Killum Eulogized as a Star Off the Court

Earnest Killum was buried Saturday in Inglewood as sobbing relatives, friends and teammates were reminded of the former Lynwood High School basketball star’s greatest virtues.

In a service attended by more than 1,300 mourners at the Lynwood High auditorium, eulogists spoke of Killum’s religious faith, intelligence and goodwill, rather than his extraordinary basketball skills.

“Those of you who ask: ‘Why not a drug dealer, murderer, rapist or robber? Why Earnest?’ Sometimes, God gets tired of taking in all the mess. And sometimes, he wants to bring in the good folk,” said Lynwood boys basketball Coach Bill Lee.

Killum, an Oregon State University guard, died Monday, three days after suffering his second stroke in six months. His death at age 20 was believed to be caused by arteritis, an inflammation of the artery walls.

Killum had returned to the Southland a week and a half ago with the Oregon State basketball team, which was playing Pacific 10 Conference games against USC and UCLA.

For the most part, the auditorium was packed Saturday with friends who had known Killum from high school, some of whom had played pickup games with him on the asphalt courts at the 109th Street Park.

There were also some who had never met him but had been moved by stories of his courage. One of them was A.C Green of the Los Angeles Lakers, who played at Oregon State from 1982 to ’85. Green reminded the mourners of Killum’s strong religious convictions, of how he wanted to spread his faith to youngsters of the inner city.

“A lot has been said about Earnest,” said Green, a Baptist minister. “But the most important thing is please, let his life not be in vain.”

When it came time for former Lynwood Coach Bill Notely to speak, he told the gathering of a conversation he had not long ago with Killum in which the player said he realized there was more to life than scoring baskets.

“If the Lord won’t let me play basketball, then I’ll get an education and carry on,” he told his former coach.

“I challenge all students to work hard and be the best you can be,” Notely said. “Our memory (of Earnest) is not of basketball, not of scoring, not as a player, but as a person. He cared so much about his family and friends.”

On Saturday they showed how much they cared for him. A marquee outside the auditorium read: “In Memory of a Fallen Knight. Earnest Killum. No. 23. We salute you.” The community outpouring also included a statement from the Compton City Council and a call from Lynwood youth to rename the 109th Street Park as Earnest Killum Park.

While playing basketball for Lynwood High, he distinguished himself as one of the best in school history. During the 1989-90 season, he led the Knights to the Southern Section 5-AA championship game and was named Division I player of the year.

After accepting a scholarship to Oregon State, Killum was academically ineligible to play basketball during his freshman year. During the last three semesters, Killum earned a 3.5 grade point average.

“He brought to our state . . . talent on the court and talent in the classroom,” Oregon State Coach Jim Anderson said at the service. “And that’s where he was the most proud. He made the honor roll. He made believers out of disbelievers--that he was not just a mere athlete.”

Killum played his final game with Oregon State Jan. 16 against USC, scoring 13 points in 16 minutes. The performance was outstanding considering that he had suffered a mild stroke in July and had only been cleared to play since Dec. 27.

On Saturday, his team postponed a scheduled game against the University of Washington so players and coaches could attend the funeral. Lynwood players decided to play against Compton Dominguez on Friday night in his honor.

Killum’s alma mater won in overtime, 49-47, against Dominguez, where his younger brother, Marcus Boyd, is a sophomore on the basketball team.

Killum never forgot his days in the projects. He recently told the Rev. Reginald Pope of the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church that he planned to return to the area next summer to talk to South-Central Los Angeles’ youth.

“He (was going) to tell the children in Watts, Nickerson Gardens and the other (projects) that ‘you can rise up if you want to,’ ” Pope said.

Although Killum was no longer alive to say it, his message was delivered Saturday.