John Calipari explains decision to send scholarship offer, signed jersey to family of slain Memphis teen
By SDS Staff
Published:
Taylon Vail never got the opportunity to live out his dream of playing college basketball but John Calipari’s recent gesture offered some level of joy to a family grieving the loss of the teenager from Memphis.
Vail was recently shot and killed by stray bullets while sleeping at his grandmother’s house. The story of his mother’s difficulty dealing with the loss of her son and Calipari’s decision to send her a scholarship offer and a signed jersey with her son’s number was recently detailed by Drew Hill of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
During his recent appearance from the SEC spring meetings from Destin, Calipari was asked about his decision to reach out to Vail’s family, which was aided by his longtime assistant and Memphis native, Lunetha Moseley.
“The story was heart-wrenching,” Calipari said Wednesday according to Darrell Bird of 247Sports. “I just said, ‘Lunetha, we’ve got to do something.’ Knowing she’s from Memphis and this kid was from West Memphis. I asked if we could do a jersey and I’m going to sign it. Let’s put a scholarship thing together. Let’s send it to Mom.
“She’s got to be just devastated. Maybe this will make her feel better.”
It was a touching gesture from the Kentucky coach that hopefully brought some joy to a mother going through the most trying time of her life.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
