We recently lost two members of our community: Brent Haskins and Al G. Frost, Jr.
Brent Haskins
Brent Haskins excelled at almost everything basketball-related. Even more: He excelled in leaving a positive, lasting impression on those he met.
“One of the nicest human beings that you’ll ever meet, that you’ll ever come across,” said Henry Lake, WCCO Radio nighttime host and longtime friend of Haskins, who died Nov. 15 at 51. “A huge fun guy to be around, extremely humble.”
Haskins was more than the only son of Clem and Yevette Haskins and brother to sisters Clemette and Lori Haskins. The news of his passing also rocked, as Brett was an almost 30-year NBA advance scout for several teams, including the Minnesota Timberwolves and, most recently, the Detroit Pistons.
“We talked about basketball so much,” continued Lake. “One of the things he always did. … He was always good at introducing me to [basketball people]. He felt like you were good people.”
Brent worked alongside his father Clem, Minnesota’s second-ever Black men’s head basketball coach — beginning as a student manager and ending as an assistant coach. Then he moved on to the NBA.
“The kid was a great kid, just a great kid,” Michigan State’s Tom Izzo said last week after his Spartans defeated Clem’s former team. Izzo and Clem were fierce competitors on the court, but friends off the court as Big Ten coaches. “I can only imagine what that is for him and his wife,” Izzo added on the impact of Brent’s death on his parents.
Lake attended his friend’s Nov. 30th funeral service in Campbellsville, Ky., where Haskins is laid to rest.
“They are very appreciative of all the support. So many people have reached out and given them condolences and acknowledgments. … It’s been tough. It’s very difficult but they’re very appreciative,” Lake said of the Haskins family.
“At the repast, Coach grabbed my hand, and he just looked at me and said, ‘Henry, I just want to thank you for being a good friend of my son,’” concluded the radio host.
Al G. Frost, Jr.
Al G. Frost, Jr. made local history, first as a prep player at Minneapolis Central High School, then at Hamline University, where he played two sports, and later as a Minneapolis coach, teacher, and athlete director — all accomplishments after he was permanently blinded in his left eye at age 2.
The Minneapolis native set MIAC records that stood more than 50 years and held two career records at the school (1963-1967): most points per game (19.8) and most made free throw (455). He was fourth all-time in points (1,704) and made field goals (622). Frost also was a member of Hamline’s 1966 MIAC Championship football team and was inducted in the school’s Row of Honor at Hutton Arena alongside such notables at Vern Mickelson in 2018.
Frost died recently at age 79.
“One of the things that people may not know but he was an avid gardener,” noted Frost’s niece Marquitta Frost. He grew flowers and maintained two vegetable gardens and love taking care of his lawn, she added. “I think that as his quiet side. That was a God-given skill set.”
Frost was a people person, said Roosevelt High School Football Coach Rodney Lossow, who worked with Frost when the latter was the school’s AD. Lossow said he learned this about Frost early on. “The one gift Al had was the gift of relationships. He definitely made you feel special.”
Frost also was a referee. “I graduated from North High in 1983 and during my four years there, I was on the varsity cheerleading squad,” remembered Marquitta. “There would be times when my uncle would be refereeing in a basketball game.
“I remember several times either somebody in the stands or even one of the players from the opposing team didn’t like [a call]. It was like, ‘Oh, your uncle made that call just because you’re his niece.’
“I knew my uncle was a good ref. That’s one of the poignant moments memories that I can remember of him,” she said, adding that Frost was proud of his many accomplishments in high school and college, along with being a devoted husband and father of three sons and a daughter, and a huge lover of golf.
Al G. Frost Jr homegoing service is Saturday, January 11th at Park Avenue United Methodist Church, 3400 Park Ave South, Minneapolis. Visitation is at 9:00 AM, the service is at 10:00 AM.