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Updated 06/17/2011 07:53 AM

Community remember Stanley with basketball game

By: Megan Cruz

Schenectady police say the host of the party where Eddie Stanley, 15, was shot and killed is being charged with assault. And while the family still looks for answers, the Schenectady community comes together to remember the basketball star with a game. Megan Cruz has more.

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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- "This is why we know him and this is why we loved him."

And so many did.

More than a hundred people came to Central Park in Schenectady Thursday to pay tribute to Eddie Stanley.

"There's no other way to remember Eddie. He wasn't one of those kids on the street. He wasn't one of those kids that hustled or sold drugs. He was a basketball player," Antonia Williams said.

And everyone here said he had a bright future ahead of him.

"He had a lot of athletic talent. He was very quick, he could jump, he could rebound, he play all positions on the court, so who knows what could have happened," said Eric Loudis, Schenectady High School basketball coach.

"This was supposed to be Eddie's ticket out of the hood," Williams said.

But his dream of playing for the NBA was stolen when he was shot and killed early Sunday morning.

"A lot of people were affected, a lot of people knew him and cared for him," Sheila Dixon said. "It's a sad thing."

Friends say this tournament is a way to help them cope.

"I think it's good. It gives us something to do without having to think about what happened to him," said John Allen, one of Stanley's teammates.

It's also a way to help the family, financially and emotionally.

"Raise that money for Eddie and his family because like I said, no family is prepared to bury their 15-year-old son," Dixon said.

Family members actually showed up to the tournament, even played a few games. They say the turnout means a lot.

"It's nice. I'm happy to see a lot of people loved him," said Pamela Gentry, Stanley's great aunt.

"Eddie Stanley. Basketball player. That's my grandson. I want you to remember that," said Stanley's grandmother, Rhonda Gentry.

Everyone here will.