DES MOINES, Iowa — A donation from an Iowa college student allowed a famous athlete to continue playing the sport he loves.

Alex Reinhardt was 20-years-old when he passed in February of 2023. The Morningside University student loved sports, and his family honored his wish to be an organ and tissue donor.

Chicago Bulls basketball player Lonzo Ball is a recipient of Alex’s donation. A knee injury nearly ended Ball’s career, and an experimental surgery using Reinhardt’s tissue allowed him to return to the court.

To help honor Alex’s legacy, Ball invited Alex’s family to a Chicago Bulls game earlier this week, and the Iowa Donor Network helped make it happen.

“When I first reached out to the family, I was only able to tell them that there was an elite athlete who their son’s donation had gone to. Already, that was just a huge excitement, we hadn’t even shared who this individual was yet. When I was able to give that call and let them know that it was Lonzo Ball with the Chicago Bulls it was just super exciting … Chicago just welcomed us in, the Bulls welcomed us in. Lonzo just really wanted to make this special for the family,” said Kate Granzow, Manager of Family Advocates with the Iowa Donor Network.

Last year alone the Iowa donor network facilitated more than 1,100 tissue donations.

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