Pennsylvania native Herb Pope has overcome a lot to get to the hardwood floor at Seton Hall University. The junior 6’8″ forward for the Pirates has survivedbullet wounds, fathered a child, transferred colleges, criticism and slurs after committing a dirty foul in front of television cameras, and the discovery of a birth defect to his heart.

Recently, Pope trekked up to River Dell to meet with the Golden Hawks freshman squad to talk about his experiences and run drills with the team.

“The guys really enjoyed it,” freshman coach Adam Facendola said. “He spoke in terms of his life and what he has been through. Just letting them know they are lucky with what they have.”

Pope later ran drills with members of the freshman and JV teams along with a few players from the youth recreation squads as well.

Growing up outside of Pittsburgh Pope was raised by his aunt Amy Pope-Smith. His goal to leave Aliquippa, Pa., almost didn’t happen as he was shot four times in March 2007 – but he recovered and was recruited to New Mexico State to play basketball. But New Mexico proved to not become his home, and instead returned to the East Coast where he now plays for Seton Hall.

Even at Seton Hall, Pope has had to overcome additional trouble first when he punchedTexas Tech’s Darko Cohadarevic below the belt, twice, during the final game of his first season with the Pirates. Then collapsing on campus and almost dying after a work out – he was laterdiagnosed with a birth defect, anomalous right coronary artery, that is normally only found during an autoposy.

Article source: http://riverdell.patch.com/articles/hawks-visited-by-seton-hall-pirate-herb-pope