“The way things had been going, I think it was inevitable that something would happen to him. Something was bound to happen. He was not going to be alive very long if he was in there (prison).” — Former Baldwin Park coach Tony Zane, who coached Phillips for two years in 1991-92.

Former Baldwin Park coach Tony Zane and other area coaches recall Lawrence Phillips’ dominance in high school football: For those fortunate to have seen Lawrence Phillips play when he was trampling defenders on high school football fields across the San Gabriel Valley, the praise was always the same.
“Best ever.”
“Man among boys.”
Phillips, who played at West Covina and Baldwin Park high schools, before reaching national fame at Nebraska and then in the NFL with the St. Louis Rams, died early Wednesday from an apparent suicide in his jail cell at Kern Valley State Prison. He was 40.

PHILLIPS FOUND DEAD: Lawrence Phillips, who played at West Covina and Baldwin Park High Schools, was found dead in his prison cell today of an apparent suicide. Phillips, who also played for the University of Nebraska and the St. Louis Rams, was 40. He graduated from Baldwin Park in 1992 and was named the Tribune football player of the year. Here is a story about him we wrote last year.

Former Tribune prep editor Steve Hunt, who covered Phillips in high school, reacted on Twitter.

His apparent suicide in a prison cell is the final chapter of a life that was so full of potential, yet so tragically wasted.

— Steve Hunt (@SteveHunteditor) January 13, 2016

I covered a lot of great high school athletes over the years, but Lawrence was among the best.

— Steve Hunt (@SteveHunteditor) January 13, 2016

I pondered visiting him in prison a couple of times, but I could never bring myself to do it. I wouldn't have known what to say except: Why?

— Steve Hunt (@SteveHunteditor) January 13, 2016