The Tulane University community learned about the tragic loss of Gregg Glenn III this past July, a senior and rising basketball star, who died by drowning in his home state of Florida.
Glenn, a former four-star recruit in the class of 2022, committed to play for the University of Michigan. After competing in only four games for the Wolverines, Glenn transferred to Tulane in hopes of a bigger role.
After appearing in 30 games his sophomore season, where he averaged 3.6 points per game, Glenn made the jump to the starting center for the 2024-25 season.
He started in all of Tulane’s 34 games last year, where he averaged 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. He was also named to the American Athletic Conference weekly honor roll twice.
Tyler Ringgold, a forward for the Green Wave, said Glenn had a positive influence on everyone around him.
“He was really a great dude. He always tries to make somebody smile, always trying to make somebody happy,” Ringgold said. “He always wanted to help everybody.”
Ringgold said he had known Glenn for many years before Glenn came to Tulane and even played against him, so teaming up with him in college felt like a full-circle moment.
“I’ve [known] Gregg since middle school … whenever he’d go to the gym, he’d tell me to come with him. If I was asleep or something, he’d come in and [say], ‘Come to class, bro,’” Ringgold said. “I’d do the same for him. We’d hold each other accountable. I’m missing that right now.”
After knowing him for so long, the two of them had formed a special bond. Ringgold told a story that’s very representative of Glenn’s character: competitive and thoughtful.
“When I first came in, in one of our practices, we got into it. We were just hollering at each other, going at it,” Ringgold shared. “After, we realized it was over, and we were good. That’s what I liked about him because some people hold onto things. That was special to me.”
He also talked about how much of an impact Glenn made outside of Tulane.
“I saw the [New Orleans] Pelicans say something, I saw the news write a lot of things about him. It shows how he really made an impact on the community and how important he was,” Ringgold said.
Ever since Glenn’s passing, the players and coaches have been rallying together.
“It’s making everybody show more love. We’re here for each other,” Ringgold said. “We have to win as many as possible, try to win a championship, and try to do it for him. Every day, we say, ‘Do it for Gregg.’”
I had the privilege of knowing Glenn, as we sat next to each other in a class last year. His smile was infectious, and he would always go out of his way to make someone laugh if he noticed they were down. He was a truly wonderful person who will always have a strong presence within the Tulane community.