Ryan Francis

Ryan LeChanc Francis (March 17, 1987 – May 13, 2006) was a promising American point guard whose brief career left a lasting imprint on college basketball. Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Francis quickly emerged as a standout at Glen Oaks High School, where he averaged 22 points and five assists per game during his senior season and guided his team to a flawless 36‑0 record and a Class 4A state championship in 2005. His stellar performance earned him the state championship MVP award and the distinction of 2005 Louisiana Class 4A Outstanding Player, cementing his reputation as one of the state's most talented young guards. After committing to the University of Southern California, Francis became the starting point guard for the USC Trojans as a freshman in the 2005‑2006 season, wearing jersey number 12 and posting averages of 7.1 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. These numbers placed him seventh in the Pac‑10 for assists and fifth for steals, culminating in an honorable‑mention Pac‑10 All‑Freshman team selection and sparking speculation that he might one day transition into coaching after his playing days. Tragically, his promising trajectory was cut short on the night of May 13, 2006 when he was shot multiple times while seated in the back seat of a car in his hometown, an incident perpetrated by D'Anthony Norman Ford. The ensuing investigation led to Ford’s life‑without‑parole sentence in 2007, but Francis’s loss resonated deeply across the basketball community. In the wake of his death, USC honored him with a funeral covered by the university, established the Ryan Francis Endowed Scholarship, and had players wear black #12 jerseys during the 2006‑2007 season. The Trojans further commemorated his memory on what would have been his 20th birthday, March 17, 2007, when his mother traveled to Spokane to watch the team’s NCAA tournament victory, highlighting the enduring impact of his brief yet inspiring life.