At halftime of their home game against Katy on Tuesday, Feb. 7, the varsity basketball team retired late junior point guard Chris Saiz’ #23 jersey.

Saiz died in a car accident on Tuesday, Dec. 20, six days before his 17th birthday.

The guard earned a starting role during his freshman year, and maintained the starting point guard position until his tragic passing.

Saiz averaged 14.4 points per game for his career. This season, he averaged 15.6 points per game and grabbed a total of 71 rebounds.

As his father Michael Saiz pointed out in his tribute at halftime, Saiz was selected to join the All-Academic All Star team. He was also awarded a posthumous Honorary All-Team Award by the Alvin Holiday Classic.

“This is a special moment because we all miss Chris very much and we feel his absence every day,” head coach Neil King said in his halftime speech. “But his legacy and his memory will always be in our hearts and our minds, and he will never be forgotten.”

After the halftime ceremony, the Cougars went on to win the game 72-62.