Basketball star, 18, is forced to give up his dream and care for his siblings after they were orphaned
A California basketball star has been forced to give up his dream of caring for his younger siblings after they were orphaned.
Money Williams is a Division I basketball player and a promising guard from the University of Montana.
He was on the field during a game in Reno, Nevada when he received the devastating news that his father Money Williams Sr. had died in November 2023.
Less than a year later, his mother Latoya Bailey died in her sleep, leaving behind her five children.
‘Imagine losing both the king and queen of your household within a year. That is the heartbreaking reality our family faces,” Williams said.
California basketball star Money Williams has been forced to give up his dream of caring for his younger siblings after they were orphaned. In the photo: Williams with his deceased parents and his now orphaned brothers and sisters
He and his sister Mo’Ney have become responsible for their three younger siblings: Joanna, Jermaine and Jeremiah Benson.
“The weight of this responsibility, coupled with our grief, is enormous,” Williams said.
He is asking for donations to pay for funeral costs and to support the family after the tragedy.
In an emotional tribute, Williams praised his mother as “the heart and soul of the Williams family.”
“She had a magical touch, turning simple moments into cherished memories and ordinary meals into celebrations full of laughter and warmth,” he said.
“When times were tough, she used every dollar so her children never felt the weight of the struggle.
“Through her actions, she taught all five of us the value of hard work, resilience and the profound power of unconditional love.
“Every sacrifice she made was a testament to her fierce dedication. She inspired us to dream big, making the impossible seem possible.”
Williams graduated from Oakland High School last year. During his senior year, he led the school to a state championship for the first time, with a 17.4 grade point average, KRON4 reports.
In his college career, the star athlete scored 70 points in the last four games before suffering a foot injury.
He was identified as a potential star and named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week on December 5.