A prominent high school football coach in California has shared a powerful message of support and resilience following the tragic suicide of a star player. Elijah Asante, head coach at Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, spoke out on social media after wide receiver Khadyn Perkins, 19, died by suicide on July 21.
Perkins, who also played cornerback for the Hamilton varsity team, was found deceased at Sunken City in San Pedro, a coastal area known for its cliffs. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner's office ruled his death a suicide, citing traumatic injuries with probable drowning as a contributing factor. Fire department units responded to reports of an individual in the water at the location, 500 West Paseo Del Mar, and found Perkins unresponsive at the base of a cliff.
In the wake of Perkins' death, Coach Asante addressed his team and the wider community, emphasizing that student-athletes are more than their sport. "When life gets heavy, don’t carry it alone. Talk to your parents, talk to your coaches, talk to your teachers, talk to your teammates. There is strength and courage in asking for help," Asante stated. He also offered words of encouragement, reminding young people that "Your future is greater than your current pain" and that "There are people who love you, believe in you, and will fight for you, even on the days when you don’t feel like fighting for yourself."
Asante, who came out of retirement in 2024 to lead Hamilton's football program, described the team as a family that needs to support one another. He noted that the players were deeply affected by Perkins' passing.
Sunken City, a geologically unstable area on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, has historically been a site where individuals have died by suicide. The area features the remnants of a past landslide, including broken streetcar tracks and building foundations, and has been a known spot for congregating and has seen anti-suicide signage installed in the past.
Hamilton High School, founded in 1931, is a venerable Los Angeles institution with notable alumni, including Mayor Karen Bass, who graduated in 1971. The school's alumni also include artist Nipsey Hussle and actor Shia LaBeouf, as well as Super Bowl champion wide receiver Stephen Baker.
Coach Asante himself is a well-regarded figure, known for his distinctive sideline attire and his philosophy of "attracting" players rather than actively recruiting them. He previously coached at L.A. Jordan and Carson high schools.