Honoring HU student & basketball player

HAMPTON, Va. - Hampton University students and staff said tearful goodbyes to a leader on campus Thursday. Thousands gathered at the Convocation Center to honor the life of Theo Smalling.

This comes after Hampton Police say a friend accidentally shot Smalling in the parking lot of a nightclub along Mercury Boulevard. The captain of HU's basketball team died Monday night.

At 11:30 Thursday morning a line of Hampton University students walked into the convocation center.  Inside, flowers lined a stage, the shot clock was frozen at 12 seconds, and game time stopped at 12:12.

It's all in loving memory of the man who wore that number with pride, basketball captain Theo Smalling.

"We can shed tears that he is gone or we can smile because he lived," said University President Dr. William Harvey.

Harvey said Smalling planned to graduate in May. So, he called the senior's parents to the stage and to a standing ovation, gave them something their son worked so hard for.

"I am going to present to them an honorary bachelor degree to Theo," Harvey told the crowd.

The 22-year-old was honored with song and tributes. Tearful students listened as person after person took to the podium, speaking of a selfless, kind, and determined man.

"He had a certain energy about him that was contagious. It allowed him to lead us, be our teammate, and more importantly be our brother," said teammate Jonathon Ntoko.

Even Theo's high school basketball coach made the trip from Florida to share the day with the HU family.

"I knew he was going to be a very special basketball player, but as I got to know him, I knew he was going to be even more of a more special person," said former coach Josh Chapin.

Chapin said he'd never forget what Theo recently did after the two of them had dinner.

"We were saying goodbye and I went to shake his hand and he kind of looked at me he was like, 'coach, we're family. We're going to hug,' and I'll never forget that," said a choked up Chapin.

Theo's current coach, Edward Joyner, Jr. shared with the pack gymnasium the moments after Smalling came out of his emergency surgery Saturday morning. "The first thing he said was, 'Coach for some reason when I woke up I kind of knew you were going to be here, so I'm going to go ahead and tell you, I'm going to be ready on the 14th' and I said, 'Theo that's good. We're going to go for that,'" he said.

The next question probably was the hardest question that I ever got in my life because I honestly didn't know. He said, 'Coach, am I going to make it?'  I said, 'Theo we'll be fine. I think you've been through the toughest part.'"

Joyner went on to say that Theo told him, "'Coach, I'm going to go ahead and let you know now, I love you coach. I love you and I love the University and I love this team.'  I said, 'Theo I love you too,' and he said, 'Coach, I don't think you know what I mean. I really love you.'"

There were moments of laughter and moments of tears, but no moment more difficult than saying goodbye on the very court Smalling considered one of the loves of his life.

"Farewell loyal Hamptonian. Farewell #12. We will carry on in your absence," promised a tearful Harvey.