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Tahaji Sincere McGill

Age 17

Danville, Illinois

Loved basketball “like he loved life”

In May, his basketball coach told him he had to make a change. “You too good to be out here in these streets,” the coach texted. “You got to [sic] much to live for.”

He knew his coach was right. He had talent, and he wanted others to see it, too. He started going to the gym more. He told his coach, “I love the game like I love my life.”

Tahaji Sincere McGill, 17, was one of two people fatally shot outside the Untouchables Motorcycle Club in Danville, Illinois, around 2 a.m. on Saturday, June 16, 2018.

By Sophie Driscoll · Age 18 and Callie McQuilkin · Age 18
Meet the Reporters

More than 300 athletes

Jayden Fondeur

His older brother found him first

James Alexzander Shorter

He’ll never taste grandma’s cookies again

Taveon Donte' Brooks

Basketball point guard, would-be rapper

Ta Quan Pinkney

Bright future; gone too soon

Ricky Lamar Green Jr.

His children never saw him box

Zyhame Kila Jones

An artist, basketball player and car-lover

Jovontia Antonio Jones

A runner grieved by seven siblings

Kendrick D. Davis

Not quite clear on his dreams

Jeremiah Ascencio

Last moments spent cradling his brother

Brandon Nathan Tyson

Friday night lights end in tragedy

Jontae Billups-Brooks

An athlete and a music lover

Natwan Kian Holyfield

Supposed to go to homecoming, prom

Lorenzo Moore-Vaughn

About to start his senior year

Vicente Valero III

He was a modern Renaissance man

Ray Glasgow III

Bench wears jersey instead of captain

Avi Liam Franco

He loved to learn and explore

Sharon Castro

She always helped those who struggled

Orlando Myron Anderson Jr.

He was so full of life

Elisha Amon Cole

Dreaming big, working on his portfolio

Ra’Quan Darius Jones

Didn’t get to see his GED