Ex-Kentucky player Isaac Humphries comes out as gay

• Humphries, 24, posted video of the chat on his social media accounts
• He is Melbourne United player
• He says he fought with his identity and culminated in near-suicide

Isaac Humphries, a centre for Melbourne United and a former basketball player for Kentucky, revealed he is gay at an emotional meeting with his teammates.

On Tuesday, Humphries, 24, posted a video of the chat on his social media accounts. He began by stating that it would be one of the “hardest conversations” he had experienced.

He says that he tried to end his life years back because he struggled emotionally and otherwise with his orientation. He discovered that he was gay, and it disturbed him so much.

Isaac Humphries. Photo by Sky SPorts

“A few years ago I fell into a very dark place, a very lonely place and I couldn’t be who I am. I attempted to take my life,” People reports. “The main reason behind me becoming so low and being in that point is because I was very much struggling with my sexuality and coming to terms with the fact that I am gay.”

“I hated it about myself. I was disgusted at myself. I thought that I could not be that person within our environment, within a basketball environment,” he adds.

He retorts he felt challenged to tell his team about his s3xual orientation in order to demonstrate to ease the burden of other gay people. The Melbourne United player says it wasn’t until he was in a town that was full of pride, happiness, and love that he woke up from his identity misery.

The NBA player decided that if he were going to join a team, he would come out publicly and let people know they could live with his life’s choices. He says no one should hide their s3xuality simply because they are athletes.

His coming out, he further remarks, lets people know that they can be anything they want, regardless of who they are or what they do. For him, being gay means, he can still be a great basketball player.

The NBA, in a statement, lauded Humphries for coming out of the closet with honesty.

Isaac Humphries. Photo by ESPN

“We are proud and grateful to Isaac for sharing his story. We know the real impact his honesty and courage will have on many others. Isaac has our unwavering respect and support,” NBA’s statement read.

Humphries hails from Australia in Melbourne. He was raised in Cronulla and was born in the Sydney neighbourhood of Caringbah. He began playing basketball at the age of twelve. He had played rugby league in the past.

The Aussie resided in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, for six months in 2010.  He told theleader.com.au in January 2014, that when he lived in Canada, he had a very substantial growth spurt.

Prior to moving to the US in December 2014 to play prep ball at La Lumiere School in La Porte, Indiana, Humphries attended Scots College in Sydney and the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

He played 23 games for the University of Kentucky in 2015 during his first year at the university.