“Heroes come and go, but legends are forever,” shooting guard Kobe Bryant said. This quote explains how Bryant defined heroes as opposed to legends before his tragic death.

Bryant died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, and his death has had a lasting effect around the world. 

“I did not believe it when I heard about it. I was praying it was a lie,” senior Edjerin Steele said. His death was so shocking, many did not know how to cope with it. 

The Wakeland boys basketball team was one of the many groups affected by the passing. 

“It hit me hard because being from California, he was all I looked up to. He was the reason I picked up a basketball,” senior Josh Lastre said.

The team has said that his death should not be in vain and players should do everything in their power to honor him in everyday play. “He always preached hard work and being the best version of yourself that you can be. That’s what I’m going to do for as long as I can,” junior Cooper Sisco said. The legend of Kobe Bryant will always be near and dear to many people around the world and all we can do is live each and every day to the fullest the best way we can. “You are responsible for how people remember you, so don’t take it lightly,” Bryant said.