Phoenix Suns sign 17-year old Jared Ornoski to short term front office position

Today, the Phoenix Suns surprised high school point guard Jared Ornoski, currently battling Hodgkins Lymphoma, to help the front office throughout the draft process.

The Phoenix Suns this morning announced the "signing" of Phoenix Christian Preparatory student-athlete, Jared Ornoski, as an honorary member of the Suns front office.

Ornoski was surprised by Suns president of basketball operations, Lon Babby, during a school assembly with classmates and friends.

Jared's first task will be to give the Suns some good luck in the Draft Lottery, in which they currently have a less than 3% chance to jump into one of the top three slots.

After signing a contract with Babby, Jared and his father Mike hopped into a limousine to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, where they boarded a plane bound for New York City and will join Suns center Alex Len for the NBA Draft Lottery tomorrow night. The event will determine where the Suns select in the First Round of the June NBA Draft, and will air on ESPN at 5 p.m. (MST).

While the cynical one among you might think the Suns have created their own rabbit foot for the Lottery, I want to commend the Suns for making someone's dream come true in a time of real stress and need.

On January 5, in the middle of his junior basketball season, Ornoski visited the doctor for a lump in his neck and was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. After multiple rounds of chemotherapy, Ornoski is scheduled for his final chemo session in late May, with the initial size of his tumor having already shrunk by 80%. Throughout his battle, Jared has proactively worked to raise funds and awareness of the disease, hoping to help others who are dealing with a similar situation.

Members of the community can assist Jared and his family through the following link: Suns.com/Jared.

Here's hoping Jared recovers 100% and follows his basketball dreams for a long life to come.