Wichita State basketball player becomes viral sensation for trash pickup after game
Wichita State basketball player Dexter Dennis has become a viral sensation and it might surprise WSU fans that it doesn’t feature one of his jaw-dropping dunks.
Instead, it was a random act of kindness from Dennis.
A video taken by The Eagle following WSU’s 65-51 win over Tarleton State on Nov. 16 captured Dennis staying after the game to help WSU’s clean-up crew pick up trash with his father, Page, in a section at Koch Arena.
The video of the 22-year-old from Baker, Louisiana picking up trash after scoring 13 points in a game has since become a viral sensation, as The Eagle’s video has been featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter, CBS News, Overtime and The Today Show.
“Didn’t do it for attention,” Dennis tweeted after the clip gained traction. “Just gives me perspective on life.”
“Preciate the love!” Dennis commented on SportsCenter’s Instagram post. “If you’re reading this, I challenge you to put a smile on someone else’s face today! You never know who needs it.”
Page Dennis has been a proud father watching his son’s good heart become a national news story.
“He’s just a good kid,” Page Dennis told The Eagle. “All he wanted to do was to show that anyone can help out. That’s just the way he is.”
Dexter Dennis has declined interview requests to talk about a ritual his father says he actually does at most home games.
“I was waiting for him after the game and he said, ‘Dad, I do two sections after every home game,’” Page Dexter said. “So I was sitting there waiting for him and he just started cleaning up, so I decided to help him out. That’s just the kind of guy he is. He don’t want no praise.”
As the video has grown in popularity, some internet commenters unfamiliar with Dennis’ track record of good deeds questioned the sincerity of the act or if he was fulfilling some kind of punishment.
Before posting the video, The Eagle confirmed with the WSU men’s basketball program that Dennis was not in trouble.
“He told me he wanted to burn off some more energy after the game,” Page Dennis said, laughing.
The video is still making the rounds nationally, as SportsCenter picked up on it on Tuesday and made an Instagram post featuring The Eagle’s video sent out to nearly 27 million followers.
To those who know Dennis, it wasn’t a surprise to see his kind act.
“Dex is one of the most humble guys you will ever meet in your life,” tweeted Jarrin Taul, who coached Dennis at prep school.
“Had the honor to recruit (Dennis) and gives my heart joy to see the humility he shows for others,” tweeted Donnie Jones, a former WSU assistant coach.
This story was originally published November 24, 2021 at 7:30 AM.
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