Chris Herren was a celebrated basketball star before graduating from high school.

After playing at Boston College and Fresno State, the Massachusetts native went on to have two seasons in the NBA, including one with his hometown team, the Boston Celtics, and seven seasons overseas. However, his promising career was cut short by addiction.

With the steadfast support of his family and friends, Herren has been sober since Aug. 1, 2008, and now dedicates his life to helping others through his story, which he will share with the Lehighton community during a presentation in the high school auditorium on Feb. 26. The event, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., is open to the public.

Lehighton Area’s board of directors unanimously approved a $19,500 grant in January from the Carbon County commissioners to bring the nationally recognized Herren Talks program to the district.

According to Superintendent Jason Moser, the initiative aligns closely with the district’s commitment to equipping students and families with critical information to combat the opioid crisis.

“This is a fantastic event — impactful, solemn and deeply important,” Moser said. “It’s an opportunity for our students and community to have a serious conversation about an issue that touches so many lives.”

Lehighton said in a news release that in the presentation, Herren will take the audience on his journey from addiction to sobriety, covering pivotal moments from his basketball career to his battle with substance use disorder.

His message will address the dangers of gateway drugs, prescription drug misuse and vaping, while emphasizing the shared responsibility of prevention. The event will begin with a brief film showcasing highlights of Herren’s basketball career and will conclude with an open question and answer session.

Herren’s story has been widely documented in his bestselling memoir, “Basketball Junkie,” the Emmy-nominated ESPN Films documentary “Unguarded,” and numerous media outlets including The New York Times, The Boston Globe and Sports Illustrated. Through his speaking platform, Herren Talks, he has reached over 1 million people, sparking vital discussions about addiction and wellness. In 2011, he founded Herren Project, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting schools and communities in making healthy choices and guiding families through recovery. In 2018, he furthered his mission by establishing Herren Wellness, a residential health and wellness program.

Assistant to the Superintendent Mary Figura, who assisted in writing and submitting the grant, noted that the initial grant allocation was $10,000 but the county later increased it to $19,500 to cover nearly the full cost of the presentations.

While the grant covers most of the expenses, the district will contribute an additional $750 for travel costs.

In addition to the 7 p.m. public session, presentations will also be held during the day for high school and middle school students.

“For a $250 per session cost to us, this is a great value for what it offers our students and community,” Moser said.