If you've been to a Dolphin basketball game this season, you've seen them - little future Dolphins bouncing out onto the court to try their luck at putting a ball that's almost as big as they are into the bucket.

It seems like it was yesterday when I watching Tray Shaw do that exact same thing.

A decade ago, I was working at the Tri City Ledger in Flomaton, Ala., covering, among six other schools, Jay High School.

Shaw didn't have much choice when it came to what sport he'd eventually play. His uncle was former University of Alabama women's basketball coach Rick Moody. His mother Becky Holley was then the JV coach (now varsity coach) at Jay - one of her players during that time was her daughter Tiffany.

Tray, about five years younger, was a fixture at Jay High, usually sitting with me - and near his mother - at press row during the Lady Royals' back-to-back state title runs in 1995 and 96.

One of the joys of this line of work is getting to watch kids like Tray grow up right before my eyes. Although I'd leave the Ledger in 2000, I had the joy of watching JHS senior Shaw and all his friends take on the Dolphins during the 2004 season.

Shaw was named Mr. Jay High his senior year and was also vice president of Jay's SGA.

Last week, Shaw was killed in an automobile accident on Highway 89 between Jay and Brewton. He was 21 years old.

He left behind a lasting imprint among all those he came in contact with, including this sports writer. I've had the pleasure in my 15 years of journalism to know some good kids and some great kids.

Shaw was one of the great ones.

While many in Royal Country are grieving his loss, there's one here in the south end with a heavy heart as well.

So to Tray's parents, sister Tiffany, stepbrother Vince and stepsister Kristen, my prayers go out to you. He'll be sorely missed.