UNC basketball player, Wakefield grad remembered as 'young man with promise' after fatal crash

A 21-year-old UNC student and contributor to the university's junior varsity basketball team was killed in a crash on Friday evening.

George Leander Hill Jr., of Chapel Hill, was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash at the intersection of N.C. 54 Highway and N.C. Highway 751.

Durham police responded to the fatal crash shortly before 8:45 p.m.

Hill played on the UNC junior varsity basketball team and was heading into his senior year in Chapel Hill. Hill played also basketball at Wakefield, where graduated from in 2020. Wakefield assistant athletic director Trent Wilson Sr. described Hill as "a young man who had promise."

"Everybody loved him," said Wilson. "Everybody just looked forward to seeing him. We supported him in every way we could."

Hill was a member of the Theta Omiron Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and was planning to attend medical school after graduating.

"It's just a tragedy that his life was cut short," Wilson said.

Nina Cherry was Hill's girlfriend. They dated for years.

"We started dating my senior year of high school, but before that we were best friends," said Cherry. "I met him when I was like 15 years old."

Cherry said Hill wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon like his father was. She said he was the most selfless person she'd ever met.

Wilson said Hill was planning to help out with Wakefield's upcoming summer basketball camp.

On Friday, police said a 2005 Toyota Camry was hit along the passenger's side when turning in front of a Jeep Wrangler. Hill was a passenger in the Camry.

The driver of the Jeep Wrangler was treated at the scene for minor injuries and the driver of the Toyota Camry was not injured.

The crash remains under investigation. Anyone who saw the crash or who has information is asked to call Investigator J.T. Rose at 919-475-4149.