Wadley High School Football Standout Shot and Killed

Randolph County authorities released few details on an apparent drive-by shooting that killed 18-year-old Terrance Wilkes, one of the top high school running backs in Alabama, and wounded his cousin.

The Wadley High School senior was fatally shot Saturday near the player's home in Wadley.

According to published reports, shots were fired about 2:15 p.m. at players on an outdoor basketball court.

A cousin, Jasper Buchannan, currently a University of Alabama student and a former Horseshoe Bend High School football standout, was also shot, The Birmingham News reported.

Buchannan was airlifted to Birmingham, where he was in serious condition following surgery.

Wadley football coach Randy Sparks, when contacted by The Anniston Star, described Wilkes as a "model kid" and called his death "just devastating."

Sparks said there was some kind of dispute at the outdoor basketball court on Friday. Wilkes was not involved in that dispute, friends say.

Wilkes rushed for 2,022 yards and 35 touchdowns this season and was a finalist for the Alabama Sportswriters Association's Class 1A Back of the Year.

In his high school career, Wilkes ran for 9,688 yards and 152 touchdowns on 1,096 carries. He was also part of 68 victories at Wadley during his varsity career.

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