A short video of the first game of Kobe Bryant’s high school career brought back memories of another great basketball player from the region, Bobby McIlvaine, writes Mike Sielski for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The game shown in the short clip was from 1992 when Lower Merion took on Upper Dublin. When Bryant saw the clip two years ago, he laughed at his inexperience at the time.

However, one of the reasons for his lack of dominance on the court, was McIlvaine.

At the time, the game went mostly unnoticed. But over the years, as Bryant became the Black Mamba, the game grew into a family legend for the McIlvaines.

Over time, McIlvane’s skill continued to develop securing him a spot on Princeton University’s basketball team. But then life took him in another direction, and after graduation he went on to become a public-relations executive.

So with a bright future secured, he was ready to take on new challenges. But sadly, his life was cut short at 26, when he died on September 11, 2001, inside the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Read more about Bobby McIlvaine at The Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.