Former Celtic Chris Herren to Speak on Addiction Recovery at Peabody Middle School

PEABODY, MA — Former Boston Celtic Chris Herren will speak to Peabody students Wednesday about his recovery from drug and alcohol addiction that derailed his basketball career, and almost ended his life.

Herren will visit Higgins Middle School at 9:00 a.m. to share his life story that has been detailed in the memoir "Basketball Junkie," and the ESPN documentary "Unguarded," according to a press release from the Mayor's Office.

"We are very fortunate to have Chris Herren bring his important message to students at the Higgins Middle School,” said Peabody Mayor Edward Bettencourt. “Chris is a very dynamic personality and he is able to relate to students in a way that reaches them at a very personal level. His message is one our students need to hear particularly at this critical stage in their development.”

Herren will speak to Higgins students about his personal battle with drugs and alcohol, his road to recovery and national drug and alcohol statistics, according to the press release. Students in the audience will also have the opportunity to ask Herren questions.

Herren's basketball career started out with great promise. As a star for his hometown B.M.C. Durfee High School basketball team, Herren was named a McDonald's All-American in 1994, according to Hoop Dreams with Chris Herren, his basketball development company.

Herren was a local legend in High School. He was named Boston Globe HIgh School Player of the year in 1992, 1993, and 1994 and the Gatorade New England Player of the Year 1993 and 1994.

But it was in college that Herren's career began its downward spiral. Herren dropped out at Boston College after one year and later found success on the court after transferring to Fresno State. But he reportedly failed drug tests at both schools, according to the ESPN documentary "Unguarded."

Herren's talent and high level of play at Fresno State resulted in him getting drafted 33rd overall by the Denver Nuggets in 1999. In 2000 Herren was acquired by the Boston Celtics. It was a dream come true for an Massachusetts kid, but it was a dream deferred by substance abuse. Herren only spent one year with the Celtics — his last in the NBA — before playing in Italy, Turkey, China, Germany, Iran and Poland. He retired from pro basketball in 2006.

Herren has been sober since 2008 and started The Herren Project in 2011 to raise awareness of the dangers of substance abuse. Since his recovery, Herren has been inducted into the Durfee Sports Hall of Fame in 2010 and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

[Photo: Wikimedia Commons]