CAPE CORAL, Fla. — Tonight was a night for hoops and remembering a rising star.
Stef’an Strawder was tragically killed in a 2016 shooting at Club Blu in Fort Myers, that also killed 14-year-old Sean Archilles. Strawder’s love and talent for the game still live on through other players just trying to keep up with him, like his friend Bershard Edwards.
“Probably one of the hardest workers I’ve known. We’d have a day off of practice he would hit me up ‘Star you want to go shoot? We got to put up some hoops we got to make sure we’re ready’,” Edwards said.
Strawder’s passion is one reason that drives other players to give the game their all. The third annual Stef’an Strawder Showcase Memorial is a basketball game for players to show their skills in front of college coaches and potentially get offers.
“The impact is something you have to keep up. You have to give these chance to say ‘I have the opportunity.’
Stef’an wasn’t the biggest kid, but his heart was big, and there’s a lot of those kids around in this community,” Keith White said, Strawder’s uncle.
Since 2016, 31 kids who participated in the game signed college scholarships.
“A lot of kids it’s created opportunities, changed lives,” said Lee County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Sylvester Smalls.
Edwards says Strawder would’ve been honored to have his name on a game that involves not only basketball but also a good cause.
“If someone gets an opportunity out of this, Stef’an is just going to be smiling. And if not, just come out and have a good time,” Edwards said.
“If someone gets an opportunity out of this, Stef’an is just going to be smiling. And if not, just come out and have a good time,” Edwards said.
