Langston University's 'Little Lion': Reece Wright Inspires Local Basketball Team Amid Personal Challenges

Reece Wright, the two-year-old son of Langston University’s Men’s Basketball team's Head Coach Chris Wright, has been a positive influence on the team. Despite his personal challenges, Reece, also known as the 'Little Lion,' has been a source of joy for the team, even during their loss at the NAIA Men’s National Championship. His mother, Ally Wright, says Reece's cheerful nature helps the family remember that life is more than just basketball.

Reece's life, however, has not been without difficulties. At his 18-month checkup in May 2023, Reece did not pass his autism screening. This led to a neuropsych evaluation scheduled for when he turned two. The Wrights initially thought Reece's speech delay was due to his age, not a potential autism diagnosis. But in July 2023, Reece's speech significantly regressed, and he lost all the words and sign language he had learned.

To address this, Reece's parents arranged private speech therapy. After several months, Reece started to regain his lost vocabulary and learned new words and signs. His pediatrician told the Wrights that Reece's speech regression was not a sign of autism, as he did not show any motor skills regression, a common symptom in autistic children.

However, during Reece's 2-year-old checkup in December 2023, his pediatrician was concerned about his behaviors, such as head shaking and arm flailing. Reece had his neuropsych evaluation the next day, which Ally described as difficult. The family had to wait four weeks for the results.

Meanwhile, Reece was assessed for SoonerStart, an early intervention program in Oklahoma for infants or toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. Reece's autism screening through SoonerStart showed minimal concern, with only a 10% delay in his speech. Despite these challenges, Reece remains a source of happiness for his family and the basketball team.

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