HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a former Cheshire Jets basketball player who was shot dead at his father’s home in America.
Shuan Stegall, 25, formerly of Gawer Court, Gawer Park, Chester, was shot and killed over the weekend after saving his father from two gunmen.
The former player, a regular at the Jets Northgate Arena venue, lived and played in Chester on an annual contract during the 2008/2009 season.
Peter Hawkins, director of Cheshire Jets, described Shuan as the “model professional”.
Paying tribute to Mr Stegall, Mr Hawkins said: “He was a quiet, unassuming guy who never had a bad word to say about anyone. There were never any incidents of misconduct or anything whilst he was with the Jets and it is terrible news that he has got into a situation like that which led to his death.
“Everyone associated with the Jets and all the team here are deeply saddened by the news and our thoughts are with Shuan's family at this time."
The basketball star started his rise to fame on the court at Kennesaw State University, as one of the team's all-time point leaders, before coming to the Cheshire Jets in 2008.
Tragically his life was cut short at his father's Atlanta home over the weekend when, police said, two gunmen showed up and started assaulting his father, Gerald Stegall, 57, in an alleged drug-related confrontation.
Police said Gerald Stegall was being attacked with the butt of a gun, and Shuan Stegall intervened to save him and was shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead a few hours later at a local hospital.
The two gunmen got away.
Police said that his father does not face any criminal charges.
Shuan's mother Tamika Stegall and childhood friend Pastor Quincy Carswell said
Mr Stegall had aspirations to join the army before his untimely death.
"He was going in the army to play basketball and to coach," said Bishop Carswell. “Basketball was his life."
Cheshire Jets head coach, Paul Smith, described Mr Stegall as a "very pleasant young man".
He told the Leader: "We recruited him from college and he was a very good player.
"He performed well in the matches that he played for us and although he didn't last long in the team he made a good impression.
"He was dedicated to his sport and very family orientated. When he first arrived I picked him up from the airport and he was constantly on the phone to his girlfriend and his mum and dad - it was clear he was very close to them."
Mr Smith said Mr Stegall was a "consistent player" for Cheshire Jets.
He added: "He wasn't a flashy kind of player like most basketball player - he was a conscious player - very quiet and humble.
"He was genuinely a very nice person."
A funeral will be held in Decatur, Georgia, on Saturday, September 4.