Grand Canyon University men's basketball player Oscar Frayer was killed in a car crash Tuesday in California just days after appearing in the men's basketball tournament, the school said Thursday. 4 Gone.". 2023 Cronkite News. I'll never forget all them talks we had bro. For college, Frayer originally committed to California but later reopened his options. Wilhelm, who has worked for The State Press, is working for the Phoenix news bureau. ESPN's Myron Medcalf provided details of the crash via local authorities: "According to local authorities, a California Highway Patrol vehicle was struck from behind by the car Frayer was in as two officers were assisting a stranded vehicle on a highway near Lodi, California, around 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The 6ft 6inch senior forward is believed to have been raised by his mother after his father's untimely death. "He was the heartbeat of our team with his vibrant, energetic personality. You looked over me when i was the new kid on the block in high school and in college. The team secured an automatic bid with a Western Athletic Conference Tournament victory. The two officers were taken to a hospital with ''major injuries,'' CHP said. And junior guardRashad Smithwrote on IG: "To my brother big O. I appreciate everything that youve taught me and thankful for every memory with you. He wanted to finish his two remaining classes online and play professionally overseas. Frayer, Moore-Frayer and Bringmann were killed. They were pronounced dead at the scene. His Moreau Catholic High School coach, Frank Knight, tweeted about how proud he was of Frayer for staying at GCU after he lost eligibility his junior season to complete his degree. 4.8K. I took all of our good times for granted. Two patrol officers received "major" injuries but were expected to survive. The California Highway Patrol said a patrol vehicle had been pulled over to help a semi-truck driver that had broken down on the side of the road early Thursday. All rights reserved. pic.twitter.com/CVY7FSfFK9, Grand Canyon Mens Basketball (@GCU_MBB) March 26, 2021. The 23-year-old was traveling with his sister, 28-year-old Andrea Moore, and one other passenger on I-5 SB south of Walnut Grove Road when their Subaru collided with the rear of a California Highway Patrol car on the side of the road assisting a disabled tractor-trailer around 2:30 a.m. In Oscar Frayer's final game against Iowa, he gained eight points, three blocks, and a steal Credit: Reuters. Mann you just graduated and your a champion. Glad you went back and got that degree, glad you got to the Big Dance, glad I got to help & watch you become a great young man. Oscar Frayer, 23, died in the crash near Lodi on Tuesday alongside his older sister, Andrea Moore, and a friend, the university said in a statement. All three people inside the Subaru werepronounced dead at the scene, the statement said. Jerry Colangelo, the former owner of the Phoenix Suns and U.S.A. Basketball chairman, helped the college navigate its transition to Division I of the N.C.A.A. The senior guard/forwardfinished his career with 970 points and 144 3-pointers, ranking fourth in program history in both marks. CBS lingered an extra few seconds in this year's "One Shining Moment" video to pay tribute to Grand Canyon's Oscar Frayer. Friends remember him for his energy, smile and generosity, like the time he ran into a mother and son at a grocery store. Frayer had completed his academic requirements to graduate in April and was a starter on the mens basketball team for four years. veered off the highway, slammed into the back of the patrol car, struck a tree and erupted in flames. What stood out to Knight from a young age was Frayers presence, which always gave off a positive energy. 2 Iowa. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Contributors included N.B.A. This was Grand Canyons first mens NCAA tournament appearance. The former All-WAC Defensive Team honoree holds the Lopes' Division I-era record for career-blocked shots with 93. He was to walk at commencement next month. He was the heartbeat of our team with his vibrant, energetic personality, GCU coach Bryce Drew says. Two other passengers were killed in the tragic car crash on Tuesday, March 24. The 23-year-old from Hayward, California scored eight points in his final game against Iowa in an NCAA tournament in Indianapolis, Indiana, just three days before his death. Tallied eight points, five rebounds and two blocks in his GCU debut at Duke on Nov. 12, 2016. Just three days after playing in his first NCAA Tournament, Grand Canyons Oscar Frayer died Tuesday morning in a car accident. On the court, Frayer was known as the High Flyer and will be remembered for his soaring dunks, tenacious defense and game-changing blocked shots. Dylan Wilhelm expects to graduate in May 2022 with a bachelors degree in sports journalism. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert. Knight was playing golf when someone called and asked if he had heard about an accident involving Frayer. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.comor 602-316-8827. But he had the opportunity to return for the Lopes to play one final season, starting 24 games, and graduating with a degree in communications. He had spoken to Frayer the night before, and he figured nothing could have happened to him in the short time since. tournament, Oscar Frayer was killed in a highway crash. The "High Flyer" tragically died on March 23, 2021. He was 23. They were pronounced dead at the scene. Watch more of the latest sports videos on the 12 News YouTube channel. Frayer, a 6-foot-6 senior guard/forward, started in Grand Canyon's 86-74 loss to Iowa in the first round of the NCAA tournament last week. A guardian angel made out of disposable masks is taped to a pillar outside of Grand Canyon University Arena in memory of GCU basketball player Oscar Frayer. Benson kidded him about his expensive taste. We always dreamed about making the tournament and you made that into a reality. The car then became engulfed in flames, killing all three present in the vehicle. 0:04. He was 23. Because he was one of us. RELATED: Two officers injured in deadly I-5 crash near Lodi are expected to survive, CHP says, I bleed purple FOREVER!!!! I cannot put into words the hurt and sadness we all feel, but we know he is in heaven and that gives us great joy to know we will be together again.. Knight was told that Sparrow couldnt talk. A third, unidentified person also died in the car crash in Lodi, California, on Tuesday. Grand Canyon University senior basketball player Oscar Frayer was killed in a car accident in northern California on Tuesday, the San Joaquin (Calif.) Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Thursday late afternoon. Its a blessing to even be here.. Frayer was 23. The team had been inseparable the previous two weeks. March 25, 2021 11:15pm. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. He started 24 games this season for the Antelopes, helping them reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Left: Oscar Frayer, shown at his high school graduation, was preparing to graduate in April from Grand Canyon University before a car accident took the popular basketball players life. Anyone can read what you share. The Subaru then collided with a tree and became fully engulfed in flames, CHP said. Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital. 7,514 Followers, 929 Following, 36 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Oscar Frayer (@oscarfrayer) Once you understand him, he worked better with you, Pryor said. "THANK YOU LOPE NATION for the last 5 years..it's been nothing less than amazing..from President Mueller, to our coaching staff, to my brothers who I compete with everyday..it's love FOREVER. Not even enough characters to explain our relationship. It was his 107th start for the Antelopes, seeing him finish the game with eight points, three blocks, and a steal. Frayer and his sister, 28-year-old Andrea Moore, were killed with an unidentified person in a car crash in Lodi, California, on Tuesday, the school announced Thursday. A Celebration of Life will be held in Tuesday at 7 p.m., at GCU Arena to allow students, friends and families to grieve privately. "On the court, Oscar was known as the High Flyer and will be remembered for his soaring dunks, tenacious defense and game-changing blocked shots," the university said in a statement. coaches helped steer Frayer, and in 2012, he joined Knights team at Moreau Catholic. A California Highway Patrol vehicle on Interstate 5 near Lodi, that was assisting a stranded vehicle, was struck from behind by the car Frayer was in. Frayer averaged 6.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and two assists his senior season. Current and former teammates including DeWayne Russell, Gerard Martin, Alessandro Lever, Casey Benson and Gabe McGlothan each posted tribute posts to Frayer on social media. I cannot put into words the hurt and sadness we all feel, but we know he is in heaven and that gives us great joy to know we will be together again.. It is not open for the media, but will be livestreamed on YouTube. He earned 8 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists during the squads 86-74 loss to No. It depicted a live story, reflecting that Frayer had recently been active on the site. UP-AND-COMING basketball star Oscar Frayer passed away in a devastating crash at the age of just 23. The two officers that were in the CHP vehicle are expected to survive, ABC 10 in Sacramento reported. Frayer's older sister, Andrea . He was the heartbeat of our team with his vibrant, energetic personality, Drew said in a university release. His mom was specific about wanting to see him graduate.. Frayer developed a plan of weekly check-ins with Sean Pryor, the basketball teams director of student-athlete development. Just days after playing in the NCAA Tournament for Grand Canyon University, Oakland native Oscar Frayer died along with two others in a horrific crash on Int. I took all of our late night drives and convos for granted. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Promising athlete Oscar Frayer, 23, tragically died after a devastating car crash on March 23, In Oscar Frayer's final game against Iowa, he gained eight points, three blocks, and a steal, The two officers involved in the crash were taken to hospital suffering major injuries, Frayer's father tragically also lost his life in a car accident, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Much like he did at Moreau, Frayer made an impact on people from the moment he arrived at GCUs campus. It ended as a special moment for a young boy. All three passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, according to a statement from CHP. He made three 3-pointers in a WAC semifinal win over Seattle. Frayer helped Grand Canyon make its first tournament appearance ever. (Photo by Alina Nelson/Cronkite News), A guardian angel made out of disposable masks is taped to a pillar outside of Grand Canyon University Arena in memory of Oscar Frayer. In the Bay Area alone, basketball culture out here is very big, and it creates communities and connects people out here. GCU released a statement (h/t Richard Obert of the Arizona Republic) confirming the crash, which also took the lives of Frayer's older sister, Andrea Moore, and a third individual who has not been identified by the San Joaquin Medical Examiners Office. A lot of people, kids younger than him and also his peers, looked up to him and liked seeing that it was possible to achieve all these goals on the basketball court, said Brandon Lawrence, who started playing with Frayer in the fourth grade. We love O, Grand Canyon coach Bryce Drew said in a release. In a cruel twist of fate, it has emerged that Oscar's father, also named Oscar, died in a car accident when his son was just seven years old. The elder Oscar Frayer died in a car accident when young Oscar was 7, according to a story on the athletics department website. Even though I wasnt as close to him as some of his friends, knowing someone and seeing how fragile life is, it affects everyone., Oscar, he was like a promise, Knight said, adding: The village really surrounded this young man to make sure that his full potential could be realized. The mom said Oscar stopped everything he was doing and spent like 20 minutes with this kid in the store, Knight said. Fox News Flash top headlines for March 25. Focused on a million cash, thats the vision! Our thoughts are with his family, teammates and friends during this difficult time. After his teams debut at the NCAA tournament, he tweeted: "I bleed purple FOREVER!!!! When Knight spoke to Frayer about his academic ineligibility, Frayer was adamant about not returning to school. "You believed in me in a way that i never believed in myself," sophomore guard Damari Milstead said on, Redshirt senior guard Mikey Dixon added on. Two CHP officers had stopped to assist a disabled tractor trailer in the southbound lanes when a 2021 Subaru SUV veered from the the road and rear-ended the stopped CHP patrol vehicle, the statement said. Frayer started for three seasons until he was ruled academically ineligible for the 2019-20 season. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Just days after playing in the NCAA tournament, Oscar Frayer, a forward on the mens basketball team at Grand Canyon University, died Tuesday in a vehicle accident near Lodi, California, the schools athletics department said Thursday. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The initial statement did not identify any of the people killed in the crash. 2 Iowa a test in the first round of the NCAA tournament before losing 86-74. The car then became engulfed in flames, killing all three present in the vehicle. And that even though he had to sit that year out, he found a way not only to become eligible to play basketball, but to fulfill his destiny academically and get his degree. He also came back to gain his degree last spring. Grand Canyon basketball standout Oscar Frayer died in a car accident in Northern California early Tuesday morning, according to a release from the school. Grand Canyon went 17-6 to earn a No. The team returned home Sunday from Indianapolis. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about forward Oscar Frayer on ESPN. McGlothan said he was comforted by knowing that Frayer had recently volunteered to lead the team in the Lords Prayer and had dedicated his life to Christ at one of the teams final chapels. Per Medcalf, GCU will have a"celebration of life" service at GCU Arena on Tuesday to honor Frayer and others in the school community who have died during the 2020-21 academic year. Frayer and the three other freshmen who started on varsity hoped to build a new legacy. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images). Near Lodi, about 40 miles south of Sacramento, two California Highway Patrol officers had stopped to assist a disabled tractor-trailer on Interstate 5 at around 2:30 a.m. Frayer was in a Subaru S.U.V. And give them a chance and dont let them fail. People wanted to be around and they wanted to watch his journey, they wanted to be a part of it.. He was our dreams.. Nick Selbe. The university confirmed Frayer's death on Thursday in a statement that read in part: "It is with great sorrow and a heavy heart that we share the news that Grand Canyon University student and basketball player Oscar Frayer was one of three individuals who died in an auto accident in Lodi, California, on Tuesday. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } In life, you dont get too many second chances, especially when it comes to a great place with great people. Accidents that take promising young lives are all too common. Frayers sister, Andrea Moore, 28, and an unnamed third victim also died. The authorities have not disclosed the cause of the crash or the name of the S.U.V.s driver. "Also in the vehicle was Oscars sister, Andrea Moore, 28, from Stockton, California. 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