Wheelchair basketball players will get a chance to test their talents against Division I athletes on Thursday.

The Intramural Recreational Sports department and Student Disability Services are teaming up to host this year’s 5th Annual wheelchair basketball event at Preston Center. 

Tanner Steelman, a graduate assistant in the Student Disabilities Center, said the idea is to bring together a unique group of participants that  includes men’s basketball players Kahlil McDonald and Stephon Drane.

McDonald suffered a grade two medial collateral ligament tear and Drane hyper-extended his knee. Both players will be unable to practice until early November.

Steelman said he reached out to faculty and staff and also contacted the football team to see if anyone could participate.

Matt Davis, coordinator of student disabilities services and a member of the Nashville Wheelcats, travels to Nashville once a week to practice with his team. 

He too will be taking on those various members of WKU’s faculty and staff who have already agreed to participate in this unique event. 

but Steelman said nothing is confirmed as of yet.

The wheelchair basketball event will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the Preston Center with the winning team receiving honor and bragging rights.

While players will get to showcase their athletic abilities, Steelman says that this is an event that more people should come to. 

“This isn’t something you see every day,” Steelman said.