DRIVING WHILE BLACK KILLS! It's not easy driving a car, while texting, rolling a blunt, drinking a 40 ouncers and eating Harold's Fried Chicken!
The Hillcrest High School community lost one of its brightest stars Sunday morning when Shannise Heady, of Hazel Crest, was killed along with fellow Eastern Michigan University student Jordan Hopkins in a head-on collision shortly before 1 a.m. in Ypsilanti Township in Michigan.
The Washtenaw County sheriff’s department said a vehicle driven by Heady, 21, a junior forward on the women’s basketball team, veered over the road’s center line, hitting an oncoming vehicle.
Heady and Hopkins, 23, of Dexter, Michigan, were killed. Dexter was a passenger in Heady’s vehicle. The other driver was taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin said it’s a “tragic loss” and that the school was offering counseling to those seeking it.
Heady had transferred to the Michigan school in January 2013 from Seton Hall University in northern New Jersey.
Heady was named the 2011-12 SouthtownStar Girls Basketball Player of the Year after a senior season in which she averaged 14.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.7 steals for the Country Club Hills school.
It was a brilliant ending to a four-year varsity career in which she helped lead Hillcrest to a 116-16 record and two second-place finishes in Class 3A.
“Words that described Shannise Heady were ‘ultra-competitive,’ ‘humble’ and ‘gracious,’ ” former Hillcrest coach John Maniatis said. “She was a tremendous student-athlete, and a four-year varsity player who blossomed into a fierce leader.
“Shannise was all about Hawk pride. Our Hawk family is at a loss and our hearts and prayers go out to (her father) Lawrence, (her mother) Jannise, and to all of the family.”
Heady spent her freshman year at Seton Hall before transferring to Eastern Michigan. As a sophomore, she appeared in 22 games, averaging 14.4 minutes. She was a starter for the Eagles in 2014-15, averaging 7.9 points and 4.8 rebounds.
Heady had five points and eight rebounds in Saturday’s 75-61 win over Toledo.
“Obviously this is one of our toughest days as a program and for the entire Eagle Nation as we mourn the loss of Shannise,” EMU coach Tory Verdi said in a statement on the school’s website.
“No words can describe the feelings right now as we are truly devastated to learn of her passing. Shannise was not only an inspiration to all of us, but she brought energy and liveliness to our team. She was a true joy to coach and has left an everlasting impression not only on me but the rest of our team as well. She will be missed greatly.”
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