Skyline sophomore KeDraun Buckner dies at 20

Prior to Skyline’s home game against Ohlone College Friday night, the team held a pregame ceremony honoring Buckner. There was a moment of silence, and a pictorial on the video screen played throughout the game.

Buckner was the team’s leading scorer, and was drawing interest from several four-year schools.

“He worked so hard to get ready for this year,” Skyline head coach Justin Piergrossi said. “And then he actually produced and played to his potential. That’s all you can ask for.”

A native of the Houston area, Buckner moved to San Francisco with his family when he was 5. He was a graduate of Galileo High School. He was a redshirt at Skyline in 2015-16, and was nearing the end of his sophomore season this year.

Buckner’s family is a familiar sight at Skyline’s home games. Many of his family members were in attendance Friday, including his mother Sharon, his brother DaRaun, and his girlfriend Charme’ Noordzee, a former player with the Skyline women’s basketball team.

“Basketball really was his life,” Noordzee said. “That was the main thing in his life. That was the thing he gave his life to.”

In addition to leading the team in scoring, Buckner ranked second on the team in 3-point shots. His signature move after hitting a 3 was to flash a hang-loose hand gesture to his family and friends in attendance. Friday night, in Skyline’s 70-66 loss to Ohlone, players flashed the hand signal every time they hit a 3.

“Every single one we would throw it up specifically for him,” Noordzee said. “And we felt it every time.”

Earlier this season, when the Trojans won their annual Skyline Basketball Tournament in December, Buckner was named the Most Valuable Player of the tourney.

“He was the guy that did it all that weekend,” Piergrossi said.

Friday was a night of emotional scenes. Immediately following the game, Noordzee ran on to the floor and tearfully hugged sophomore forward Chris Fontaine.

One of Buckner’s best friends, Sofia Faupusa, is a current player on the Skyline women’s basketball team. She did not play in the Lady Trojans’ game Friday due to injury. She did attend both games, and sat with the Buckner family during the men’s game.

“I could just feel him here with me in the gym,” Faupusa said. “And not just the opening ceremony. It was the whole game, like he was here celebrating with us.”

Information regarding services for Buckner is not yet available.