For Elijah and Solo Ball, becoming teammates on the UConn basketball team quickly turned into something more: a friendship built on support, and resilience. The bond is so strong they compare it to family.
Elijah is a 13-year-old who lives with leukemia. Through Team IMPACT, he was matched to UConn Basketball in July of 2024. Solo Ball was also new to the program at this time, and the two became fast friends, sharing a connection that continues to grow stronger in their third year together. Their friendship was so meaningful that Elijah nominated Solo for the 2026 Team IMPACT Teammate of the Year award.
“I nominate Solo Ball because he has been there for three years, and he’s been an inspiration since I started with UConn,” Elijah said. “We’ve been together for three years; he’s been by my side, lifted me up, and talked to me when I needed it.”
While Elijah appreciates Solo’s constant support, their friendship is rooted in a shared understanding of the challenges cancer can cause in a family. “I’ve actually had a direct relationship to cancer in my family. My mother had it when I was in middle school and it was a pretty tough experience to go through,” Solo shared. “I was really emotional about it. It made me work harder every single day, and now having Elijah be a part of our family too, it just gives me even more motivation to just go out there and give it my all for him.”
Whether he’s joking with Solo at practice, competing in games with teammates, or cheering from the sidelines at home games, Elijah has become an integral part of the UConn basketball family. In those moments, Elijah’s personality shines through. His attitude is infectious and inspires the team to work harder every day.
“When you see a guy that you know, that may be going through some things and he never shows it one bit, you get motivated even more. I mean just having him in our corner has been everything for us,” Solo said.
Elijah’s resilience and attitude motivate Solo to give his all both on and off the court. Throughout their time together at UConn, their friendship has helped both grow, with Elijah inspiring the team through his positivity and fight, and Solo providing unwavering support, and a shoulder to lean on along the way.
Friendships like Elijah and Solo’s are what Team IMPACT is all about. It is not only to add a name to the roster, but to foster an environment where teammates become family, a constant support system, and each other’s biggest cheerleaders.
“He’s not just a teammate—he’s like family to me, and I’m so grateful for his daily support and encouragement,” Elijah said.