An young man named Michael Haynes was set to leave his home in Chicago's Morgan Park neighborhood next week for Iona College in New York, where he was planned to play Division I basketball which was his dream. But what happen?
His dream was ended short this past Thursday, when Haynes, 22, was fatally shot Thursday afternoon while trying to stop a fight over a necklace not far from his South Side home. Haynes was struck in the wrist and back. It was one of five fatal shootings in the city over an especially violent 12 hours that stretched into Friday.
"That was his way out of here," Haynes' uncle, Marvin Kimbrough, 52, said as he fought back tears. "Not just him, but for his brothers too."
As a freshman in 2005-2006, he led Corliss High School with 20 points per game, then switched for the next two years to Washington High School. Haynes became a must-watch athlete during his sophomore and junior years at Chicago's Washington High. During that time, he played in the city championship game against Simeon High School and Derrick Rose at the United Center. Haynes transferred to Fenger High School for his senior year where he did not play basketball.
"It is a big loss for the basketball family. You never know where it could have taken him. He had great potential. I don't know if he was going to the NBA, but he had the potential," said former coach Steve Dockery. "He just wanted to find himself, get a good fit and see what he wanted to do. He wanted to be successful."
Haynes was also a mentor to young athletes in Morgan Park.
Haynes, who was 6 feet 7 inches tall, attended Washington High School and graduated from Fenger High School. He attended the University of Texas at El Paso but left there to play basketball at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, said his cousin, Kandice Blouin. He played well enough last season at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, to earn his D-1 ride to Iona College in New Rochelle New York.
From there he was recruited by Iona in New Rochelle, N.Y.
"The Iona family is devastated with the news on Michael's passing," said Iona head coach Tim Cluess. "His passion, energy and excitement for his opportunity this year makes this tragedy even more upsetting. Our sincere condolences, thoughts and prayers are with his family."
D.J's Music Site CEO, Web Designer and Senior Editor, Demetrius Johnson Jr, 21, is also a Fenger High School Alum. He went to Twitter expressing his condolences:
All I can say is my prayers are with the uprising basketball player & Fenger HS graduate family at this difficult time: chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-
"I want D.J's Music Site and our fans involve to help the violence in Chicago. I know and understand we have violence all over the United States, but not like Chicago.It's getting out of hand and it's MUST come to a complete STOP. We are now going to take our D.J's Music Site Cares into effect, hope to have a petition set for people to sign and if we get enjoy people to sign, maybe the Government will see it and take action like they did for Philadelphia. I try of seeing incident people killed, not just every week BUT every day. I travel out on the CTA and pray for safety home and back because I live on the South Side of Chicago to and I went to Fenger High School all 4 years of my schooling and know what it like out there even though I not a street person. Fenger High School was announced as a Turnaround School in January 2009, and I was a part of a 6 or 7 student panel who got a chance to interview teachers who wanted to work with Fenger and help with the Turnaround. The student planel was through Mikva Challenge. Now I currently plan to go back to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, I not transferring over haters trying to bring me down. I'm going to keep my head up high and keep stepping. Again, I am the one in debt and spending my money for my education and not some hater or administer who receiving a salary off my tuition. I heard about Haynes on Facebook, other Fenger Alums where posting a picture saying RIP Mike, and I like "What??", I seen him from somewhere and found the article online and is devastated by the lost of just a incident person who just want to suit his dream. I want D.J's Music Site to help stop the violence as well, even if I have to go down to City Hall and get the Major attention. Violence MUST stop! We are going to work on a page to add to our website call "D.J's Music Site Cares" and if you want like to be a part, you can. Have any ideas to help the youth and the young adult stop out of violence? Please e-mail us at djmusicsitesupport@djsmusicsite.com"