A former student-athlete at an area college was one of five persons killed in a helicopter crash in New York City over this past weekend.
According to multiple reports, a sightseeing helicopter reportedly experienced engine problems and crashed in the East River on Sunday, March 11. Among the deceased was former Missouri Valley College basketball player Tristan Hill, who was 29.
Missouri Valley College head coach Chad Lance remembers Hill was a kid everybody wanted to be around.

Lance said Hill– a kid whom he said lit up a room every time he stepped into it– stayed at Valley the year after he had graduated; and had some coaching opportunities and was an entrepeneur after he left Valley.

As a part-time starter for the Vikings during the 2009-11 seasons, Lance said Hill averaged about six points, hitting about 40 percent of his overall field-goal attempts and 33 percent from three-point range. He also averaged about two rebounds per game.