Ohio University basketball standout overcomes tragedy and HS career on bench en route to stardom

SectionsTVFeaturedMore from NBC Follow NBC News Less than one hour after his high school basketball career unceremoniously ended, point guard Jason Preston dribbled around the court one last time, wishing he’d made a difference in the game.He had come to rely on basketball after the death of his mother the previous year, and with his biological father having never been in the picture, the hardwood court became his sanctuary.But Preston's on-court maturation took too long, and he was left to watch his final game from the sidelines.His 2016-2017 Boone High School team in Orlando, Florida, lost to rival Edgewater High School.“I was really excited to play them and I ended up not even playing. Judith came shortly after I lost my sister to breast cancer,” said Whittaker, who gave the eulogy at her best friend’s funeral.Whittaker supported Preston and his basketball aspirations as he grieved the loss of the woman who knew him best.“I think Jason used basketball to replace the void his mother left,” Whittaker said.Still, endorsing his move to Tennessee was a hard sell.“He was already at UCF and his education was important,” Whittaker said. “We were second-guessing him,” and telling him, “I don’t think you did the right thing.”She added, “He was on the (high school) basketball team but he never actively played a major role.”Martinson, who opted not to play Preston much, said his former player was better than his stats indicated.“Senior year, he actually had a few games where he put up some decent numbers.