Rene Figueroa was one of the best basketball players at Panther Valley High School in recent years. The 2019 graduate set scoring records, was named the Times News Boys Basketball Player of the Year in his senior year and played varsity all four of his high school years.

He died at age 21 in a drowning incident on July 8 at Lake Hauto.

On Saturday, he was remembered with a basketball tournament at the Ginder Courts in Summit Hill.

Sixteen teams, including former basketball teammates, took part in the 3-on-3 event. Besides the Panther Valley area, there were also teams from Lehighton, Marian Catholic High School, Tamaqua, Weatherly, Allentown and other communities.

Several hundred people attended the event, which included a basket raffle with more than 40 baskets.

The fundraiser was organized by former classmates Emily Kwaak and Trey Turner. Kwaak said some of the proceeds will go toward funeral expenses for Figueroa. Remaining funds will be used to initiate a scholarship at Panther Valley High School in Figueroa’s name.

All the players in the tournament sported number 12 on their jerseys, which was Figueroa’s jersey number when he played at Panther Valley.

The tournament was organized over a three-week period, Kwaak said.

She said she had been a classmate of Figueroa since he came to Panther Valley in the fifth grade.

“Rene was the first person I got stuck sitting next to (in the fifth grade),” she said. “I helped to crack him out of his shell.”

“I played (basketball) with Rene,” Turner said. “He made sure everyone else was good before he was.”

Richard Yturrino of Lehighton, who played in the tournament, said he played as an opponent against Figueroa.

“He was filled with enthusiasm,” Yturrino said. “We got to hang out from time to time.”

“It’s great to see all the support we got,” Kwaak said. “We wouldn’t have expected to see so many people come out as they did. We’re glad to see so many people from the community here.”