Former SHS basketball standout drowns at beach

MYRTLE BEACH - The body of a former Sumter basketball standout was found off the coast of Myrtle Beach on Tuesday.

Erick White, 20, was reported missing on Saturday after he and another person, 19, went in the water. According to ABC15 News in Myrtle Beach, the two began having trouble while in the water. The 19-year-old made it to shore safely.

ABC15 reported the initial call for the drowning came at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, and Myrtle Beach Police Department began searching for White that night.

White's body was recovered four blocks away from where he was initially reported missing.

Horry County Chief Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard said the coroner's office ruled his death an accidental drowning.

White, who graduated from Sumter High School in 2014, played for the high school's basketball team for four years. He played varsity for two of those.

He started periodically for varsity his junior season before starting every game his senior year, Sumter assistant coach Jeff Schaffer said. Schaffer said White was especially known for his defensive abilities.

He led the team in assists his senior year, according to Schaffer, along with averaging 10.8 points per game. That kind of season his final year was enough to earn him All-State honors and Region AAAA Player of the Year.

White also played in the North-South All-Star game, which pits the best players from North Carolina and South Carolina against each other. While he was an all-star on the court, both Schaffer and Sumter head coach JoJo English said he was a better man than he was a ball player.

English said White always had a smile on his face, saying he pulled out a team picture from last year, and White was the only one who was smiling.

"That was just his personality," English said. "He was always upbeat no matter what was happening or what was challenging going on around him. He was always positive."

See more on this story in Wednesday's edition of The Sumter Item.