Community mourns death of St. Joseph basketball player after cancer battle

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. - The community is mourning the loss of 17-year-old Mattox Williams, a St. Joseph High School student and former basketball player with the school’s boys' team.

Mattox died Monday morning after battling osteosarcoma since early 2022.

Back in December, Mattox hosted the Hoops for Hope charity event during the St. Joseph vs. Lakeshore game to raise money for pediatric cancer survivors and honor the healthcare heroes helping them fight the disease.

A few days before the event, his mom, Amber Williams, posted on Facebook that Mattox was running out of treatment options.

ABC57’s LeVon Whittaker spoke to Mattox at the event. There, Mattox expressed his desire to keep fighting and spread awareness to keep other kids from facing the same trials he’s faced.

“This is us saying pediatric cancer can't stop us, and that we're fighting and that we're going to keep fighting, and that nothing can stop, nothing can stop us,” Mattox said. “And that if we keep fighting, and if we keep spreading awareness, that maybe one day kids won't have to lose legs and kids won't have to, to experience what I have.”

Mattox, known by his nickname Smiley, will be remembered for his cheerful attitude and resilience. We send our condolences to his loved ones.