Former Saint Gunned Down in Connecticut

Former Saint basketball player Donell Allick was shot and killed in Connecticut Friday. Allick transferred to Seward from Providence and played on the 2003 Seward team. He then transferred to Louisiana Tech. Here is the story from the New Haven Independent.

Shots rang out on Diamond Street early Friday morning, ending the life of 31-year-old Donell Allick, a former rising basketball star from New Haven.

Allick is the 16th homicide victim of the year.

Police spokesman Officer Joe Avery said the police responded at 1:45 a.m. Friday to 201 Diamond St., on a report of a person shot. Police arrived to find Allick with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he died of his injuries, one week before his 32nd birthday.

The Major Crimes Unit is investigating. Police are asking anyone with information to call 203-946-6304 or the tips line at 203-946-2875.

According to the website of the Providence College Friars, where Alleck played basketball in 2002, his nickname was “Say-My-Name” and he was a former player at Hillhouse High. (In New Haven he was known as “D-Nice.”) Another website, RealGM Basketball, indicates that Allick later played for Louisiana Tech and was an unselected member of the 2006 NBA draft.

Hillhouse Principal Kermit Carolina Friday remembered Allick as “a very talented,” “charming young man” who was a “leader on the court” and “had a great deal of potential.”

Allick just got out of jail a month ago, Carolina said. Allick was convicted in 2006 on a drug-dealing charge, then in 2010 of violating probation.

Allick was trying to make up for that mistake and straighten out his life in the past month, according to Carolina. He had returned to school to receive his needed last college credit and was regularly showing up at his son’s K-8 school to check on his progress with teachers Carolina said.

“He was trying to be the best father he could be and try to put his life back on track,” Carolina said. “He was trying to gain the trust of people. He knew that would take some time to do. He admitted to that. He took responsibility for his bad decision. He was trying to make amends for it.”