The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD Jimico Brown will be remembered as a “fun-loving, quiet” teenager who loved to play basketball.

The 16-year-old 11th grader at RM Bailey High School was killed on Sir Milo Butler Highway Sunday morning when a 2004 Honda Accord Sedan he was driving for a friend collided into a pole.

Brown, a resident of 5th Street, Coconut Grove, died on the scene from his injuries.

The talented point guard played for both the Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins, coached by Harcourt McCoy, and the RM Bailey Pacers, coached by Nigel Ingraham.

He was also a member of Macedonia Baptist Warriors’ 15-and-under team that three-peated as the Baptist Sport Council champions last year.

Last month, he helped the Warriors’ 19-and-under team win the pennant, but finished as runners-up to the Eagles Nest in this year’s classic.

Brown and his first cousin, Sharano Hanna, were inseparable when it came to playing basketball. In fact, they always tried to play with each other as opposed to against each other because they felt they were just like brothers off the court.

When contacted following the news, Hanna said he was “shocked” and that he didn’t believe it at first. It wasn’t until he saw the pictures that it really stuck home that Brown was dead.

“I didn’t take it that good,” said Hanna, who was in the same grade with Brown. “He was a nice friend to go out with. That was my only friend to go out with. He will make sure you stay out of trouble because he wasn’t down with that fighting. He was quiet. He liked to laugh and have fun. I’m really going to miss him.”

Brown, who would have celebrated his birthday on July 30, was a gem, according to this writer.

As the coach of Macedonia’s team, the writer noted that Brown showed up “game after game” with one thing in mind and that was to win the ball game.

“He was always eager to get into the game and make a contribution to the team’s effort,” the writer wrote. “He followed instructions and never argued with the coach’s decision. He was a true team player.

“What I also liked about him was the fact that he was one of the rare players who, whether you won or lost, appreciated the opportunity for him to play, even of he didn’t play as sufficient minutes as he would have liked.”

Brown is survived by his parents, Tamika Hamilton and Jim Brown, his grandparents Veronica Hamilton and Oswald Brown.

His siblings are Brenique, Jinaya, Jim Jr and Jiquon Brown, his aunts are Karen Nottage, Wendy Farrington, Marcel Sands, Antoinette Hamilton-Hepburn, Monique Hamilton, Jewel Huyler and Shantel Saunders and his uncles are Troy, Trevor, Kevin Sr and Jemo Hamilton, Harry Hanna and Kendal Brown.

Condolences are extended from the Mystic Marlins, Pacers and Warriors basketball teams. May his soul rest in peace.