Hardman, Tichenor Families Honored Before Jazz Game

Feb 14, 2022, 7:43 PM

Utah Jazz All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

BY KYLE IRELAND AND MADISAN HINKHOUSE, KSL SPORTS

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – The families of Drayke Hardman and Isabella “Izzy” Tichenor presented Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell with their commemorative NBA All-Star rings.

Hardman, 12, and Tichenor, 10, were students in Utah who lost their lives after being victims of bullying.

Gobert and Mitchell received the rings prior to Utah’s game against the Houston Rockets.

The families of Drayke Hardman and Isabella "Izzy" Tichenor, two children from Utah whose lives were lost after being victims of bullying, presented Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert with their commemorative All-Star rings before tonight’s game.

❤️❤️❤️ | #TakeNote pic.twitter.com/RCFYjR0LjA

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) February 15, 2022

KSL Sports has learned that Mitchell reached out to the Hardman family this week and offered them a heartfelt message, and signed memorabilia.

Hardman’s father, Andy, shared the difficult news in a tweet to Mitchell, Gobert, and Jordan Clarkson.

“Our sweet 12 year old baby boy passed away this morning after an attempt to take his own life last night. He’s the biggest Utah Jazz fan. Thank you for making a bright spot in his heart. #doitfordrayke,” Hardman tweeted about the loss of his son.

@spidadmitchell @rudygobert27 @JordanClarksons our sweet 12 year old baby boy passed away this morning after an attempt to take his own life last night. He’s the biggest @utahjazz fan. Thank you for making a bright spot in his heart. #doitfordrayke pic.twitter.com/pLxG1Nnx94

— Andy Hardman (@AndyHardman12) February 11, 2022

In November 20221, the Utah Jazz Foundation made a donation to a Gofundme for Tichenor and held a moment of silence in her honor before a game against the Indiana Pacers.

Jazz Honored Tichenor Earlier This Year

Brittany Tichenor, the mother of Isabella Faith Tichenor, says her daughter, who was Black and autistic, was bullied at Foxboro Elementary. The family accuses the teachers of being part of the problem. They also allege the school district did nothing about it, reports KSL Newsradio.

Brittany Tichenor recalled her 10-year-old daughter telling her that she didn’t think her teacher liked her. The mother also claimed the teacher said the class smelled.

Hundreds of people attended a prayer vigil for the family of 10-year-old Izzy Tichener. The autistic girl killed herself last weekend. The family says she was bullied. More tonight ok @KSL5TV at 10. pic.twitter.com/g5dFixwKwh

— Debbie Worthen (@DebbieWorthen) November 10, 2021

Brittany Tichenor wants all parents to understand all children are unique. And that is what makes them special, she said at a vigil held for Izzy.

The Jazz invited the Tichenor family to a game earlier this season and honored Izzy with a moment of silence, and made a donation to her GoFundMe page through the Utah Jazz Foundation.

Jazz Players on Bullying

Mitchell spoke about the death of the 10-year-old Davis County girl.

“It’s mind-boggling. It’s sad, it’s, it’s just flat out disgusting,” Mitchell opened.

“But like, no one did anything. You know, she was an autistic, black child and girl … our jobs, especially in the education forum is just inspire and teach our youth to grow to be better people than we are … and the fact that, as adults, people sat there and let this continue to get to a point where a 10-year-old girl killed herself over that, to me it doesn’t sit right, it doesn’t doesn’t feel right,” Mitchell added.

Former Jazzman Joe Ingles was also vocal about the tragedy on Twitter.

“As an organization, there’s no doubt that everyone’s behind them. Whatever we can do, we had a really good chat about some things that we can do obviously now, to try and help as best we can,” Ingles said. “But also in the future to make sure this doesn’t happen again. And not just to a kid with special needs just any kid every kid, every adult, everyone … deserves to go to work or school or whatever we are doing and go and be free and enjoy it.”

#StandForIzzy pic.twitter.com/Y1sYEeiemj

— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) November 9, 2021

“It’s one of those things where it’s like, as a human being, how do you let it get to that point? How do you, especially after being told about, you know, you can’t say you didn’t know. And I think that’s something that I’m still wondering, I can only imagine what her family is going through my heart, my sincerest condolences go to her family,” Mitchell said.

Suicide Prevention Resources

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or exhibiting warning signs, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or the Utah Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255, which is answered 24/7/365 by crisis counselors at Huntsman Mental Health Institute.

You can also text TALK to 741741, and parents, students and educators can download the SafeUT app chat or call 833-3SAFEUT (723388) to connect with a licensed crisis counselor.

Additional Resources

Parents, students, and educators can download the SafeUT app chat or call 833-3SAFEUT to connect with a licensed crisis counselor.
First responders, including firefighters, law enforcement, EMS, and healthcare professionals, can chat with a crisis counselor at no cost 24/7/365 by downloading the SafeUT Frontline app and members of the National Guard can access help through the SafeUTNG app.
For non-crisis situations, when you need a listening ear as you heal and recover from a personal struggle, call the Utah Warm Line at 1-833-SPEAKUT (773-2588) 8 a.m. – 11 p.m., 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
At Huntsman Mental Health Institute, women can access maternal mental health services including birth trauma, pregnancy loss, infertility, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
LiveOnUtah.org, a campaign by the Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition offers suicide prevention training and has resources for faith-based groups, youth, LGBTQ+, and Employers.

Other community-based organizations that provide suicide prevention services, support groups, mental health education, counseling services and support: