Created: 5/21/2007 9:11:30 PM 
By Angela Williams First Coast News
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- He was a rising star on the court, an all-state high school basketball player. At 16 years old Dante Anderson was the guy to watch from Gainesville. Lists of major universities were knocking on his door.
"Dante was one of our star athletes, a very popular student at the school," says Eastside High School Principal Jeff Charbonnet.
A ride to a local hangout early Saturday morning changed all that. Gainesville Police say Anderson was driving a car of friends to a restaurant. He was passing another car, and appeared to have lost control in the median and hit a tree. Both Anderson and another student were pronounced dead on the scene.
The loss is felt everywhere from recruiting websites to roadside vigils.
"This is a community tragedy," says one local neighbor who knew Anderson.
Anderson was ranked 12th in the country at his position by Rivals.com. He also played on the Jacksonville Lee Bulls AAU team and had big plans for the summer.
"Really a wonderful young man that was a friend of everyone," says Charbonnet.
Two other passengers in the car were taken to UF Shands. One is in stable condition, the other is still in critical condition.
In April Dante Anderson played in the Kingswood Classic in Houston and in the LeBron James Shootout in Ohio. He was also scheduled to go to Italy on a 10 day tour with Team Reebok.
Funeral arrangements are set for this Saturday at Eastside High School in Gainesville. The service begins at 3pm.
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