ROCKINGHAM — Continuing the special memorial feature series on Jalen David, the Richmond Senior High School basketball player who died last weekend, several of his high school, middle school and youth coaches share memories about No. 22.
Richmond Basketball Coaches
Donald Pettigrew, varsity head coach
Entering his fourth year as the Raiders’ head basketball coach, Pettigrew has spent the last week keeping his guys positive despite the circumstances. In the coming season, Pettigrew expected David to become a regular contributor on the varsity squad.
“Right now, we’re all taking it one day at a time, and we’re struggling with the loss. The guys are leaning on one another because we’re a family, and that’s important,” Pettigrew said.
“Jalen was one of those guys who didn’t complain, and he’d do everything we asked him to do. We saw a lot of potential and he had five big games for us last year. He was a great teammate who always cheered the guys on, but he was an even better person.
“He was always smiling, so respectful and was a hard worker. Jalen didn’t realize the impact he had on my kids at practice, and my son wears 22, which is the same as Jalen. It says a lot about the kind of kid he was.
“I used to joke with him about needing to put on weight, so he would do all these pushups and eat peanut butter,” Pettigrew chuckled. “Jalen was always laughing and he trusted everything we said.
“I’m going to miss him. We always tell the guys we want to win, but basketball is more than that. We want to love one another and build memories. Jalen always sent me a text on Father’s Day and it made me realize I had an impact in his life as well.”
Pettigrew said he also wanted to thank David’s mom, Krystal Williams, for being such a strong supporter of the basketball program. He asks that fans keep her and her family in their prayers.
Kenta Hutchinson, junior varsity head coach
Last season, Hutchinson was named the head junior varsity basketball coach at Richmond. He recalls David’s work ethic, his impact on the program and some of his favorite memories.
“Jalen was the type of kid who didn’t say much, but you would always catch him out of the corner of your eye doing something silly. It was an honor to have known Jalen over the years and to experience everything he had to offer.
“He worked hard, he was well-mannered and always did what you would ask of him with no problem. Jalen’s talent on the court spoke for itself. As a sophomore on varsity, the sky was the limit for him. He was far more than just a basketball player — he was a son, a brother and a good friend.
“My mind keeps taking me back to our last JV game. I was down to seven players and we made the decision to move him down for a game. He was so excited and without him we wouldn’t have won that game period. He was so relentless in that game, such a leader and he really put the team on his back.
“I remember talking to his mom after the game, and her first response was he looked so much more confident tonight. Jalen holds a special place in our hearts forever and always. Love you, kid. Rest in peace, young king.”
Derrick Watkins, varsity assistant coach
Watkins saw David in two roles the past few years — first as an assistant principal at Richmond County Ninth Grade Academy, and the other as an assistant coach for the Raiders.
“As his principal, and someone who assisted with coaching ‘J’, he will always remain one of my favorite student-athletes.
“I am going to miss the way he would always greet me at school or in the gym with a smile and then a shoulder bump while calling me ‘little dude’ with his chest poked out right before I could call him the same.
“No matter if it were walking down the hall or participating in practice, J would always be quietly smiling and doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing at that time. During lunch when all his friends were trying to skip in line or causing a ruckus goofing off, J would stay in his place and just smile and laugh at them while they were being addressed for misbehavior.
“However, on the court, he showed no fear and would slice through defenses and get to the rim just as good as any player on the court.”
Tony Terry, varsity assistant coach
Terry is an assistant coach with the Richmond basketball program, and like his colleagues, he remembers David as a free-spirited kid who had a knack for impersonating the coaching staff.
“Jalen was a one-of-a-kind kid. He was very humble and he always kept a smile on his face. Jalen worked hard on and off the court and did whatever he needed to do to get better.
“My favorite memory would have to be Jalen impersonating all of us coaches during practices and games. He definitely had a great sense of humor.
“I’m going to miss seeing him come into the locker room and hearing him say ‘what’s up Coach T — we’re staying late today.’ As a coach, hearing those words made me realize this is why I love to do what I do.”
Taivon Jones, varsity assistant coach
Jones has spent the past two seasons as the freshman boys’ basketball coach, but often worked with David at the JV and varsity levels. A teacher at the Ninth Grade Academy, Jones watched David grow in his role as a student-athlete.
“Not only was Jalen a great basketball player, he was a great person. His entire time at the Ninth Grade Academy, I don’t remember having to get onto him one time.
“Jalen always did what he felt was right, regardless of what everyone else was doing.”
Youth Basketball Coaches
Teddy Moseley, Rockingham Middle School
Moseley, who is now the head girls’ basketball coach at Richmond, recalls having to make a tough decision to remove David from the Rockingham team. But it’s something he said made David appreciate the game more and become a better player.
“I removed him from the team after missing too many practices. The team voted to bring him back, but he missed again. So I let him go. But he came to me his freshman year and told me that me removing him from the team taught him a valuable lesson and it made him miss basketball even more. And it helped him in his maturation and his love for basketball.
“Jalen told me that he would never miss another practice or workout, and I don’t think he did. We developed a very close relationship after that, not that he was bitter in the beginning.
“I really, really will miss him. He’d stop and talk to me daily in the halls on his way to class, and we’d chat before practice or play H.O.R.S.E. I will miss his smile that he had on his face. He and Deshon Watson and myself would always talk about who was a better player — me or them — and I’d beat them both in H.O.R.SE.”
Taneika Reader, Richmond Jammers coach
Reader has been a longtime travel basketball coach in Richmond County, and David was a player for her since his sixth-grade year. They were a part of the Richmond Jammers, which was also coached by Luther Reader and Robert McCaskill.
“I have coached Jalen since the sixth grade up until now. I will miss his smile, his silliness and his happy spirit all the time. He was never disrespectful or talked back, he just tried to get out and do everything that was asked of him.
“Jalen was a natural point guard. He had great ball handling skills, a quick first step to beat you off the dribble and could also shoot the jumper. He was just a talented basketball player.
“I have a head full of memories of him to narrow it down to just one. I’m really gonna miss Jalen. His Jammers family loves and misses him dearly. He will forever be “my favorite PG” and “my MVP.”
David will be laid to rest on Saturday at 1 p.m. His final resting place will be at Richmond County Memorial Park Cemetery.
