Hawaii men’s basketball: Ex-player Jaaron Stallworth reported dead
Some stunning news infiltrated the Hawaii basketball community on Monday, as former Rainbow Warriors guard Jaaron Stallworth was reported dead. The Hawaii basketball Twitter page sent out condolences for the Stallworth family “during this difficult time.”
Stallworth, who transferred to Hawaii out of Yuba College for the 2017-18 season, was to compete at point guard. But he was coming off a broken leg injury playing for Yuba and was behind the curve, considerably, upon arrival at UH as he competed against Brocke Stepteau and Drew Buggs for playing time. He appeared in the 2017 Green and White scrimmage and in a preseason exhibition, but in no official games and quit the team a few games into the season, and that was apparently the end of his basketball career.
Sacramento Bee reporter Joe Davidson reported that Stallworth had “some sort of train mishap.”
Sad news to report: Jaaron Stallworth has died from some sort of train mishap.
Was a fun quarterback and guard to cover at Cosumnes Oaks who excelled in hoops @YubaMensHoops
Teammates and coaches loved the guy. Too soon, too young. pic.twitter.com/Aq3JdsRD7q— Joe Davidson (@SacBee_JoeD) May 6, 2019
Buggs tweeted out a tribute for Stallworth early in the afternoon.
Can’t believe it…Rest In Peace JStally, prayers out to his family 🙏🏽🕊 https://t.co/CSDa6Xk5z1
— Drew Buggs (@stonecolddrew) May 6, 2019
His junior college, Yuba, expressed sorrow.
Yuba College Basketball lost a family member yesterday. Words can’t express the sorrow that goes out to family and friends and teammates. We love you Jaaron! RIP #5 You will be missed dearly🙏 pic.twitter.com/v9SXqzGxZh
— YubaMensHoops (@YubaMensHoops) May 6, 2019
My personal interactions with Stallworth as the then-UH beat writer were over a fairly brief period of time, but he seemed like an honest, earnest sort, if a bit frustrated about his present circumstances coming off a tough injury.
Had he stuck it out all the way through at UH, he would’ve been a senior in the upcoming 2019-20 season.
There is a GoFundMe page for Stallworth. Some tributes for him were compiled here.
His cousin, Drake Stallworth, is still a member of the UH football team.
Stallworth had apparently been having a rough go of things, running afoul of the law in January.
Here’s one of the last posts from his Twitter page:
— Aaron Collins♏️ (@AceMoniii11) March 13, 2019
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