Basketball tournament keeps Kitchener teen’s legacy alive more than decade after death

A memorial for Jay Kumar. (Rowen Fisler/CTV News)

More than a decade after a Kitchener teenager lost his life to a rare and aggressive brain tumour, family, friends and former teammates are continuing to honour his memory through a basketball tournament that has become a fixture in the local sports community.

The annual Kumar Classic 3-on-3 basketball tournament returned to Conestoga College on Saturday, bringing together dozens of teams and hundreds of players in memory of Jay Kumar.

Kumar was 13 years old when he was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive brain tumour. He died nine days after receiving the diagnosis.

“Basketball was everything that he would do,” said his sister, Devanshi Singh. “His dream was to be in the NBA.”

Following Kumar’s death, coaches, teammates and family members came together to create a tournament in his honour. Thirteen years later, the event continues to grow while supporting brain tumour research and local students.

Singh said the tournament has raised more than $65,000 for the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and the Jay Kumar Memorial Scholarship.

“This day is always surreal,” she said. “It’s seeing all of our hard work come to fruition and seeing everyone come together again.”

Kumar’s former coach, Brad Matsugu, remembers him as a talented player and natural leader.

“He was extremely skilled and well respected by his teammates,” Matsugu said. “He loved to shoot threes, which is why we ran a three-point shootout in his honour.”

Matsugu said one of the most rewarding parts of the tournament is seeing former participants return years later.

“We’re seeing people that played in the tournament as kids now as adults,” he said. “Friends, families and relatives continue to come out every year.”

Organizers said the event serves a dual purpose — celebrating Kumar’s life while raising awareness about brain tumours.

According to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, roughly 27 Canadians are diagnosed with a brain tumour each day.

For childhood friend Marcus Umana, the tournament has become an annual reunion for people whose lives were touched by Kumar.

“We travel from across the world,” Umana said. “We have people coming from Vancouver and Indiana, and we meet here once a year.”

He described Kumar as a leader both on and off the court.

“He’s the type of guy you could go to for advice,” Umana said. “I hope this tournament gives people the opportunity to learn more about him and the type of person he was.”

As players filled the courts and spectators packed the gym, organizers said the event remains focused on preserving Kumar’s legacy for future generations.

“Through the years, we’ve all grown up and gone in different directions in our lives,” Singh said. “But the one thing that brings us together is the tournament every single year.”

The goal for this year’s event is to raise $10,000. Donations continue to be accepted through the tournament’s website.