NBA star DeMarcus Cousins will pay for funeral of slain Grant High School football player

The support from for a grieving Northern California football team has extended to an NBA superstar.

DeMarcus Cousins has offered to pay the costs of a funeral service for Jaulon Clavo, a starting cornerback for Grant (Sacramento, Calif.) who was shot and killed Friday three hours before the team's first-round Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoff game against Beyer (Modesto).

According to the Sacramento Bee, Cousins wished the offer to be kept anonymous but it was announced during a candlelight vigil at Grant Saturday night. Cousins has been a huge high school sports supporter in the region since the Kings drafted him in 2010. He's been seen at many high school sporting events.

Clavo and three teammates were driving back to school from a meal when they were besieged with gunfire. Clavo was struck in the neck and later died. Another teammate, Malik Johnson, was struck in the arm. He underwent minor surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.



Grant, a perennial Northern California power and the No. 1 seed in the SJS playoffs, postponed its game with Beyer. It has been rescheduled for 5 p.m. Monday at Grant.

Programs from throughout the region have reached out to Grant to show their support. Granite Bay (Calif.), a rival school, tied ribbons in Grant's school colors, blue and yellow, on a sign heading into town. Many teams and community members are planning to attend Monday's game.

“Grant needs everyone’s support," Granite Bay senior player Sam Cusano told Joe Davidson of the Sacramento Bee. "I’m happy to know so many are behind Grant, and we’re praying for them and those families. We’re all upset. We were in shock, and we’re still saddened by it.”