Family, friends gather at McGavock High to remember life of 18-year-old Brandon Adams

Michael Murphy
The Tennessean
Juan Adams, father of Brandon Adams, stands with his nephew, Keori Brooks during a vigil Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, held to remember Brandon who was shot and killed in the parking lot of McGavock High School, in Nashville, Tenn.

Brandon Adams had made the decision before his final high school basketball game for LEAD Academy

“On the way (to the sectional game at Monterey) he had told me via telephone, ‘Dad I don’t want to play anymore,’” Brandon’s father Juan Adams said.

That didn’t mean he was giving up on the game entirely, though. 

Instead of pursuing a potential college career, Brandon, an all-state selection who averaged 16.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as a senior, wanted to follow in his father’ footsteps, coaching and mentoring the city’s youth through the Nashville Youth Basketball Association. 

Juan Adams, father of Brandon Adams, is seen during a vigil Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, held to remember Brandon who was shot and killed in the parking lot of McGavock High School, in Nashville, Tenn.

“He said, ‘I want to work with you. I want to help coach these kids and help give back to the 890community,” said Juan, who serves as program coordinator and operations manager for the local non-profit organization. 

He barely got that opportunity. 

Brandon, who also went by B-Don, was shot last Sunday in the McGavock High School parking lot and later died at Skyline Medical Center, ending what could have been a promising career path before it even began.

“He wasn’t the tallest or the strongest or the fastest player, so one of his best assets was his basketball I.Q. and knowledge of the game,” said Brandon’s uncle David Keary. who serves as executive director of NYBA. “That fits in real well when you’re trying to help others, and I’m sure it would have been a great endeavor for him.“

Brandon was 18 years old. 

Keary was among the close to 100 family and friends gathered for Sunday’s candlelight vigil at McGavock, just a few hundred feet from where the fatal shooting occurred last week.

“He was great kid,” Keary said. “You would have never in a million years think he would be die being shot to death. You would never have thought that. It’s just tragic. He just turned 18 this year. He just graduated this year. And now he’s gone.”

Brandon’s death has prompted Juan and NYBA to form the Forever Don Foundation, a non-profit organization aimed at combatting youth violence. 

“With our NYBA programs we work with the youth, and we’ve done a great job of keeping  youth off the streets at a younger age, but now we have a bigger mission,” Juan said. “Now with them getting older — 18, 19 years old — what do we do from there? How do we move forward from there? That’s what tonight was about.” 

Brandon’s death marked the 70th reported homicide in Nashville this year. No arrests have been made in the incident.

Friends hold candles during a vigil held  Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, to remember Brandon Adams who was shot and killed in the parking lot of McGavock High School, in Nashville, Tenn.

“This was a special kid,” his father said. “I always believe in letting the police do their work, so my request is that Metro (police) come together and make this a priority and sure that you find the people that caused this, for justice for my son so my family can rest easy.” 

The suspects are described as two young men wearing hoodies and sweatpants.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

Reach Michael Murphy at mfmurphy@tennessean.com, 615-269-8026 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.