Former CFCC basketball player, son of ACC legend, dies in car accident

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Riley LaRue did everything all of his teammates did at Cape Fear Community College last year except for one thing. LaRue never played in a game. Riley practiced with the basketball team. He dressed out for home games, but he never tallied a minute of action for the CFCC Sea Devils at the Schwartz Center.  Unfortunately he’ll never get that chance. Riley LaRue died in a car accident on Saturday in Richmond, Virginia.

“Riley was a tremendous young man,” CFCC basketball coach Ryan Mantlo said. “He was the most brilliant kid that I’ve ever coached. He always wanted to be around his teammates and give a helping hand. He was part of our practice squad, but he never played in any games. He was always there and he always busted his tail. In the classroom he was a genius. We always had a long standing joke that maybe we’ll throw you in there (into a game), but he did not want to use that year up so we respected that.”

Riley LaRue is the oldest son of Rusty and Tammy LaRue. Rusty was a standout athlete at Wake Forest. He played baseball, basketball and football for the Demon Deacons. As a freshman in 1992  Rusty LaRue led Wake Forest to a bowl victory in the Independence Bowl. He broke eight NCAA records for passing during his college career at Wake Forest. Rusty LaRue went onto play several seasons of pro basketball, including a few years in the NBA. Rusty LaRue played for the Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz.

Riley LaRue was not enrolled at CFCC at the time of his death over the weekend in Virginia.