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Boy who died in accident idolized Dunbar grad

After a presentation of a signed Miami Heat jersey, Albert Powell (camp coordinator) hugs Janelle Sales, mother of DaQuan Sales who was killed by a motorist last week, but had planned on attending today's Daequan Cook basketball camp. On her lap is her son Dajuan. Cook is holding a two-day basketball camp at Dunbar High School and Louise Troy Elementary.

Jim Witmer After a presentation of a signed Miami Heat jersey, Albert Powell (camp coordinator) hugs Janelle Sales, mother of DaQuan Sales who was killed by a motorist last week, but had planned on attending today's Daequan Cook basketball camp. On her lap is her son Dajuan. Cook is holding a two-day basketball camp at Dunbar High School and Louise Troy Elementary.

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NBA player and Dunbar grad Daequan Cook hugs Janelle Sales, mother of DaQuan Sales who was killed by a motorist last week, but had planned on attending today's camp. At left is Shirletta Freeman, an aunt, and (great, great) grandfather Garfield Sales. Cook is holding a two-day basketball camp at Dunbar High School and Louise Troy Elementary.

Jim Witmer NBA player and Dunbar grad Daequan Cook hugs Janelle Sales, mother of DaQuan Sales who was killed by a motorist last week, but had planned on attending today's camp. At left is Shirletta Freeman, an aunt, and (great, great) grandfather Garfield Sales. Cook is holding a two-day basketball camp at Dunbar High School and Louise Troy Elementary.

By Tom Archdeacon, Staff Writer Updated 3:02 PM Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Both came from Dayton’s West Side and loved basketball. Their first names were pronounced the same and they even had the same nickname — though one got his from Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade and the other, from his late grandpa.

“DaDa (day-day) would eat, sleep and talk Daequan Cook,” 76-year old Garfield Sales said of his 12-year-old great grandson DaQuan “DaDa” Sales and the NBA player from Dunbar High he so idolized.

Whenever DaDa played basketball, he pretended to be Cook. Sometimes he even told kids that they were brothers.

“He’d always ask me he if looked like Daequan,” smiled DaDa’s great aunt, Shirletta Freeman.

And when Cook put on a show during the NBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix last February — winning the 3-Point Shootout — DaDa was glued to the television at his North Antioch Street home.

“He just cheered and cheered and cheered,” said Janell Sales, his 31-year-old mother. “He kept going, ‘He won, Mom. He won!’ ”

As soon as he heard Cook was coming back home to put on a two-day youth camp at Dunbar — which began Monday, June 22, for younger kids and continues today for eighth through 12th graders — DaDa got on his bicycle and rode to Deveroes clothing store on W. Third Street and picked up an entry form.

Janell said she was in the hospital getting treatment for her sickle cell anemia when DaDa called her: “He wanted to know if I’d be home when the camp started. I knew what it meant to him and I said, ‘Yeah, if I gotta sign myself outta here, I’ll be there. You are going to make that camp.’”

Garfield — who DaDa called PawPaw and loved to hang out with — said his great grandson had been “counting down the days to camp ... until that terrible day.”

It was just past 7 p.m. on June 13. DaDa was riding his bicycle along the 300 block of Elmhurst Road when a white Buick driven by 25-year-old Antwonne McGinnis, a guy with a sizeable rap sheet but no valid license, tried passing another vehicle in a no passing zone and hit and killed DaDa.

McGinnis stopped momentarily, then drove off and later returned, smelling, police said, of marijuana. Three days later he was arrested.

The death stunned everyone who knew DaDa. “He was just a good, good boy,” said his mom. “He was my biggest helper. He’d give his little brother (3-year-old Dajuan) a bath, dress him and walk him to the store.

“One year, I asked him what he wanted for Christmas and he refused to tell me. He said, ‘I don’t want anything, Mom, ’cause you have bills to pay.’ ”

Garfield — whose emphysema has him on oxygen and in a wheel chair — has similar stories: “His (great) grandmother and I would come from the store and he’d carry our groceries in. He’d do the same for Miss Pauline, the 82-year-old lady across the street. And when another of our neighbors was raking the yard, he’d go help. “He was just a special boy. Everybody felt it.”

Including Daequan Cook.

‘This was my sign’

Cook said he got a text message about the death and when he called back to Dayton and talked to Albert Powell, the Dunbar assistant coach who is running his camp, he learned more about the boy and wanted to help.

As Cook’s basketball talents have taken him higher and higher up the basketball ladder, he said his mother, Renae, has reminded him of one thing: “Don’t forget where you came from. It’s important to give back to your community and when that moment comes, step up.”

With that in mind, he said, “You always get a sign from somewhere, and I felt this was my sign.”

While his camp — which Monday drew an overflow crowd of 192 third through seventh graders — was a way to help kids in general, DaDa’s death gave him a particular kid, one with a golden heart and, as his mom put it “that million-dollar smile.”

Powell said Cook told him, “Let’s make something happen.”

Cook said he’d help pay for DaDa’s funeral and would dedicate the annual scholarship he plans to start in Dayton in DaQuan’s name.

“We hope Pat Riley will be a guest speaker at a dinner we have here and we can eventually raise $100,000,” Powell said. “That way we can help a couple of kids get a start every year.”

Cook also said he’d sponsor 10 of DaDa’s friends to his camp every year and he invited the Sales family to come this year if they felt up to it.

“The Daequan that’s doing this here is the same one we see in Miami all season long,” said Heat assistant coach David Fizdale, who joined Cook here Monday. “And what he did for (the Sales family) isn’t some kind of public relations move. It means a lot to him. When that little boy passed away, he tried to imagine what it would be like if it were his family. That’s why this is so heartfelt for him.”

His time was  biggest gift

Although the other advertised pros didn’t show up Monday — Greg Oden (Portland Trail Blazers) and Mike Conley (Memphis Grizzles) are scheduled to assist today — it didn’t seem to matter to any of the kids who attended.

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Is there a way this article can be sent to the NBA for wider distribution. Others need to know of this young man's goodness and loving heart

Beverly A McKnight
5:11 PM, 7/2/2009

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I had the opportunity to meet Daequan in Fort Wayne, along with Greg Oden and several other players. Kids really were in awe of these young men and Daequan signed all kinds of things all day. I got to meet him and thanked him for signing with O.S.U. He took me to meet his mom and we talked a little about his influence on kids. I continue to hope that he understands all of God's blessings for him, and hope he has a long N.B.A. career. May others be touched by his goodness!! May God use Daequan!

l.shifley
6:56 PM, 6/26/2009

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To all who read, this is a great story, so stop with all the negativity. Daequan I am proud of you because you didn't have to. The camp gave them children a dream of doing better and that's what counts. In my prayers Sales family!!

Candace
1:03 AM, 6/24/2009

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I agree with Tim. Role models surface in different ways. Cook did not have to go to the lengths that he has for the family. While none of this will bring back the child, his memory will last partly due to Cook. Good for him.

Matt
4:22 PM, 6/23/2009

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Sleeper You are an idiot. What have you done that is so great beside troll a message board and not reveal your true name.

Tim Murphy
4:11 PM, 6/23/2009

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