998 and 2002. He owns all time best of lifetime 12.0 per game total rebounds in 12 Tours, 37 Games, and 443 Rebounds.

JoDee Dike Johnson
Fremont, California
A long time basketball player and all-around athlete who was part of the AAAD/USADB founding membership in 1988, JoDee played the first three seasons for AAAD women’s ball when it was an invitational tournament from 1988-90. Coming from FAAD, she was of the first team All-Stars in the first invitational at Boston in 1988 while playing for championship team Pierce Valley Club. When the official women’s AAAD/USADB tournament began play in Atlantic City, NJ in 1991, she was also first team All-Star. JoDee led the tournament with 90 points.
A product of the Colorado School for the Deaf and a graduate of CSUN, JoDee played 10 seasons, during1988-2002. She was named first team All Star during AAAD/USADB on 4 occasions-1991, 1994, 1997 and 1999 and second team All Star in 1990 and 1993 where she was the leading rebounder of the tournament with 35 as a second team All-Star. A stellar guard-forward combo, JoDee helped her teams with inspired plays and skill leading her Oakland, Easy Bay and Fremont teams to six titles in the NWAAD and frequent appearances at the AAAD/USADB tournaments. JoDee got on NWAAD first team All-Star 8 times (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999 and 2004). She was voted MVP 4 times (1991, 1992, 1993, and 1999) with various teams. She will be inducted into to the NWAAD basketball Hall of Fame automatically, when she is inducted into USADB Hall of Fame. JoDee, along with other pioneer women of the early day of AAAD/USADB women basketball, helped to make women basketball a staple in the lives of deaf women, and an important achievement in women’s basketball at the annual AAAD/USADB regional and national tournaments, which continue to this day.
JoDee was also on the Deaflympics team for basketball in 1993, team handball in 1997, bowling in 2001 and curling in 2007.
The USADB is proud to honor JoDee with enshrinement in the USADB Hall of Fame as a most deserving member based on her accomplishments as a basketball player, Deaflympic representative and true team leader in every sense of the word.

Old Timers

Earl Smith
Sacramento, CA
A quick-footed shooting guard, a product of Sacramento Deaf/HOH school system, Earl Smith played his entire 7-year NWAAD career with Sacramento basketball teams. Smith was also named Sacramento high school district MVP in 1981. Smith started his career in 1982 and recorded 542 points in 23 NWAAD games, with an average of nearly 24 points a game. He was selected to 1^st Team All-Star 2 times, and also was selected 2^nd Team All-Star 3 times. Smith was very entertaining player with quick hands, recording 53 steals and 43 assists during those NWAAD tournament games. A small, quiet shooting guard, he thrilled the fans with lighting quick ball handling and also known for his quiet personalityA quick-footed shooting guard, a product of Sacramento Deaf/HOH school system, Earl Smith played his entire 7-year NWAAD career with Sacramento basketball teams. Smith was also named Sacramento high school district MVP in 1981. Smith started his career in 1982 and recorded 542 points in 23 NWAAD games, with an average of nearly 24 points a game. He was selected to 1^st Team All-Star 2 times, and also was selected 2^nd Team All-Star 3 times. Smith was very entertaining player with quick hands, recording 53 steals and 43 assists during those NWAAD tournament games. A small, quiet shooting guard, he thrilled the fans with lighting quick ball handling and also known for his quiet personality