Chris Herren Brings Anti-Drug Message to Toms River

A little more than a decade ago, Chris Herren had the world at his feet and an unlimited future in professional basketball. Then drugs took hold and wouldn't let go.

This Wednesday, April 25, Herren hopes to inspire students at Toms River High School North to stay on the straight and narrow path with a recounting of his rise, fall and redemption.

The free discussion in the Pine Belt Arena is being organized by the Toms River Regional School District, and is also open to students and parents from surrounding districts. It starts at 7 PM in the arena on Old Freehold Road.

Herren was developing a storybook life in 1995, when the 6'2" guard finished his first year at Boston College and transferred to Fresno State, playing for legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian. He was the Denver Nuggets' second-round draft choice in 1999, and by 2000 had returned to Massachusetts and the Boston Celtics.

Before two years had elapsed, Herren was playing in Europe. His house of cards collapsed in 2004 when he was arrested for heroin possession and driving under the influence with a suspended license in Rhode Island. He was out of basketball by 2006, only seven years after his meteoric rise, and penniless in his home town of Fall River.

Herren underwent intensive rehabilitation and reached clean-and-sober status in 2008. Since then, he's established Hoop Dreams With Chris Herren, a development company that mentors young athletes on and off the court. Last year, he added The Herren Foundation to help young addicts through recovery.

His exploits figure largely in Fall River Dreams, a recounting of basketball at Durfee High School. More importantly, he documented his arduous journey in the book Basketball Junkie and an award-winning documentary, Unguarded.