A college basketball player gave up his starting spot to teammate honoring his late father

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Senior, Jaizec Lottie, the star player on the Flagler College basketball team, had started 39 straight games for the Saints ahead of their clash with Georgia College. But success has not gone to his head.  

Jaizec and freshman guard, Jax Bouknight, have become close friends in the rookie’s first season. Jax is from a basketball background. His father, Kevin, played college hoops at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and later coached youth basketball. Tragically, Kevin died in 2019 after a 10-year battle with cancer.

Flagler’s game at Georgia College coincided with the third anniversary of Kevin’s death. It was the first anniversary that Jax was to spend away from home. Naturally, he was a little apprehensive. 

But sensing his friend might be hurting, Jaizec stepped up with an incredible gesture. He went to Coach Chad Warner and asked to be benched so that Jax could make the first start of his college career in honor of his father.