Mr. Cecil Maurice Exum

I am extremely sorry not to have learned of Cecil's passing before now. Last night I watched Dante Exum light up the Lakers. I did not know last night that Dante was Cecil's son, but today I was talking about my time at UNC as a grad student and instructor of French, and the name clicked. I follow the NBA, and knew Dante was Australian, but had never made the connection. When Cecil was a freshman, he took French, and I was his tutor through the year. He impressed me mightily, but not in the way you might expect from a star athlete. He was not cocky, smug, and cooler than thou, but incredibly polite, humble, attentive, engaged in what we were trying to do together, and he had beautiful, gentle eyes. It was a pleasure to be around him. After that, I did not see him again until his fourth year. I could not believe how much the country lad had grown. He greeted me warmly, and with a respect I was not sure I merited, and he had assurance and worldliness I had not seen before. (This is the great joy of being an educator: to see how the young develop.) Cecil, I weep for you tonight, and I add my voice to the celebration of your life. And know, that your son is now my favorite of all players, and that I will follow his progress through the beautiful game you loved.

Forever in Our Hearts,
Forever One of Us!

!

Cecil, you were family to me. Thank you for shaping my life and being such a great part of my childhood.

We will always cherish our fond memories of our time at Werribee basketball.
you were and will always be remembered as a true gentleman with an infectious smile that would light up any room.
deepest condolences to Desiree, Jamaar, Dante and Tierra. RIP

Goodbye Cecil. A beautiful man who so generously shared his talents with so many young basketball players. Sympathy to Desiree, Jamar, Tierra and Dante. McCusker family.

My prayers go out to his family. So proud of what he and his family have achieved. Never met him but followed him throughout his career. He will be missed!

Condolences to the Exum Family
Angela Jeffries