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This is terrible--thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
USC Aiken junior guard Javonte Clanton was killed in a car accident in West Virginia, the school announced this afternoon.
Clanton had played a few hours earlier in USC Aiken's basketball game against Augusta State. The Pacers lost, 85-57, in the Southeast Regional final Tuesday night.
Clanton was en route to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, when he reportedly fell asleep at the wheel, the school said.
“Our students, faculty, and staff are in mourning,” Chanceller Tom Hallman said in a prepared statement. “It’s a dark day on the USC Aiken campus, and our heartfelt thoughts are with Javonte’s family, friends, and fellow teammates.”
Jackson County Sheriff’s Lt. Tony Boggs said Clanton, who was alone in a 2002 Chevy Impala, may have fallen asleep at the wheel just before his car left Interstate 77 north-bound near the 131 mile marker. The vehicle flipped at least once, ejecting Clanton from the vehicle, and hit a tree.
Lt. Boggs said Clanton most likely wasn’t wearing a seat belt, but it was difficult to tell because the vehicle ended up in three sections.
“It was a horrendous wreck,” Boggs said.
Clanton transferred to USC Aiken from Blinn Junior College.
“Right now we are still in a state of disbelief over this incredible loss. Javonte was a very talented basketball player and he was beloved by all his teammates," USC Aiken coach Vince Alexander said in a statement released by the school. "Most importantly, Javonte was an outstanding individual and student. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Javonte. This is a tremendous loss to the USC Aiken community.”
Funeral arrangements have not been set.
Comments
This is terrible--thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
How fragile is life.
Thoughts and prayers to fans, friends and family.
Javonte - you will be missed.
This is a terrible tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go out to the fmily.
Such a tragic loss of a young life. My thoughts and prayers go out to USCA and to his family.
how terrible.....my condolences to his family and friends....
Our prayers are with the family and friends. God Be With you all.
My prayers are with the family.
To the family , friends and teammates of this young man ...Please know that our prayers and thoughts are with you on this day. I watched him and his team play a great game last night. Be proud and remember him with the highest of regard.
God Bless Javonte and the Pacer family.....
May God Bless his friends, family and teammates. A fine young man taken to early.
My condolences to family, team members, friends. Drivers, please pull over if you get tired while driving. It's better to be late than driving impaired by fatigue and risk your death and/or others. A mistake driving under these conditions cannot be undone. Parents please remind your young drivers how dangerous driving tired can be. We've lost a lot of high school and college students because they were driving while physically and mentally exhausted. May God hold Clanton and those others we have lost in the palm of His hand and grant them eternal rest and peace.
Absolutely surreal to think I saw him play just last night. As excited as I was about the Jags winning, this puts into perspective just how unimportant it really is. My condolences to Clanton's friends and family, as well as his teammates, coaches and fans at USCA.
Very sorry to hear that. I'm sure I join Jaguar fans in offering
condolences to his family, and the Pacers team.
No doubt, after playing a heated game here, it was too far to go
at night through W. Virginia to Ohio without sleep.
I'm one from the front row that was hollering against him and the Pacers last night, but that ends on the court. We're sorry the
young man lost his life this young.
JAG Fan/aka hockeyman
It is so very, very sad when such a young life is taken. He had such a future ahead of him.
My prayers go out to his family, friends & team-mates.
I hope the Jags do something / or wear something to remember him when they play in the Elite Eight. It would be a class act of respect for a local competitor.
My heart goes out to the family and teammates of Javonte,,,what a terrible loss,,,God Bless. As a resident of Aiken,,this really hits hard.
My prayers goes out to the USC Aiken community and family. ASU loves you and yall will be in our prayers. God Bless.
What a tragic, tragic, loss!! My heart goes out to Javontes family and friends. May God help you carry your heavy hearts during this sad time! God Bless!!
My heart goes out to his family, friends and USCA.
Ny condolences to family and friends of this fine young man.
Oh goodness another bad loss. My prayers are with this family.
My thoughts and prayers are with Javonte's family, friends, and fans.
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