ROCK HILL, SC—Junior point guard De’Andre Adams passed away this morning in the Atlanta Medical Center from head injuries he suffered last Saturday morning in a one-car accident near his home in Austell, GA.
Funeral services for the 20-year-old Adams will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, May 21, at the Jackson Memorial Baptist Church in Atlanta. Visitation is scheduled on Sunday between the hours of 2:00 and 6:00 p.m. at the Carmichael Funeral Home in Smyrna, GA.
Donations in memory of De'Andre can be made to the De'Andre Adams Memorial Scholarship at Winthrop University or to the A.W. Matthews Boys Club of Mableton, GA. Addresses where those contributions may be sent are listed below.
Adams was injured critically when he swerved the car he was driving to avoid a tree that had fallen on the road during a thunder storm. His car flipped and rolled before crashing into a tree. He was returning home after playing basketball in an Atlanta area pick-up game at the Run-And-Shoot. He had been in a drug-induced coma and on a ventilator during the past four days. His condition appeared to have stabilized on Tuesday although he remained in critical condition. However, during the night he took a turn for the worst.
As a key reserve for the Eagles, he helped lead Winthrop to two Big South Conference titles and two appearances in the NCAA Championship Tournament. He played in all 65 Winthrop games during the past two seasons and averaged 2.1 points and 2.8 assists in 2006-07.
PREPARED STATEMENT FROM HEAD COACH RANDY PEELE
This is a very sad day for Winthrop University basketball. We are deeply saddened by the loss of DeAndre Adams. DeAndre was a fan favorite of the Winthrop University faculty and students. He had a vibrant personality and he lived his life with great passion and enthusiasm. We will miss DeAndre a great deal. Our lives have been blessed because of having DeAndre Adams as part of our basketball family. We extend our thanks and prayers to his family. He will always have a special place in the Winthrop University community. His memory will be cherished and the spirit and energy he brought to the basketball court will be remembered always. He wore No. 24 on his jersey, but he was No. 1 in our hearts.
PREPARED STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT ANTHONY DIGIORGIO
This is a sad day for the Winthrop University family and that is certainly the way we felt about DeAndre Adams. I often get to know the student-athletes personally and that was the case with DeAndre. I knew him as an energetic, lively, dedicated and bright young man. We will miss all of that and the University community will miss the light that he shined upon us. He and his family will be forever in our thoughts.
EDITOR’S NOTE: MEMORIAL SERVICE PLANS
At an appropriate time to be determined after the services in Atlanta and communicating with family members, the University will hold a Memorial Service on campus for DeAndre. The community will be informed through the news media when that Memorial Service will be scheduled.
MEMORIAL FUNDS
The De'Andre Adams Memorial Scholarship
Winthrop University Foundation
124 Tillman Hall
Winthrop University
Rock Hill, SC 29733
Or the:
A.W. Matthews Boys Club
285 Fontaine Rd. SW
Mableton, GA 30126
Tel: 770-944-2697
