Former Orangeburg-Wilkinson and current Newberry College basketball star Kendrick Johnson drowned in a backyard pool Friday night in Pendleton.

According to a report by the Anderson Independent-Mail, Johnson and his girlfriend were swimming in the pool for around an hour at the home of the girl’s parents, Moorehead Place, in Anderson. The girl got out of the pool before Johnson began to struggle in the water.

The girl re-entered the pool but could not get Johnson, listed as 6-foot-6-inches tall and 200 pounds, out of the water. Authorities were called to the home just after 8 p.m., and Johnson, according to the report in the Independent-Mail, died Friday evening at AnMed Health Medical Center. The death was ruled accidental and an autopsy was conducted Saturday morning.

Johnson, who would have been a senior in the upcoming season, was a feared shot blocker for the Indians. He finished second in the South Atlantic Conference in blocked shots with 93 in the 2007-2008 season. He set the Newberry single-game blocks record with eight blocks against Brevard on Jan. 30, and on Feb. 2, he blocked eight more shots in a game against Carson-Newman. His 138 blocks is a Newberry College record, and he was eighth in the SAC in blocks all-time.

He played three varsity seasons for Orangeburg-Wilkinson under head coach Alex Barron and averaged 12.5 points per game, eight rebounds per game and five blocks per game.

An obituary notice from Simmons Funeral Home was sent to The Times and Democrat Saturday. The announcement stated funeral arrangements were not complete and will be announced at a later date. It noted that friends may call at the residence of his grandmother, Mrs. Flossie Givens, of 4739 St. Matthews Road in St. Matthews, or at Simmons Funeral Home in Orangeburg.

T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached via e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553.

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