Larry Friend, who played point guard for USC’s basketball team in the 1980s and set school records for assists in a game, season and career, has died of cancer at the age of 54, a school official said Friday.
Friend, who also attended Jordan High School in Los Angeles, where he later worked as an assistant basketball coach, died Tuesday in Anaheim, according to USC Sports Information Director Tim Tessalone.
He played for the Trojans from 1984-86, setting since-broken USC assist records for a game (14 vs. Texas in 1985), season (176 in 1985) and career (409).
Friend led the Pac-10 in assists in 1985, averaging 6.1 per game. That was the last year the Trojans won the conference title.
He is survived by his wife Loiscea, daughter Lakeisha, granddaughter Amari Hudson, mother Dorothy Friend, sisters Rebecca Williams, Rosie Friend, Irma Friend, Jacqueline Friend and Senolia Willingham, and brothers Winston Friend II, Jeffrey Friend Sr., Mitchell Friend Sr. and Sylvester Willingham.
Services for Friend will be held May 25 at 11 a.m. at Breath of Life Seventh-day Adventist Church, 425 S. La Brea Ave. in Inglewood.