FREDONIA, N.Y. -- Amir Billups returned to campus last weekend to participate in the Fredonia men's basketball alumni game. On Friday, he was in attendance to watch his alma mater play a SUNYAC road game at Buffalo State.
On Saturday, Billups, 24, was killed in a car accident in Morrow County, Ohio. Police said he a passenger in a car which struck the rear of a tractor-trailer in snowy conditions.
Fredonia Director of Athletics
Greg Prechtl issued the following statement: "The Department of Athletics, the basketball coaching staff, and university community is grieving this tragic loss and keeping the Billups family in their thoughts and prayers."
Billups played four seasons for the Blue Devils, leading the team in scoring during his senior season. He led the SUNYAC in three-point field-goal percentage and was among the nation's leaders in the category.
A Business Administration major at Fredonia, Billups had been playing basketball professionally with the Buffalo 716ers of the Premier Basketball League. He was team captain during the 2014-15 season. He also received a tryout with the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Developmental League.
The son of Carmen and Edward Billups, Billups attended Starpoint High School. His cousin, Kaylyn, is a senior on the Fredonia women's basketball team.
While he was in Fredonia last weekend for alumni activities, Billups spent time with former Blue Devil head coach Kevin Moore and talked about his highs and lows as a Blue Devil. "We had a good talk," Moore said. "He had a great heart and was a really good kid."
Moore said he spent all day Sunday reflecting on his former player and how he grew to be a man during his years at Fredonia.
"He was a fierce competitor, worked as hard as anyone, was one of the best shooters I ever coached," Moore said. "But most importantly, he always had a smile on his face! He was a very warm, compassionate and caring young man loved by all his teammates. Amir touched everyone's life in a positive way and I know my life is better today because of the time I got to spend with him."
