Saluki forward Derrick Tilmon was on his way to play basketball last summer when he was stopped by a knock at the door.

When he realized it was an old friend, Tilmon had no idea that what his friend had to say would affect his life forever.

One of my friends came over and said Hey, you know what happened?’ Tilmon said. So, I’m laughing, and I’m like, No, I don’t know what happened, what are you talking about?’ Then he told me Boo’ died. And at that point it was like the world had stopped.

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Boo, whose real name is Aldrick Lackey, was Tilmon’s closest friend. Lackey was killed in an automobile accident at age 19.

Tilmon’s first reaction to the news was that it was untrue. So, later he phoned his mother, who worked at the hospital, and found Lackey’s death a reality.

We were just playing ball the night before, Tilmon said. It probably took months for me to get over this. My mom told me that I was just walking around in a trance after it happened.

Tilmon admits he has had difficulty adjusting to life without Lackey. The two vaguely knew each since junior high, but became close as time progressed. At Clarksdale High School in Clarksdale, Miss., the two were virtually inseparable.

We did everything together, Tilmon said. If we weren’t playing ball, we were out trying to make fun because the town was so small.

Tilmon and Lackey split up after high school graduation. Tilmon played one season at Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tenn., prior to coming to SIUC. Lackey went to the University of Texas, then transferred to Mississippi Valley State.

This season, Tilmon changed his jersey number to 42 in Lackey’s honor. He has dedicated his sophomore year with the Salukis to him.

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SIUC coach Rich Herrin, who lost his brother Ron to a brain aneurysm last summer, knows Tilmon’s pain. But Herrin said Tilmon’s strong will has helped him to continue on with life.

To let you know what type of person he is, he had this summer class, and he had to go to class 15 times, Herrin said. There was only one day he missed class, and that was to go to the funeral.

A foot injury suffered in a November loss to the University of Miami caused Tilmon to miss seven games this season. He reaggravated the injury later that month against Virginia Commonwealth University, causing a stress fracture.

During the injury, Tilmon was unable to perform routine jumping or walking exercises. But Tilmon worked vigorously in the weight room and swimming to pool to get back in playing shape. Trainer Ed Thompson said Tilmon’s desire to get back on the court made Thompson’s job easier.

For some people, it’s like pulling teeth to get something out of them, Thompson said. Derrick Tilmon is a very driven young man, and its hard to find someone that approaches not only basketball but just about everything you do like that. So I appreciated working with him.

Tilmon averaged 4.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in eight games of action. But in his limited playing time, Tilmon has served as the team’s emotional leader. He became one of the more the vocal Salukis on the team this year.

Everybody’s got a different approach to the game, Herrin said. He’s got an outward emotion, and he’s got some enthusiasm when he plays. He shows it probably a little bit more than somebody else.

Music is one source where Tilmon gets his added energy. Before a game he can be found listening to rap artists such as Master P, Wu-Tang Clan or Tupac Shakur.

I need some hard music, Tilmon said. I can’t really listen to no soft or mellow stuff. I need something to get me rockin’.

But he prefers to leave his energetic demeanor on the court. When not playing basketball, he spends most his time in his room away from the everyday pressures of life. Instead, he would rather compete in a fierce game of NBA Live ’98 on the Sony Playstation with teammates.

You really don’t have time for yourself when you’re not practicing. I’m probably doing some kind of schoolwork or playing a game, Tilmon said. I’m just low-key not trying to draw too much attention to myself.

SIUC has become a second home for Tilmon. The team’s trips to Hawaii in December and visiting Pearl Harbor have been some of the high points for him this year. But he just wishes Lackey could be here to see it all.

I can just be sitting down, and then it just pops up in my mind, he said. Sometimes, I’ll think I’ll see him and say, Why do you keep playing with us like that?’ You know it won’t happen like that, so I just try to keep moving forward everyday.