Memorial service held for Georgia basketball player

<p>Kevin Brophy, a University of Georgia basketball player killed in an auto accident last week, was remembered Monday as a young man who toiled relentlessly to achieve his dream of playing basketball in the Southeastern Conference.</p><p>Brophy died in a two-car crash on Georgia Highway 15 near Greensboro Thursday afternoon, authorities said. He was driving home alone to Savannah from Athens when his car collided with another vehicle, police said.</p><p>It is unclear whether severe weather was a factor in the accident, said Greene County Sheriff Chris Houston.</p><p>About 450 people, including Brophy's parents Eammon and Anne Brophy of Melbourne, Australia, gathered to offer a communal farewell during a 90-minute memorial service.</p><p>"This life of his was packed solid," said Father Jack McDowell, director of the university's Catholic Center. "He lived life to its fullest and desired to live it for a long time."</p><p>Also taking part in the service were Georgia basketball coach Dennis Felton, university President Michael Adams, Brophy's girlfriend, Molly Ramage, and Brophy's Bulldog teammates.</p><p>"We're all dreamers, but Kevin wasn't a dreamer _ he was a dream-doer," said Maxine Sussman, the wife of Mark Sussman, athletic director at Savannah's Memorial Day School, where Brophy spent his senior year in high school as an exchange student.</p><p>The 6-foot-1 Brophy, who earned a basketball scholarship after serving as a walk-on in his freshman season, was remembered by his teammates for his eternal optimism and work ethic.</p><p>"Coach Felton emphasized consistency," said senior Steve Newman. "He always says you must be consistent to win throughout a season. I always respected Kevin for his consistency on and off the court. And off the court, he was the type of guy who wasn't afraid to be himself."</p><p>"He could bring people from all walks of life together," said junior Dave Bliss. "He chose to try to find the good in us all and squeeze it out of us until we all loved him for it."</p><p>Brophy's freshman season began inauspiciously when he injured his right shoulder less than a week before the Bulldogs' first game. He was fitted with a shoulder harness and was able to play in the opener, putting in 29 minutes and recording six assists against Western Kentucky.</p><p>"That let me know the kind of competitor we had in Kevin," said Felton. "It's going to be difficult to move on because he meant everything to us. He was a powerful force on this team. "He inspired me all the time and he'll continue to inspire us. We can and we will make Kevin and his family proud."</p><p>An additional service was scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Day School in Savannah. The body will then be returned to Australia for burial.</p>

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