DOWNTOWN — Across the Atlantic Ocean, Tanisha McTiller is thinking about her former high school classmate Greg Tucker Jr., who was fatally shot in October.
McTiller, who plays professional basketball in Finland, is honoring Tucker by wearing uniform No. 1 this season. Tucker, who was killed shortly after a basketball game, wore that jersey number while he starred at Lincoln Park High School. McTiller had worn No. 22 throughout her high school, college and pro career.
"Choosing to wear #1 on my jersey to honor Greg this season was a no-brainer for me. He loved basketball; that's all he ever talked about, and he was so confident in himself on and off the court," McTiller, who plays for Peli-Karhut, told DNAinfo from Finland late Monday.
"And even though he was cocky sometimes, he always showed you he had a reason to be. He always backed up his trash talk with performance on the court."
Tucker, 25, was fatally shot in October in Uptown, officials said. The 25-year-old was driving in the 4500 block of North Hazel Street when he was shot in his head.
Tucker started his high school career at Whitney Young, but transferred to Lincoln Park High School. From 2010-2012, Tucker played at North Dakota State College of Science, a junior college, before transferring to Division I Chicago State University. At Chicago State as a junior, the 6-foot-2-inch guard averaged 7 points per game.
McTiller met Tucker their junior year of high school, after he had transferred to Lincoln Park.
"I was one of the best players on the girls varsity team, so he was always trash-talking me and wanted to play me one-on-one, which is how we become close," she said.
McTiller, who was raised in a Cabrini-Green high-rise, noted that she saw drug deals and a man shot to death.
Her escape was always basketball, first on the courts near the housing project, then at Schiller Elementary and Lincoln Park High.
"When I was growing up in Cabrini-Green, my only escape from the violence in the streets was basketball," she said. "It's sad that basketball was Greg's passion and his life was taken the night of his last game. One of his dreams was to play pro ball."
McTiller earned a scholarship to play at Towson University, where the guard led the Colonial Athletic Association in scoring as a senior. She also earned all-conference first team and all-defensive team honors. She also has played professional basketball in Portugal and Romania.
"The least I can do is carry his passion for the game across the waters and wear No. 1 with pride like I know Greg would," McTiller said. "Greg's smile could instantly light up a room, his uplifting spirit and the joy he bought to everyone's life will be truly missed."
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