NBA Coach’s Family Leaning on Prayer after Tragic Death of 2-Year-Old Grandson

Adrian Griffin coaches the Milwaukee Bucks. His son, AJ Griffin, plays for the Atlanta Hawks.

“My grandson Jayce was very special to me and my family and his passing is an agonizing tragedy that will be felt forever,” the Bucks’ coach said. “I appreciate your respecting our family’s grief and privacy at this time.”

The Champaign County coroner said preliminary results from an autopsy “revealed no evidence of trauma nor foul play,” and “the death of Jayce Griffin appears to be from natural causes.”

The boy’s mother, Jasmine Riggs, told CBS 58 that her son had a respiratory infection several days prior to his death. A doctor told her they found fluid in his lungs after his death.

“I got to the hospital – Jayce was at the hospital – I got to the hospital, and my baby was already gone,” Riggs told CBS 58. “I knew he was gone; I just didn’t want to hear it and I didn’t want to accept it.”

On Sunday, the aunt of AJ Griffin, Rhonda Cloin, urged her church to pray for the family.

“Before we move any farther in the service, I want to ask everyone to gather around my family, they’re on the front row,” Cloin said, according to The Christian Post. “Many of you probably have already heard but our little buddy, Jayce, the little boy that’s always at church with me, he unexpectedly went to Heaven yesterday. Our hearts are heavy, but we know he’s with Jesus. We have to hope that we get to see him again.”

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Stacy Revere/Staff

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.