![\"skal123\"](\"http:\/\/cowbellkingdom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/skal123.jpg\")
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During Sacramento\u2019s busy draft night, one of their picks came from a trade with the Phoenix Suns. With pick No. 28 in the draft, the team selected forward Skal Labissiere from the University of Kentucky.<\/p>\n
While it is no surprise Sacramento went with another Wildcat, the fact that Labissiere fell so far down is a bit of a shock. Out of high school, the big man was seen as the number one recruit and was\u00a0predicted to go number one in this year\u2019s draft. With that said, the possibility of this being DeMarcus Cousins\u2019 last season with the Kings, depending on the team\u2019s results, has swayed me to believe that it was the right move. The Haitian born rookie appears to be ready to overcome any adversity or naysayers in his way.<\/p>\n The young man already has experience in getting through tough times due to a terrifying experience in his youth. At the age of 13, Labissiere was living in Haiti during the devastating earthquake that hit in 2010.<\/p>\n \u201cI was at my house with my mom [and] my little brother and I had just got back from school. My dad dropped me off at the house, he stayed on the outside. When I went in there I said ‘Hi’ to my mom, with my little brother I did the same thing,\u201d Labissiere said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s when the house started to shake. I ran to my mom; my little brother did the same thing. Right when we got there, that\u2019s when everything collapsed on top of us.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n The death toll of the earthquake ranged from 220,000 to 316,000 casualties and 300,000 more people sustained injuries. Luckily, Labissiere turned out to be fine after his father rescued his family from beneath the debris.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we didn\u2019t know what happened to my dad because he just stayed out,\u201d Labissiere said. \u201cWhen he came, it took him about a couple hours, he found some help and he took us out.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n A man named Gerald Hamilton called Labissiere\u2019s father prior to the earthquake in hopes to bring Skal to the states through his non-profit organization, the Reach Your Dream foundation. At first, his father was hesitant, but after this tragic event, he knew it was the best thing for his son who left Haiti for Memphis, TN.<\/p>\n
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\n\/\/ However, Labissiere had a down year at Kentucky where he wound up going from a starter to a bench role. This pick was solid on the Kings’ part in terms of a value pick, although a bit questionable given that the team\u2019s frontcourt appeared set but the front office thought otherwise.<\/p>\n