It has been three years since the passing of former University basketball player Kevin Brophy, but faculty, staff and friends of the Melbourne native still carry on his legacy.

The third annual “Do It for Broph Fox Trot 5K,” which changed its name to reflect the welcoming of Mark Fox as the new men’s basketball coach, was established to honor Brophy and the enthusiasm he brought to the team.

“It’s a means of keeping him associated with our men’s basketball program and University community,” said John Bateman, director of marketing for the UGA Athletic Association.

Brophy was killed in a car accident July 21, 2006, on his way to Savannah after doing community service work for a youth basketball clinic at the Athens Boys and Girls Club. He was 21.

The event attracts 200 runners yearly. Participants pay $15 for the event, but Bateman said anyone can enter or donate toward the cause.

Proceeds from the five-kilometer run/walk go toward the scholarship endowment, which is awarded to a men’s basketball player each year in Brophy’s memory.

Though there is no set target for the endowment, Bateman said $150,000 is needed to fully endow a scholarship.

“It’s set up where fans can donate throughout the year, so I don’t know the actual balance,” he said.

Doug Mathews, former associate director of the computer science department, has participated in the event since it began in 2007 and donates to the scholarship every year.

“I’m a runner and it’s a good cause and I support UGA basketball,” he said. “It was just a nice thing to do to help the basketball program to honor Kevin and show respect to his parents.”

The recipient of the scholarship is selected by the coach based on “someone who upholds the standards Kevin had when at school here,” Bateman said.

“This would be someone who is always happy and a hard worker – all of the positive traits Kevin had,” he said.

Brophy came to the U.S. from Australia as a high school junior and attended the University as a walk-on after turning down scholarships to smaller universities.

Brophy scored his career high of 19 points in a game against Vanderbilt.

Brad Powers, a University alumnus from Augusta who met Brophy through a mutual friend, said he has participated in the event since its inception. He will speak at the event to tell Brophy’s story, something he said is an honor to do.

“I was completely blown back when John Bateman asked me to come talk at an event that was intended to tell Kevin’s story and raise money for a scholarship that was put in his name,” he said. “It’s very important when someone comes to me and asks me to do that. There was no way I was going to turn that down.”

Powers said people were always happy to be around Brophy, but words alone could not describe him.

“There are a lot of things that describe him,” he said. “He lived every moment of his life to the fullest. I can’t remember when he didn’t have a smile on his face. It’s difficult to wrap up in a short few sentences.”