Uniondale mourns loss of Jo-Jo Wright

The entire Uniondale community and Nassau County boys’ basketball is reeling from the tragic loss of 15-year-old Jomani “Jo-Jo” Wright, who was killed in a car accident Jan. 27.

Wright, a sophomore honor student and star basketball player at Uniondale, was sitting in the back seat of an SUV when it collided with another SUV driven by an 87-year-old man at the intersection of Maple Ave. and Front St. The vehicle Wright and three others were travelling in ended up crashing into a utility pole. He was pronounced dead at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow. All others involved were transported to area hospitals and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Wright was widely considered the top public school basketball player in the county. Last season, on the way to earning All-Long Island honors, he averaged 19 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 3 steals per game while helping the Knights reach the Nassau Class AA final.

Wright scored 14 points in Uniondale’s 61-60 loss to Baldwin in the title game last March 8 at Nassau Coliseum.

Baldwin boys’ basketball head coach Darius Burton has been a family friend of Wright’s for more than three years and said Jo-Jo was “a true gentleman on and off the court.” Added Burton: “Not only was he a terrific basketball player, but he was a great person. This touches me as if it was one of my own kids. It puts a tremendous damper on the season. My heart and condolences go out to the family.”

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran is looking to have a stretch of Uniondale Ave. renamed in Wright’s honor and will put the plan in motion by filing legislation. “Jo-Jo was an inspiration to his teammates, friends, family and community. We honor his life, one filled with endless potential, which was cut short way too soon,” Curran said in a statement.