Local community mourns the passing of beloved Hornet basketball star
HONESDALE — Chris Cespedes was lurking on the right wing just inside the foul line when the moment finally arrived.
A tall wiry junior, Cespedes was just starting to come into his own as a varsity basketball player at Honesdale in the winter of 2019.
Everyone who’d seen him practice or play knew the vast amount of talent bubbling just below the surface. And yet, aside from a couple of isolated moments, this shy, quiet young man still hadn’t broken out.
Cespedes could shoot, pass, dribble, and defend with the best of them. What elevated him to elite status, though, was his vertical game … the ability to play high above the rim at will.
“Chris can just jump out of the gym,” said then-head coach Tim Wood. “He’s very athletic and so much fun to watch.”
Bringing down the house
And on this particular night, he finally let it all loose.
A shot went up and the ball clanked off the iron right to Cespedes, who instinctively plucked it out of the air. Without the slightest hesitation, he pivoted, spun and headed upcourt.
Cespedes was already at full speed when he jetted past the scorer’s table. His dribbling was silky-smooth, his eyes somehow blazing and calm at the same time.
Two defenders were closing in on him at an angle from the other side of the floor. It was at this moment that the crowd began to rise in unison, realizing all three players were destined to meet at the rim.
Cespedes picked up his dribble, took two loping strides and rocketed skyward. Both defenders tried valiantly to follow. They stretched as far as they could, but to no avail.
Cespedes threw down a monstrous one-handed, backboard-rattling dunk. The crowd erupted in pandemonium as this newly crowned hoops hero acknowledged their cheers.
On that night, on that court, in that one mesmerizing moment, it seemed to me that Chris Cespedes had transcended high school sports. If only for a second, he’d reached a plane of existence most of us never dare dream about.
It was electrifying and exhilarating, the stuff of myth … the birth of a local legend. As I sat down to write my story that night, I couldn’t help but imagine all the triumphs that undoubtedly lay ahead.
A child of two different worlds
Those triumphs did indeed keep coming for the next several years, first at Penn College and then back home.
Cespedes was born in Brooklyn and eventually made his way to northern Wayne County as a teen. He was always a child of two very different worlds, with loving family and devoted friends in both places.
Sadly, tragedy seemed constantly to be hovering just on the periphery of his life, no matter where he happened to be living.
Basketball was his refuge, though. Chris was tall, athletic, tough and driven. Whether playing for the Hornets at the Red Palace or for an all star pick-up team at Knickerbocker Park, Cespedes was well-liked and well-respected.
Sure, there were plenty of tough times, but Chris kept on smiling … never really letting even his closest friends and family know how deep his pain truly ran.
And so it came as a real gut punch when I encountered the first social media posts about Chris' death.
When I finished reading those heartbreaking missives, I put down the phone, closed my eyes and traveled back in time. That dunk, the deafening roar of the crowd, his huge smile … those images kept flashing through my mind.
I couldn’t believe it, couldn’t wrap my head around it. How could that happy-go-lucky, high-flying, rim-rattling superman be gone?
As it turns out, there are no easy answers.
Never a bad word
Over the course of the last week, I've talked with dozens of people who knew and loved Chris.
One of the comments I heard repeatedly was that Chris didn't have a bad word to say about anybody. Not surprisingly, no one had a bad word to say about him either.
Maria West and Chris Cespedes became fast friends almost immediately. A longtime teacher and coach at Honesdale, West was heartbroken when she heard the terrible news.
“Chris was a sensitive, caring soul, “Maria said. “He never took the simple things in life for granted. I really loved Chris. We had a special bond and I miss him dearly.”
Tim Wood recently retired after teaching and coaching at Honesdale for three decades. He was Cespedes' first varsity mentor and one of his biggest fans.
“Chris was an outstanding person and an exceptional athlete,” Tim said. “He was always so appreciative of everything anyone did for him. Chris was polite and respectful. I'm just devastated that we've lost him.”
Nick Joyal took over for Wood as varsity skipper when he stepped down. Joyal remembers being thrilled when Cespedes was voted a captain for his senior season.
“Chris was a beacon of kindness, a fierce competitor and an inspiration to everyone who knew him,” Nick said. “He understood that leadership extended beyond the court. Chris always lifted up his teammates. His actions spoke volumes.”
Marci Jones is one of Honesdale's truly devoted sports moms. Her children, Sam and Alexa, counted Chris among their dearest friends.
“When you have kids, you always hope that they will make quality friends who'll help them navigate the highs and lows of life,” Marci said. “Chris was an amazing friend who became part of our family.
“He was great young man with a big heart and a smile that lit up the room. We'll forever remember Chris' sparkly eyes, his soft-spoken manner and his laughter.”
Both of her children agree whole-heartedly.
“Chris was a great role model on and off the court,” said Sam, who was his basketball teammate. “He didn't care who you were, he'd be friends with anyone. I'm going to miss Chris for the rest of my life.
“Chris and I were just about instant friends,” Alexa added. “He was so funny and easy to talk to. He had such a great laugh and bright smile. Being with Chris always made me happy.”
Trying to make sense of it all
Zak Solomon called me from California the night I began writing this column.
A passionate, eloquent man who's studied at both Columbia University and UC Berkeley, Solomon was Chris' basketball and life coach for 11 years.
It was from Zak that I learned for sure that Chris had died by suicide following a sudden mental health crisis. It's a revelation that left Solomon heartbroken and searching for answers.
“I consider myself a true bother, confidant and witness of his brilliant light,” Zak said. “Chris put a lot of pressure on himself and he'd gone through some very traumatic experiences.
“I loved Chris and I don't pretend to understand what happened or the pain he was in. His life was a message of love and positive energy. It should inspire and energize those of us he left behind.”
As a tribute to his young friend, Solomon started a GoFundMe account that's raised nearly $12,500 to date. All of that money will be given directly to the family. He's also organizing a tournament at Knickerbocker Park in memory of his friend.
For my part, I had hoped to gain some perspective as to what caused Chris to end his life at the age of 21.
After hours and hours of talking, texting, writing and reflecting, I'm still completely at a loss. Chris was a great kid who seemed well on his way to being a wonderful man.
Unfortunately, the older I get the more certain I am that there are things in life we're just not meant to understand. We never really knows what's in someone else's heart or head … no matter how close we may be.
“Chris had a lot of love for everyone, but he lived and competed in a very tough environment,” Zak said. “It can be like a crucible and I guess it just overwhelmed him.
“The fact is that mental health issues are real and things need to change. I'm hopeful that Chris' death can be a turning point in the way we think about suicide.
“Part of his legacy should be reaching out to those who might be struggling, giving them the support they need at every stage.”
Here's hoping that Chris' pain is finally gone and that his family will one day find some semblance of peace.
In my mind, he'll live forever as that sky-walking, slam-dunking, crowd-pleasing kid with the shy smile and contagious laugh.
Fly high, Chris!
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale alum Chris Cespedes remembered by friends, fans and teammates
