Batavia basketball standout Kevin Bryant dies

The Batavia and Illinois Wesleyan University basketball communities were saddened Monday by news of the passing of 21-year-old Kevin Bryant.

He died Sunday night after being taken off life support at the Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colo., where he had been hospitalized since last Monday for injuries suffered in a whitewater rafting accident.

"He was a winner," said his high school coach, Jim Roberts. "He brought tremendous leadership, tremendous intensity each and every night on the floor."

Bryant averaged 19 points his senior season (2003-04) and was a Beacon News All-Area Team selection after leading the Bulldogs to the sectional semifinals.

He graduated last month with a degree in business administration from IWU, where he was a four-year member of the basketball team at the NCAA Division III school.

"He was such a hard worker and fierce competitor on the court but such a gentleman and most loyal of teammates off it," said IWU coach Don Rose.

IWU radio analyst Bob Quillman wrote in his blog, "As a senior who played limited minutes on the varsity this past season, (Bryant) did not develop a negative attitude. Instead, he became IWU's hardest worker at practice every day, doing his part to make his teammates better ..."

Bryant is the son of John and Theresa Bryant.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Batavia. Visitation will be Thursday from 2-8 p.m. at Healy Chapel in Sugar Grove.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donation be made to a scholarship fund in honor of Kevin. They can be sent to IWU Kevin Bryant Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 2900, Bloomington, IL 61702.