Hundreds of people packed the Regis Jesuit Boys Division gym to remember the late R.J. Demps at a memorial service in December.

Organizers of a memorial 3-on-3 tournament hope the same type of numbers fill same house on July 7 to help raise funds for a tuition assistance in Demps’ name.

Midway through his sophomore year at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., Demps — who helped lead Regis Jesuit to the Class 5A boys state basketball championship as a senior in 2009 — and a teammate were involved in a one-car crash on Dec. 21, 2011, on MO Highway 45 near Weston. Demps, 20, was killed in the accident police believe was caused by slick roads, while his teammate survived. The pair were on their way to the Kansas City International airport to return home for the Christmas holiday.

Demps’ loss left a big hole in the Aurora and basketball community and the hope of former teammate Will Cobb and others is that they can keep Demps’ name alive in the form of scholarship money at Regis Jesuit. The $100 entry fee for each team — in boys, girls and coed division in a variety of skill levels — will help make that possible.

Cobb, who with Demps were the two senior starters on the Regis Jesuit team that won the Class 5A boys state basketball championship in 2009, believes the tournament is a great way to honor Demps, who he remembers as always “happy, outgoing and excited to play basketball.”

“R.J.’s mom (Victoria) really wanted us to start a scholarship and that’s how the idea came out,” Cobb said. “A basketball tournament just seemed to fit perfectly.”

The tournament — which may include several of Demps’ former Regis Jesuit teammates such as Bud Thomas, Joey Ptasinski, Drew Dyer and Ryan Winters — will be played in the same gym that was filled for a memorial for Demps on Dec. 24. The school renamed the basketball team room in Demps’ honor.

The registration deadline for the tournament is July 1. For more information, find RJD 3on3 on Facebook.

Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555

Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor and photographer with Sentinel Colorado. A Denver East High School and University of Colorado alum. He came to the Sentinel in 2001 and since then has received a number...

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