Most Chicago Bulls fans know that broadcaster Stacey King died suddenly on June 7 following a reported fall in his home. But many may not realize that King was living in River Forest at the time of his death. One of King’s nephews, Acoya, graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School earlier this month and was a member of the Huskies boys basketball team for the past year and a half.
“It’s tragic. We were caught off-guard,” said OPRF coach Phil Gary. “I go on how people treat me, and Stacey was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life. I only knew him personally for a year and a half, but in that time he was super-nice to me and the kids in the program.
“He’d invite us to some of the (Bulls) games, stay afterward and talk with some of the players on the court. You don’t meet too many people like Stacey.”
When his players found out about King’s death, they reached out.
“They were very upset. Stacey didn’t have to do the things he did. He did them because he was a very nice person,” Gary said.
Acoya King, who missed the past season with an injury, is still grieving the loss of his uncle, which is why Gary talks with him every day to provide support.
“Even though I [only] coached him for half a season,” he said, “I told him he could reach out to me at any time.”
OPRF’s players have also been supportive of Acoya, who will play collegiately at Kishwaukee Community College.
“Acoya is a great friend of mine,” said OPRF rising junior Trent Williams. “I never got to meet Stacey King, but I always watch the Bulls games and he was a good, funny commentator. I knew that hurt Acoya when that happened, so I texted him to let him know I was sorry for his loss.”
OPRF summer basketball
Stacey King was also a solid basketball player. He was the Bulls’ first-round pick out of Oklahoma in the 1989 NBA Draft and was part of the Bulls’ first “three-peat” championship teams from 1991 to 1993.
He would have appreciated OPRF’s strong showing in summer competition this month. The Huskies are 11-4 overall and sport a 6-2 record at NCAA Live Event games, including 2-2 at the Romeoville Pre-Live Summer Shootout last week.
In their first game on June 18, the Huskies defeated Marian Central 62-50. Later that day, OPRF fell 49-45 to Plainfield South.
On June 20, the Huskies routed Argo 74-35, but dropped their shootout finale to St. Ignatius 47-45.
“The way I see it, we could’ve played better,” Williams said of the Romeoville event. “But as a team, from last year to this year, I feel we play with much more chemistry than we did last year. This weekend, we pushed the ball and got after it on both sides of the floor. We played great defense and played really hard; we really want to win.”
In addition to Williams, Gary feels OPRF has received good consistent play this summer from rising senior D’Angelo Perkins and rising junior Owen Towne.
“They’re doing pretty well,” Gary said. “The returners are setting the tone. Owen has grown a little bit and he’s filling out. D’Angelo’s grown two inches since the end of the season, and Trent is getting stronger and more aggressive, and his game is just developing quicker.”
Williams is optimistic about a turnaround for the Huskies, who have struggled in recent seasons, especially in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division.
“Last year was the first time most of us played together, and I feel now that we have that year of chemistry, even though it was rough,” he said, “it’s carried over and we’ve been doing great this summer.
“I just want to do what I have to do to help us win. A big part of my game is winning and wanting to win. As a team, we’re real hungry.”