Daequan Cook adopts Ohio family after tragedy
Daequan Cook?s outlook on life was changed by the death of a young boy from Dayton, Ohio, with a similar name, DaQuan Sales.
By Darnell Mayberry, Staff Writer, Oklahoman
Published: April 10, 2011
The story shook Daequan Cook to the core the moment he laid eyes on it.
He knew immediately he had to do something.
Tragedy had struck, and every detail landed right on Cook?s doorstep.
Daequan Cook hugs Janell Sales during his basketball camp at Dunbar High School in Dayton, Ohio, in 2009. Sales is the mother of DaQuan Sales, who was killed by a motorist just before he was to attend Cook?s camp.
PHOTO BY JIM WITMER, DAYTON DAILY NEWS
On June 13, 2009, a little boy was killed by a hit-and-run. He was 12 years old.
Any human with a heart would have compassion for that alone.
But this little boy?s name was DaQuan Sales. His prename was pronounced the same way as the first-year Thunder shooting guard?s. Sales was killed in Dayton, Ohio, in a neighborhood not far from where Cook grew up.
?It just really hit me,? Cook said. ?Hit me in a spot, a very soft spot.?
Cook was a member of the Miami Heat at the time. He was entering his third NBA season as a rising sharp-shooting threat. He had won the NBA?s 3-point shootout that February at All-Star Weekend in Phoenix. Things were looking up for Cook?s career.
Then came a reality check.
Sales was one of Cook?s biggest fans. The kid loved basketball and wanted to be just like the reigning 3-point king. Sales knew Cook?s stats, rooted for him whenever he was on television and pretended he was Cook while on the playground.
Cook hardly could believe how the tragedy took place.
Sales was riding his bike along Elmhurst Road that Saturday when he was struck by a white Buick that had crossed a double yellow line. Sales was pedaling back home after retrieving a registration form to attend Cook?s annual basketball camp. The camp was scheduled to be held nine days later.
?His mom had told me about how he marked it on his calendar,? Cook said. ?How it was one of the biggest events of his summer to do.?
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