Bayside 14-Year-Old Battling Cancer Joins QC Basketball Team

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — A 14-year-old Bayside resident is now the youngest member of the Queens College men's basketball team.

Evan May, who is battling leukemia, signed an official letter committing to the Queens College Knights during a Wednesday ceremony on campus.

"I would love to become a Knight," May said. "I'm very excited to be here."

The sports fan was a top recruit with the national nonprofit Team IMPACT, which connects serious and chronically ill children with college sports teams, according to a Queens College news release.

"Queens College athletes are very positive people. They have to be tough, and they have to be an inspiration to the people around them in their community,” Queens College Head Men’s Basketball Coach Matt Collier said. "Evan personifies all those things. We’re honored that he decided to commit to us.”

May, whose favorite sport is basketball, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2018 and has been unable to play competitive sports during treatment. He will attend the Queens College Knights' practices, games, team dinners and events for the next year, according to the college.

May received his Queens College basketball jersey during the April 3 ceremony in the college's FitzGerald Gymnasium.

"I’m just glad I didn’t cry. I tried to hold it in," Bari Gold, May's mother, said. "Between Queens College and Team IMPACT, they really went above and beyond trying to find some place for him. He needed this."