Cartier Woods remembered as a talented sports player and a 'friendly giant'

Cartier Woods' classmates, teammates and friends said they will always remember him for his "mean" basketball skills and his kind spirit.

Woods, 18, a student at Northwestern High School in Detroit, died Tuesday, a week after suffering from cardiac arrest during a Jan. 31 basketball game against Fredrick Douglass Academy.

Detroit Public Schools Community District confirmed the death of the senior on Tuesday evening, stating that Woods' aunt and legal guardian decided to withdraw life support "after vital signs continued to be absent."

Recalling the incident

"He collapsed right next to me," said Woods' childhood friend, fellow senior and teammate at Northwestern High School, Khanye Howard.

"I thought he was having a seizure, I was really shocked, I didn't know what to do," Howard said. "He wasn't getting up so it kind of started taking a toll on me; I started crying. I just couldn't watch it. I ended up having to leave the gym."

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Howard said he visited Woods at the hospital every day until his passing.

"He was just a sweet soul, very respectful to our teachers. He was my best friend, my right-hand man," Howard said. "We did everything together."

Howard and Woods met when they were 14 and 13, respectively, when they lived in the same apartment complex in Highland Park. "We played football and basketball together in high school and during the summer," he said.

Remembered for his skills on the court

When it came to basketball, Howard said Woods was "mean but also smooth."

"He had a nice little face that he loved to do," Howard recalled. "Even though he was big, he grabbed every rebound. He liked to shoot the ball a lot too, though."

It was just three minutes after the start of Northwestern's game last month against Frederick Douglass when Woods collapsed after telling his coach he felt dizzy.

Coach George Tyson performed CPR. As others were preparing to use an automated external defibrillator on Woods, emergency medical workers arrived, said Chrystal Wilson, assistant superintendent of communications for DPSCD.

"The EMS took over rescue," she said.

Woods was taken by ambulance about a mile away to Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital, where he was placed on life support.

“I was just praying he’s going to pull through it,” said another childhood friend, Dylan Williams, 18, who was on his way to Woods’ game when he learned that his friend had collapsed. But now, “it’s going to be hard not watching him play basketball. … I used to go to his games all the time.”

Williams, a graduate of University Prep Academy High School, said he used to play against Woods before graduating last year.

Woods was “always a leader, never liked losing but also never really got mad for real." Williams said. "He would always say he’ll get them back.”

He added that Woods was also “like a brother to me. … If I ever needed advice, I’d call him. Anything I needed, he’d be there for me; always making you laugh and bringing joy to the room.”

Students honor Woods

This week, students throughout the high school took it upon themselves to sign posters and leave loving messages for Woods — messages such as "I love you forever," "thank you for being there for me," and "you won't ever be forgotten."

Junior La' Mari Smith brought in one poster in hopes of framing it and giving it to Woods' family.

Smith said Woods "was just a big friendly giant. He was so nice and sweet and bubbly."

School district officials also held an assembly on Wednesday at Northwestern High School — in honor of Woods, and to make sure students are aware of the resources available to them. Grief counseling has been made available to students and staff at the high schools who are struggling with his death, Wilson said.

Another senior, Recardo Lott, said Woods "was a smart kid" who "would do his work. He knew when to be funny, when to not be funny. He was really happy and energetic."

On Friday, students plan to commemorate Woods during senior night, when Northwestern is set to play Southeastern High School in the boys' basketball playoff game at 5:30 p.m. To honor him, Howard will be wearing Woods' No. 4 basketball jersey during the game.

Howard said Woods' funeral will take place sometime next week but that a set date has not been announced yet.

According to DPSCD, information regarding the funeral arrangement will be made public when available.

Free Press staff writer Kristen Jordan Shamus contributed to this report.

Contact Nour Rahal: nrahal@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cartier Woods remembered by classmates as a 'friendly giant'