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Monday, July 7, 2008

Highbridge resident, basketball star dies

Andre Davidson Jr. a former basketball star at John F. Kennedy High School who was beloved by his Highbridge community, died Saturday doing what he loved.

Davidson, known to loved ones as "Pop", collapsed during a basketball tournament game at St. Mary's Rec Center, in the Mott Haven sectio of the South Bronx. He was only 18 years old, and had graduated from Kennedy High only days earlier. The Daily News reported this morning on Davidson's death; the News quotes Davidson's great-grandmother, Rhoda Lucas, as saying the cause of death is unknown at this time.

Davidson's family is in the process of planning funeral services, expected to take place later this week.

Residents of Highbridge -- especially those on Woodycrest Avenue between W. 166th and W. 167th Streets, where Davidson lived with Lucas --are grieving today. Manuel and Jaison Rodriguez, 16 and 17 years old respectively, sat on a staircase adjacent to Davidson's home as they shared memories of a friend they had known since childhood; the three met on a basketball court roughly ten years ago, when all of them were small children.

"We had a good childhood together," Jaison Rodriguez said. "We played a lot of crazy games. We played tag and stuff."

Manuel and Jaison said their friend's favorite NBA player growing up was Allen Iverson, and that Davidson often wore Iverson's replica jersey. After awhile, Manuel said, he was too small to keep pace with his friend on the court. But Davidson's reputation grew along with his height.

"He was crazy good," Rodriguez said. "Like one of the best players in Highbridge. He was guaranteed to go to the NBA, I know that for a fact. He was that good." Asked to assess Davidson's strengths as a player, Rodriguez replied, "He just liked dunking on everybody."

Rodriguez added that Davidson was also known for his sense of humor, his fashion sense -- which earned him another nickname, "Mr. Smooth" --and his compassion.

"I could say he always had my back," Rodriguez said. "He was a real giving person too. If I ever needed something, I could go right to his house, he'd give it to me."

A memorial in front of Davidson's home indicates the impact his death has already had on his neighborhood. Four sheets of posterboard are filled with handwritten messages like "Love you so much. I will always miss your big, bright smile," and "R.I.P. Pop. You will always live on through Highbridge."

One of the sheets displays a photo of Davidson wearing his red graduation cap and gown.

Many of the messages express shock at their friend's passing.

"Just the other day, we was laughing at you punk," reads one. "Now we can't believe you not here anymore."

1 comment:

  1. ITS HARD TO BELEIVE THAT SUCH A GREAT BRIGHT YOUNG MAN WITH SUCH GREAT FUTURE HAS LEFT US. GOD BLESS YOU "POP"..

    TONY THANK YOU FOR WRITEING THIS STORY ON POP..

    INDIA ECHEVARRIA

    ReplyDelete

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