When my grandson attended Coach Cal's basketball camp, Jon was one of the guys to genuinely appear to have a blast with all the little guys. I know my grandson enjoyed sharing the basketball with him a lot. After the interaction he had with him I am not surprised at the affection shown in this story.

Jon Hood was Scott Schaefer’s favorite basketball player, even way back in high school when Jon was playing for Madisonville.

Scott Schaefer, 12 years old, had tricuspid atresia - a congenital heart defect, he has had 5 heart surgeries, 14 heart catheters, a bilateral hernia repair, and suffered a shower of strokes during one surgery in 2007.

To see such a great child pass at such a young age breaks my heart, especially when we had the relationship that we had.

— Jon Hood (@hoodyhood4) February 14, 2013

Nation of Blue has the full details which can be read here. Whenever our boys in blue have stories such as this, my heart is sad but it finds reason to shine. Do they experience these moments in their lives because they wear KENTUCKY across their chests? Not entirely. This time, he had a fan long before he was one of ours. Remember to smile because it happened, it will help.

Thanks, Hoody! We love you too.