By Brandy L. Simms

Sentinel Sports

Shock. Disbelief. Confusion.

Those were some of the emotions expressed this week by friends and acquaintances of former Kennedy basketball star Jeremy Herring upon learning the news that the 18-year old and his 20-year old brother, Justin Herring, had been shot and killed by their father on Monday.

Thurmon Herring, 44, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a felony after calling Montgomery County police to report the incident. He was arrested and is being held without bond.

"I'm confused," said Raason Young, Herring's former teammate at Kennedy. "That's why I can't put the pieces together as to why he would do something like that."

Walter Ray, who runs an area grassroots basketball program called Education, Goals, Opportunities and Sports [E.G.O.S.], said Thurmon Herring was the "nicest guy in the world."

As a senior last season, Jeremy Herring emerged as one of Montgomery County's top players. He led the county in scoring, averaging 25 points per game. He was being recruited by several Division I colleges.

Deontay Twyman, a former Sherwood football and basketball star, said he had worked out with Herring in the past during open gym sessions at Kennedy. "He was one of the best players around," said Twyman. "He was one of the best players I played against by far."

"He just had an all-around game," Twyman added.

Young remembered Herring as a competitor on the court who still possessed a laid back demeanor once he stepped off the hardwood. "When we used to play one-on-one," said Young, "it was no longer a friendship."

"He liked to crack jokes, he was always smiling," Young added.

The 6-foot-4 Herring, who was a three-year varsity starter at Kennedy, began to attract the attention of college programs such as American, Loyola and Quinnipiac. Some of his memorable games last season included a 43-point performance against Watkins Mill, in which he scored a three-pointer with 2.9 seconds left to lead Kennedy to a 67-64 victory.

He also scored 24 points in the Cavaliers' season opening victory over Blair.

"He became a better scorer and ball handler," said Young, a 2006 graduate of the Silver Spring school. "He was just a good leader. He demanded perfection."

Photo by Ken Levy