Cliff Tucker Memorial Basketball Tourney scratched due to pandemic, but scholarship fund continues

EL PASO, Texas -- It's been nearly two years since former Chapin High School star athlete Cliff Tucker was killed in a crash on Memorial Day 2018.

Several people died in the crash including Cliff and his girlfriend. Their 3-year-old daughter Drianna survived the crash, but was in a coma for three months.

Now at 5-years-old, Drianna is out of the hospital and excelling in life.

"Dri's spirit is amazing, it's like she's reliving Cliff's youth," said Regina Tucker, Cliff's mom. "She has his spirit, she has his love, his character."

In order to keep Cliff's memory alive, his family and community declared June 5, Cliff Tucker day and created the Cliff Tucker Jr. Scholarship Foundation.

Every year since Cliff's death, a Cliff Tucker Memorial Basketball Tournament is hosted to raise money for the scholarship.

Last year, over 13 teams signed up to play in the tournament and thousands was raised through the tournament and independent donations.

After the tournament, the Foundation hosts a gala to award the students with their scholarships.

This year's tournament was was scheduled to have over 20 teams play, but was canceled due to Covid-19. However, there will still be a fundraiser for the scholarship.

"I'm putting together a calendar," said Trace Bayer, CEO of the Cliff Tucker Scholarship Foundation. "The calendar will go from June to June and so it'll be a collage for each month from last year's tournament."

Bayer said f you would like to donate, you can do so using PayPal by clicking here.

Each year, three senior students are awarded the $1000 scholarship: a Chapin basketball player, a Chapin football player and an Andress basketball player. (Tucker held both schools close to his heart).

The Tucker family wants to give a huge thank you to everyone who has helped get this foundation where it is today. The family hopes it gets bigger and bigger every year.