FRA – France mourns after starlet Bourhis is killed in car crash

PARIS (FIBA U19 World Championship) - European basketball on Sunday morning lost one of its bright young stars when French youth international Jonathan Bourhis was killed in an automobile accident.

Bourhis, 19, represented his country at this year’s 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship in New Zealand and averaged 10 points per game.

There has been an outpouring of grief expressed by JDA Dijon, the club he signed his first professional contract with this summer, the French Basketball Federation (FFBB) and the French League (LNB).

JDA Dijon on Sunday night placed a large photo of Bourhis, with news of his death, on their website.

The last paragraph of their announcement read: “The executives, the players, the coaches, all of the fans send their deepest condolences to the parents and the family.”

"I am very sad about this news," FFBB president Yvan Mainini said in a federation statement.

"Jonathan Bourhis was one of the most promising players I had met last July at the U19 World Championship.

“His death is tragic and my first thoughts go to his parents and those who were close to him and I send my sincere condolences."

Bourhis had played for Dijon on Saturday night, helping them win 93-82 at Hyeres-Toulon.

René Le Goff, who is the president of the French Basketball League (LNB), paid an emotional tribute.

“French basketball and the LNB are in mourning for the tragic death of Jonathan Bourhis,” he said.

“The league, the players, the coaches, the executives and the clubs present their most sincere condolences to the parents, the family and to JDA Dijon.

“The talented young international was one of the big hopes of our championship Pro A and his television appearance in Toulon had been a revelation to the fans hours before he left us. We will never forget you Jonathan... Rest in peace."

FIBA