16-year-old basketball player dies in crash after game, SC cops say. ‘A bright soul’
A 16-year-old high school basketball player was killed in a car crash while returning home from a game, according to South Carolina officials.
Kveon M. Willis was heading to his home in Royston, Georgia, when the car he was in went off the road and struck a tree at around 6:15 p.m. on April 30 in Anderson, South Carolina, according to a news release from the Anderson County Coroner’s Office. The car was traveling south on Highway 187.
Willis, who was a passenger in the front seat, became entrapped in the vehicle and was extricated by fire-rescue personnel, according to the release. He was pronounced dead on scene.
The coroner’s office determined he died of a traumatic brain injury. He was not wearing a seatbelt, the release says.
The driver, who was not publicly identified, was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, according to the coroner’s office.
Both the driver and Willis were returning home from a basketball game with their recreation team.
Loved ones mourned Willis on Facebook and shared photos and videos of him playing basketball.
“Basketball was so natural for you…,” wrote Unique Allen, who identified herself as a cousin of Willis. “The infectious smile, the hugs, the I love yous, will forever remain with me.”
His sister, Shericka Willis, wrote that her brother was so young and had many things yet to accomplish.
“My brother had a bright future ahead of him,” she wrote. “All he wanted to do was hoop…”
Members of the Willis family were not available to speak with McClatchy News on May 1.
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Another cousin, Star Ramsey, wrote that losing Willis felt “unreal.”
“Kveon Willis was a bright soul that kept you smiling, laughing, and uplifted,” she wrote. “I will always love you baby cousin and I’ll forever think of you the rest of my life.”
Myia Dye posted a picture of Willis playing basketball on the night of April 30 and wearing a jersey with the number 30 instead of his usual 21.
“KV played so good, he kept our boys motivated and kept us in the game,” she wrote. “They placed 2nd... life happened so fast after this game...”
Willis attended Madison County High School in Danielsville, Georgia, about 85 miles northeast of Atlanta, according to the coroner’s office. Officials at the school did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.
South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash along with the coroner’s office. Anderson is about 120 miles northwest of Columbia.
This story was originally published May 1, 2023 at 3:32 PM with the headline "16-year-old basketball player dies in crash after game, SC cops say. ‘A bright soul’."