“It’s like a year come and then all the kids start texting, what are you doing for Gio one year anniversary? And so you can’t respond ‘cause you like I don’t want you to celebrate his death.” -Devin Cameron

We pick up where we left off last week with Coach Eric Moore. He coaches in a summer basketball league called Warning Project Respect. And he’s earned himself a reputation throughout the league as the “crying coach.” Coach held in his tears after years after - best friend and basketball teammate John Wess was killed - back when they were teenagers. That trauma had major consequences on Coach - there was prison time, suicidal thoughts, and more violence. But, he was able to turn things around. Now he’s trying to help his 13 and 14 year old players let their emotions out in a healthy way - because last year they lost a teammate. They lost 13 year old Giovonnie Cameron. And while Coach Moore is known as the crying coach... his players are known as “the the fighting team”

13 year old Kyhli Maxey is learning how to cope with the loss of his good friend Giovonnie Cameron - on the court.

14 year old Da’Breion Ferguson Toombs plays basketball for his close friend Giovonnie Cameron who was shot and killed in July 2015.

Photo credit: Calvin Mattheis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel