Klein Oak HS student athlete killed in car crash remembered as "lovable"

When Connor Burton moved from Colorado to Texas the summer before second grade, one of the first kids he met was Kenny Kabano. The two boys immediately formed a friendship, one that frequently featured trips to Crust Pizza. It was a bond that grew even stronger as they got older and started playing basketball together. Burton said Kabano was always the life of the party, even at a young age. “He just had more friends than you could ever imagine,” Burton said. “He just knew everybody everywhere.” Kabano, an 18-year-old senior basketball player at Klein Oak High School, and his mother, Rosine, 44, died in a car accident Monday night. In the days that have followed, support from the Klein community and beyond has flooded in for Kenny’s father, Mike; his sister, Kelia; and his brother, Kai. For Burton, the loss of his friend has caused immeasurable grief. But he knows Kabano won’t be forgotten. “The thing that always draws me just goes back to how many friends he had and just how good he was at just making relationships with people and bringing people together,” Burton said. “He was just that guy.” READ MORE: Klein Oak basketball player and mother die in car crash. How to help Kenny Kabano and his mother were traveling south on Interstate 45 near Madisonville at about 6:36 p.m. on Monday, driving on the shoulder to pass traffic, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. When Rosine Kabano tried to turn left into an emergency-only median lane, their vehicle was struck by a pickup, officials said. Kenny Kabano was found dead in the back seat of the vehicle, while Rosine was taken to a nearby hospital where she died from her injuries. Both passengers of the pickup were taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries. Kabano was set to graduate in May. He turned 18 on April 15 and he and some friends planned a summer trip to Africa, where his parents are from. “He’s just the type of young man that you want in your program,” said Joshua Ervin, coach of the Klein Oak boys basketball team. “He was just a very lovable young man, always had a big smile. Even for his age, he was very mature.” MORE BASKETBALL: All-Greater Houston boys basketball: Seven Lakes' Isaiah Santos earns Player of the Year honors Ervin took over the boys basketball program four years ago, when Kabano was a freshman. Looking to build a successful program, Ervin knew immediately that Kabano possessed the traits that could help the Panthers develop a strong culture. After just one year, Kabano transferred to St. Stephen’s in Austin. He returned to the Houston area for his junior year at the John Cooper School in The Woodlands and his senior year at Klein Oak, where the Panthers welcomed him with open arms. “I was hoping and praying that one day he would come back because he was just such a huge part of those guys,” Ervin said. “He walked right into the gym, and honestly, it was like he never left. The guys love him, and he’s been their guy since the sixth grade.” In a statement, Klein ISD described Kabano as "an accomplished student and athlete who made a positive impact on those around him." "Kenrik was a bright light at Klein Oak High School," the district said. "He is deeply missed by all of us who knew him, and we are keeping his family and all who are mourning in our thoughts and prayers." OTHER NEWS: All-Greater Houston girls basketball: Summer Creek's Kennedy Simpson earns Player of the Year honors Kabano, a 6-foot-3 guard who played for Rwanda during the 2023 International Basketball Federation's under-16 AfroBasket tournament in Tunisia, was a key contributor to the Klein Oak squad as a senior. The Panthers were one of the top-ranked teams in the state throughout the season and finished with a 30-4 record while advancing to the third round of the playoffs. Ervin said that while Kabano’s skills, energy and effort on the court were important, his ability to lead and lift up others was also vital. Ervin said he remembers a game last season when Kabano caught fire, hit six 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 24 points against district rival Klein. While he wasn’t always the focal point for the Panthers, he was always making the selfless play, whether it delivering the right pass, diving on the ground for loose balls or taking charges on defense, said Ervin. During the team’s playoff win over The Woodlands, Ervin vividly recalled jumping into the air and meeting Kabano for a big chest bump. Ervin said it was that kind of fun-loving spirit that has made him an indelible player. “He was definitely one of the captains of the team,” Ervin said. “He was one of the teammates that guys listened to, and he never had anything negative to say about anybody, even through some of the challenges of the season. He stayed with his head up and supported his teammates, and on the court, he’d do anything you asked him to, and he’d do it the first time.” Grayden Harris was one of Kabano's close friends since elementary school. Harris was a welcome guest at the Kabano house, where the smells of Rosine’s rice or Mike’s grilling let him know he was about to devour a superb home-cooked meal, he said. Harris said people were naturally drawn to Kabano because of his outgoing personality, and his sense of humor made him a fun person to be around. “He just kind of had that,” Harris said. “I don’t know how to put it into words. Everyone can always just talk to him. I’ve never, in all my years, ever argued with him or fought with him. You think as a kid, so many emotions go on while you’re a teenager, and he was just always holding it together. He was just always happy. He just loved being places and talking to people.” OTHER SPORTS NEWS: AI in the classroom and more time on the baseball field. A Houston-area school's new approach Harris said Kabano’s legacy will be his fervor for life and the way he treated people. “Life’s not promised, and you just have to make the best of every moment,” Harris said. “I think that’s what Kenny did, and I think all those memories of him are helping me and my friend group get through all this. Just remembering all those fun moments and people just sharing how great of a kid Kenny was and how he lived life to the fullest.” A family friend has set up an online fundraiser for Kabano's family to help cover funeral and memorial expenses, as well as to provide further financial support. As of Thursday afternoon, more than $73,000 had been donated. Funeral services for Kabano and his mother are set for Saturday, May 2, at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home. General viewing begins at 7:30 a.m. followed by funeral services and burial at 1 p.m.