by Mike Schnitzel
LaBarbera, 16, who died suddenly last October, was honored by the Central High School basketball team during a ceremony in the boys' gymnasium last Friday evening. Three of LaBarbera's teammates, Jo-Quan Greene, Jamal Khan, and Jamel Harris, carried his number 31 jersey, encased in a wood frame, to the center of the gym for the ceremony, which took place before the Eagles' scheduled game against Mepham High School.
LaBarbera's father, John Sr., spoke to the crowd about his son and the family's struggle with his sudden and tragic death on Oct. 17. LaBarbera had been taking part in a basketball clinic when at about 5:40 p.m., he dropped to the ground while jumping rope. He was rushed to Franklin Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m. by emergency room personnel. Hundreds attended his wake and funeral to pay their respects to the high school junior, who was described as an "all-around role model" by those who knew him.
John Sr. called the honor a tribute to his son and his ability to bring people together. "It was a very classy and fitting tribute to my son Johnny," he said in an interview after the ceremony.
After LaBarbera's father spoke, the audience observed a minute of silence as members of the crowd choked back tears.
"John was a dedicated and strong young man," said Hayward Alfred, head coach of the Eagles varsity basketball team. "We play on for him, and he inspires us."
Afterwards the Eagles routed Mepham, defeating them by a score of 71-45.
Greene, a 16-year-old junior who was LaBarbera's teammate for a year, has found it difficult playing without him.
"Any time I look down low for that big man I expect him to be there," said Greene. "Every game we play we've dedicated to him.
Harris, a 16-year old junior, was LaBarbera's teammate for two years. He said that the best thing about LaBarbera as a teammate was his work ethic.
"Everything he did, he did it 110 percent," said Harris. "And we were good friends - he was someone cool that I could hang out with and talk to. It's hard playing without him."
Senior Jordan Meikle, 17, knew LaBarbera for two years and regrets that he will miss out on the season. "It's hard playing without him - knowing that he'll be missing out on playing this year," said Meikle. "He was the hardest worker on the team."
The John LaBarbera ICAN Memorial Scholarship at Central High School was created in LaBarbera's memory late last year. It will be awarded annually to a student who displays "integrity, character, altruism, and nobility," according to a letter that proposed creation of the scholarship received by Superintendent Dr. Marc Bernstein.
Comments about this story? Mschnitzel@liherald.com or (516)569-4000 ext. 265.
