Gone but never forgotten

Andrew Daou is unfortunately gone. His life was taken by his father on July 27.

Yes, he was 22, a four-year basketball starter at Valley Christian, a former walk-on as a freshman with University of San Diego men's basketball team, as well as a straight A student there and twice a cancer survivor, but these markers are not what those in his orbit remember.

It was his effect on them that is recalled.

In talking with a handful of his friends, plus his basketball mentors, Daou left an indelible positive impression.

Victor Bull, a 2010 graduate of Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma and a St. Ignatius alumnus, played with Daou on the West Valley Basketball Club and against him when SI and Valley Christian matched up. Bull offered quite the telling description of his former teammate. "Andrew was a rejuvenating person," Bull said. "Hearing his name, I just start smiling."

Bull continued, "He was comfortable with himself, very confident; and everyone is attracted to that type of personality. Andrew was down-to-earth and a really good guy, always happy, always smiling, always trying to make others happy."

On the court, Daou was a valued teammate. Bull offered, "He was just fundamentally solid, a guy you want on your team who put his 100% in and expected that of others." Bull recalled that Daou matched up in a summer game against Derrick Rose (now of the Chicago Bulls and the first pick in the 2008 National Basketball Association draft).

"Andrew put up a good fight and held his own."

But the distance of being two states apart limited their post high school interaction.

"Every once in a while we would Facebook," Bull explained, "and when I found out he was sick (Daou endured two bouts of Hodgkins lymphoma), I sent him a message. I regret not getting with him as much."

Bull concluded with "with what Andrew was given, he did the most. I'm happy to have been one of all the people he touched."

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David Riley, who just finished at Whitworth College in Washington and is now a men's basketball graduate assistant at Eastern Washington, also has positive memories of his former West Valley teammate.

"Andrew was one of the most fun-loving and competitive guys, a great teammate who brought a great attitude."

Riley, who lost a family member to cancer, added "We talked a lot our freshman year. He was a really good guy and loved by everyone."

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Al Grigsby, a longtime coach with the West Valley Basketball Club, certainly recalls Daou -- "I don't think our coaching staff will ever get over it [Daou's loss of life]."

After entering college, Daou came by practice one spring weekend.

"He talked to the kids, offering a great message about how basketball can be important but it's a small part of the life you have to live," Grigsby recalled.

Grigsby added, "Andrew was the kind of person who leaves a lasting impression on you. He was just a genuine person."

Their initial meeting and subsequent relationship is quite the interesting tale.

"I was at a gym and Andrew was down at the other basket shooting. He kept looking at us and finally came up and introduced himself.  He said 'I go to Valley Christian and I'm looking for someone to play for' so I told him to come to our next workout."

Daou did so.

But Grigsby recalls Daou's initial practice. "He couldn't make a shot so I said 'dude, you're killing me. You have to make some shots to play for us.’”

The youngster persevered.

"Andrew never got down on himself," Grigsby continued. "He kept playing and always practicing hard, being very physical. I didn't see it initially but he really believed in himself."

Sooner rather than later, it happened.

"One day in practice, he couldn't miss," Grigsby said.

Daou was the epitome of a teammate.

"He never pouted when he was on the bench -- he was always looking at you, ready to jump off the bench into the game."

Grigsby paid his former protégé the ultimate of athletic compliments: "Good things happened when Andrew was in."

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Bob Bramlett, the co-founder of the West Valley Basketball Club, offered a most poignant take:

"I will never forget the call from him telling me about the diagnosis. I shared my daughter's recent battle with cancer. From that point, our relationship was re-defined. Basketball was a game. Life was the Journey. We shared each other's load. Cheered each other's victories. One day while I was lamenting about a new challenge my daughter was facing, Andrew could sense I was in that parental fear zone and he said "Coach she will be okay. One day, her and I will be hugging each other over your grave."

In song, Billy Joel offered that only the good die young. That's awfully accurate in the case of Andrew Daou.