Surrey Teen Remembered with Memorial Basketball Tournament
The community is coming together to honour the memory of Surrey teen Joseph Maku with a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at his former high school this November.
The Joseph Maku Memorial Tournament will take place on Nov. 15 at North Delta Secondary School, where Joseph graduated. A ceremonial game and tribute will be held on Nov. 14 to open the event.
Registration is $10 per player, with a minimum of four players per team, and all proceeds will support the Joseph Maku Memorial Bursary.
The tournament will feature six divisions:
- Junior Boys (Grades 8–10)
- Junior Girls (Grades 8–10)
- Senior Boys (Grades 11–12)
- Senior Girls (Grades 11–12)
- Alumni/Community Men
- Alumni/Community Women
Joseph was reported missing on Oct. 22, 2024, and found deceased five weeks later. Police said his death was not considered suspicious.
During the search, Joseph’s friends and family organized extensive search efforts across Surrey and nearby cities, aided by volunteers and community members who refused to give up hope.
His sister, Brenda Maku, later shared a message of gratitude for the outpouring of love and support:
“Countless days and nights were spent in the cold and rain searching for him,” she wrote. “So many people have continued to let me know how loved and cared for Joseph was.”
Joseph, a first-year kinesiology student at UBC, was remembered as a compassionate, athletic, and deeply loved young man whose spirit brought people together — something his family hopes this tournament will continue to do.
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