Beloved basketball coach killed in horrific Birmingham crash: ‘He was just a good soul’
Nigel Jamar Ramsey, 35, was a former basketball star at Gardendale High School and went on to play collegiate ball.
Ethan Parker 
The basketball community is mourning the loss of Nigel Jamar Ramsey, a dedicated coach and former standout athlete who passed away following a tragic traffic accident in Birmingham.
A Career Defined by Passion
Ramsey, 35, made his mark as a basketball star at Gardendale High School, where he earned North Jefferson County Player of the Year honors during his senior season under coach Mark Cornelius. His playing career continued at the collegiate level at Shelton State and Ouachita Baptist, where he secured Honorable Mention All-GAC honors and two GAC All-Tournament team selections. He graduated from Ouachita Baptist in 2014 with a degree in business.
Beyond his time on the court as a player, Ramsey pursued a career in coaching, serving at institutions including Scottsdale Community College, the University of Detroit Mercy, Fultondale High School, and Tarrant High School. At the time of his death, he was entering his second year as an assistant coach at Prolific Prep, an elite Florida-based program known for developing national-level basketball talent.
Tragedy in Birmingham
The incident occurred at 3:26 p.m. on Tuesday at the intersection of Crestwood Boulevard and Frederick Street. Authorities report that Ramsey was operating a three-wheel motorcycle when it collided with another vehicle. He was transported to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:01 p.m. The Birmingham Police Department is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Remembering a 'Good Soul'
Tributes have poured in from across the basketball landscape to honor Ramsey’s impact on youth athletes. His former coach, Mark Cornelius, remembered him as a mature, quiet individual who truly cared about the game and the players he mentored. "He was just a good soul," Cornelius noted, highlighting how Ramsey found his true calling in coaching to continue influencing the next generation.
Prolific Prep head coach and director Ryan Bernardi shared in the collective grief, describing the loss as a devastating shock. "It sent a shockwave through our whole program because Nigel was such a positive, glowing light of a person," Bernardi said. The sentiment was echoed on social media, where friends and colleagues praised his tireless commitment to the youth of the city and his efforts to improve the basketball community.
