PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns are debuting PHX 4 Jared, a half-hour special which chronicles the courageous battle that Valley teen, Jared Ornoski, fought with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and his role as an honorary member of the Suns front office. The feature will premiere on Wednesday, January 27 following the Suns-Cleveland Cavaliers game on FOX Sports Arizona and on Suns.com beginning Thursday.
On January 5, 2015, in the middle of his junior basketball season at Phoenix Christian Preparatory, Ornoski visited the doctor for a lump in his neck and was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. With chemotherapy underway, the Suns signed the 17-year old as an honorary member of the team’s front office. In his new role, Ornoski would go on to attend the 2015 NBA Draft Lottery with Suns center Alex Len, assist with pre-draft workouts and be the first to greet Suns rookie Devin Booker on draft day in New York City.
In the special, Ornoski and his family share the trials and tribulations associated with the disease and how his role with the Suns offered a ray of hope during the darkest of times. Throughout his battle, Ornoski proactively worked to raise funds and awareness of the disease in an effort to assist those facing a similar situation. Ornoski, now a senior, has returned to the basketball court as the starting point guard at Phoenix Christian.