Photo by: Aiden Shertzer
Neighbors Named to Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team
February 19, 2025 | Baseball
The senior was one of 10 players nationally selected for the honor.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville senior infielder Kamau Neighbors was named to the 2025 Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team on Wednesday.
The team is presented by Phi Delta Theta and the Live Like Lou Foundation and was selected based on outstanding achievements in three key areas – demonstrating a substantial commitment to their community through service and philanthropy, embodying the generous spirit and character of Lou Gehrig, and making remarkable contributions to the success of their respective teams.
Neighbors was one of 10 players across all levels of baseball nationally to be recognized.
The transfer from Cal State Northridge has made an immediate impact on the Louisville baseball program in his first year. Neighbors was one of five Cardinals to be voted a team captain, and started two of three games at second base during the opening weekend in Arlington, Texas.
Off the field, Neighbors' passion for giving back to others is just as strong. He is deeply committed to helping improve his community and serving those in need. Through the SPAD Association Wheelchair Volunteer Group, Neighbors helped elderly and mobility-challenged individuals navigate to their seats during the Louisville football season opener against Austin Peay. He is also an active volunteer with the Louisville Miracle League, an organization that provides children with physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities the opportunity to play baseball.
In addition to his work with the Miracle League, Neighbors served Thanksgiving meals to less fortunate families in South Louisville with the South Lou Thanksgiving Serve Team. His compassion extended further through his involvement with Fellowship of Christian Athletes' Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child project, where he helped pack gift boxes to be sent to children worldwide. His dedication to youth extends to his volunteer work at the MLB Youth Academy in Compton, Calif., where he mentored young athletes, helping them develop not only as players but as individuals committed to excelling both on and off the field.
As a mentor at On Deck Batting Cages in Signal Hill, Calif., Neighbors continues to inspire aspiring student-athletes, offering guidance on how to balance academics with sports. His service extends to his spiritual life as well; he is an active member of Reach Church in Paradise, Calif., where he serves on the production and stagehands team while also participating in community outreach.
"It's an honor to have one of our captains selected for the Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team," head coach Dan McDonnell said. "He's clearly making a huge impact in our program as well as in the Louisville community. The Gehrig family will be proud to have Kamau as a member of this prestigious team."
Since 1955, Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity has presented the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award to the Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the spirit and character of Lou Gehrig, both on and off the field.
To further Lou Gehrig's legacy and his storied baseball career that began at the collegiate level at Columbia University, Phi Delta Theta, in partnership with the Live Like Lou Foundation, introduced the Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team in 2024 to annually recognize the giving character and community impact of collegiate baseball players.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on X, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.
The team is presented by Phi Delta Theta and the Live Like Lou Foundation and was selected based on outstanding achievements in three key areas – demonstrating a substantial commitment to their community through service and philanthropy, embodying the generous spirit and character of Lou Gehrig, and making remarkable contributions to the success of their respective teams.
Neighbors was one of 10 players across all levels of baseball nationally to be recognized.
The transfer from Cal State Northridge has made an immediate impact on the Louisville baseball program in his first year. Neighbors was one of five Cardinals to be voted a team captain, and started two of three games at second base during the opening weekend in Arlington, Texas.
Off the field, Neighbors' passion for giving back to others is just as strong. He is deeply committed to helping improve his community and serving those in need. Through the SPAD Association Wheelchair Volunteer Group, Neighbors helped elderly and mobility-challenged individuals navigate to their seats during the Louisville football season opener against Austin Peay. He is also an active volunteer with the Louisville Miracle League, an organization that provides children with physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities the opportunity to play baseball.
In addition to his work with the Miracle League, Neighbors served Thanksgiving meals to less fortunate families in South Louisville with the South Lou Thanksgiving Serve Team. His compassion extended further through his involvement with Fellowship of Christian Athletes' Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child project, where he helped pack gift boxes to be sent to children worldwide. His dedication to youth extends to his volunteer work at the MLB Youth Academy in Compton, Calif., where he mentored young athletes, helping them develop not only as players but as individuals committed to excelling both on and off the field.
As a mentor at On Deck Batting Cages in Signal Hill, Calif., Neighbors continues to inspire aspiring student-athletes, offering guidance on how to balance academics with sports. His service extends to his spiritual life as well; he is an active member of Reach Church in Paradise, Calif., where he serves on the production and stagehands team while also participating in community outreach.
"It's an honor to have one of our captains selected for the Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team," head coach Dan McDonnell said. "He's clearly making a huge impact in our program as well as in the Louisville community. The Gehrig family will be proud to have Kamau as a member of this prestigious team."
Since 1955, Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity has presented the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award to the Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the spirit and character of Lou Gehrig, both on and off the field.
To further Lou Gehrig's legacy and his storied baseball career that began at the collegiate level at Columbia University, Phi Delta Theta, in partnership with the Live Like Lou Foundation, introduced the Lou Gehrig Community Impact Team in 2024 to annually recognize the giving character and community impact of collegiate baseball players.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on X, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.
Players Mentioned
INF
/ BaseballBSB: Tague Davis Postgame vs. CMU (2/27/26)
Saturday, February 28
BSB: Griffin Crain Postgame vs. CMU (2/27/26)
Saturday, February 28
BSB: Dan McDonnell Postgame vs. CMU (2/27/26)
Saturday, February 28
BSB: Jax Hisle Postgame vs. EKU (2/25/26)
Thursday, February 26
