The basketball community at AUN has joined the rest of the world to mourn a fallen star, Kobe Bean Bryant.
The famous American basketball player was a role model for AUN Stallions before his tragic death, with his daughter, in a helicopter crash on January 20, in Calabasas, USA.
Bryant was born into the family of a former National Basketball Association player, Joe Bryant, on August 23, 1978, in the US.
Captain of the Stallion Basketball Team, Feni Odegholo, said he learned from Kobe how to push forward when he felt lost and didn't know what to do next.
"Thank you, Kobe Bryant, for everything. Your death was indeed a great loss!"
Economics Major and basketball star, Richard Ejike, described Kobe's death as "like a bad dream".
"He isn't just a sports legend but a father and a man of great discipline and hard work."
The shooting guard played his entire 20-season career in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers.
In the later years of his basketball career, based on his ability to score game-winning shots continuously, he was nicknamed the "Black Mamba".
He joined the NBA directly from high school (Merion High School in Pennsylvania), where he was recognized as a top high-school player. After that, he won five NBA championships.
Bryant was the first guard in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons being an 18-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, 12-time member of the All-Defensive Team, and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP).
AUN Residence Life Staff member and basketball player, Victor Igberaese, also paid his respects:
"Kobe showed me there's no shortcut in life. Hard work and perseverance pay off."
Reported by Rofiat Adekunle