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A Livestrong bracelet is a fixture on Jordan Leggetts wrist, but it takes a beating. In the trenches at Clemson, it invariably stretches or tears, so a few times each season, a new one arrives in the mail as a replacement. As Leggetts playing time has increased since his freshman year and his tenacity as a blocker has blossomed, he has started wrapping tape around the bracelet to keep it intact, but it still snaps from time to time.Theyre getting broken more often, said Denise Lockwood, whos been supplying the senior tight end with the bracelets from his hometown of Navarre, Florida, since he arrived at Clemson. We just sent him 10 more.The bracelets are meant to be symbolic, to serve as reminders. But for Leggett, this routine is particularly fitting. He wears it for the teammate whod always pushed him to work harder, and now each time he needs a little extra, Ian Lockwoods family is still there with a little more motivation.Six years after Lockwood died of brain cancer, Leggetts career at Clemson is coming to a close. He arrived overmatched, blissfully unaware of how hard his path to success would be. He is leaving as a two-time finalist for the Mackey Award -- given annually to college footballs most outstanding tight end -- and as the school record holder for catches, yards and touchdowns for a tight end. Lockwood has been with him every step of the way.We both loved football, Leggett said, and with it being taken away from him, I just try to keep his legacy on my shoulders.Leggett was a high school sophomore when he was paired up to share a locker with Lockwood, a senior and team captain at Navarre High School. Leggett was all talent -- bigger and faster than nearly everyone else on the field. Success came easily. Lockwood was all effort -- one of those 110 percent all the time kids, his mother, Denise, said. Lockwood asked to be partnered with Leggett. He wanted to see how good Leggett could be if that talent was matched with Lockwoods drive.The two became fast friends, and Leggett soon felt he was part of the Lockwood family. When Ian got sick, Leggett became a fixture at the house. The two were virtually inseparable.Lockwood played six games his senior season in 2010 before the cancer forced him from the field. He delayed a third brain surgery until after Navarres season ended -- a one-point defeat in triple overtime that Denise described as devastating. The family became close with former Florida and current Ohio State coach Urban Meyer, staying at the Meyer house on trips to Gainesville for treatment. Lockwood addressed the Gators before their bowl game that December, barely able to get out of bed but determined to make an impact. Leggett had planned to visit Lockwood in the hospital on Jan. 28, 2011, but Denise said Ian wasnt feeling up to it. Ian died hours later.It was rough, Leggett said. A sad day.But it wasnt the end of Ian Lockwoods story. Leggett and the rest of his Navarre teammates have seen to that.Leggett was promised Lockwoods No. 10 at Clemson, but that didnt pan out. Instead, he wears No. 16 -- the sum of Lockwoods high school jersey and his own.When Leggett left Navarre for Clemson, Denise gave him a small vial with Ians ashes inside. Shed done it for all of Ians former teammates whod moved along. Most kept it close -- on a bedside table or hanging from a rearview mirror -- but Leggett had another idea. Before Clemsons spring game in 2013, he walked to one of the 10-yard lines at Memorial Stadium and spread his friends ashes there. Three years later, the Lockwoods watched from the stands as Leggett and Clemson knocked off Florida State. Afterward, they took a family photo at the 10-yard line.For Leggett, however, the mementos are everywhere.On his first bus ride around Clemson Memorial Stadium (aka Death Valley) before Clemson hosted Georgia in 2013, he texted Denise. He was thinking of Ian. He could feel Ian with him.I cried a lot, Denise said. Then we watched the bus stop and saw Jordan run down the hill, and it was really special.Theres a cross hanging in Leggetts bedroom that Denise gave him. Leggett looks at it every day and thinks of Ian.All my passwords for social media have something to do with him, Leggett said.What matters most, however, are those trips back home. Six years after Ians death, Leggett still thinks of the Lockwood house as a second home and still calls Denise Mama. Theyll make sushi together for dinner or go out on the Lockwoods boat to relax. In so many ways, its as if Ian is still there with them. The ashes and the cross and the bracelet are Leggetts reminders, but for the Lockwoods, simply having Leggett in their lives is a way to stay close to their son.It helps fill that little empty spot they have in their heart now, Leggett said.The Lockwood family has helped push Leggett, too, and thats something hes desperately needed during his career.The photo of Leggett scattering Ians ashes came up in Denises Facebook Timehop app recently, and she was astonished at how young he looked. He was thin and baby-faced, hardly the physically imposing presence he is today on Clemsons offense. Those early years were a struggle for Leggett, far from home with limited playing time and an uncertain future. Hed chosen Clemson because it felt like family, but he wondered if hed made the right decision. Denise was astonished.We told him to go back, to show them you want it, Denise said. And thats what he did.It wasnt that Leggett had been lazy, its just that hed been used to things coming easily. He was talented, and that was both an asset and a drawback.It wasnt uncommon when kids are more gifted talent-wise, they rely on those things, said Chad Lashley, Leggetts high school coach. There were times you had to challenge him and get onto him, but hed always respond.Ian had seen that early, and he pushed Leggett to make the most of his ability. Denise has done the same.Leggett returned to Clemson with renewed enthusiasm. He hit the weight room and bulked up. He worked on his blocking to become a more refined tight end. He engaged his teammates, pushing them to follow his lead. He tried to follow in Ians footsteps.It took a little while early on to get him to understand, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. Hes just become so much more of a complete player these last couple years and has impacted our team in a great way. Hes become a great leader, too. Hes become one of the most committed guys.Leggett finished his junior season with 40 catches for 525 yards and eight touchdowns, a school record for tight ends. He considered leaving for the NFL, but the draw of a final run for a championship was strong. He wanted to keep getting better, to finish what he started. Its another lesson learned from his friend, who was forced to leave so many dreams unfulfilled.Denise sees the impact its made. Leggett is stronger, more humble. Hes comfortable in his role but pushes to do more. She sees the impact her son made on Leggett, and for her, its a way to keep Ians memory alive.And so she sends the bracelets, and Leggett wears them as both a reminder and a motivator. Before each game, hell get a text from Denise, just saying shes thinking of him and wishing him luck, and he knows the family will be watching him.Everybody wants to make Ian proud, Denise said. They work hard knowing he didnt get that opportunity. Nike Air Max Plus Sale . 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NEW YORK -- One of the Kentucky freshmen stepped up big from the outside while the rest of the Wildcats took care of things with defense.Malik Monks 23 points on 7-for-11 shooting from 3-point range and the second-ranked Wildcats defense that held No. 13 Michigan State to 32.8 percent shooting combined for a 69-48 victory Tuesday night in the State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden.These guys took some pride defensively here, Kentucky coach John Calipari said. Michigan State they run great stuff. They iso and do things that forced us to prepare beyond where we are.The Wildcats (3-0) averaged 90 points in their first two games but this time it was defense that did it as the Spartans (0-2) shot 32.8 percent from the field (20 of 61) including 5 for 26 (19.2 percent) from beyond the arc.Relying on another talented freshman class, Kentucky was able to up the tempo enough and keep the tenacious defense going that the Spartans committed 20 turnovers which the Wildcats turned into 24 points.Freshman DeAaron Fox added 12 points for Kentucky, which snapped Michigan States two-game winning streak in the series that the Wildcats lead 13-11.We knew they were going pack it in. I just had to be prepared, Monk said. They set me up well. I was just able to knock down the shot.Kenny Goins and Cassius Winston led the Spartans with nine points each. Freshman Miles Bridges was held to six points on 2-for-11 shooting but he grabbed 12 rebounds.We did a couple of things knowing that if he got going he would be a beast, Calipari said of Bridges. He had 12 rebounds, but the way we played, we just made it really difficult for him to just play basketball.Spartans coach Tom Izzo said, Im actually a little embarrassed. I felt like we competed defensively for the most part, we just didnt do anything offensively. We looked like a team that was an AAU team, we just went 1-on-1 didnt move the ball and got frustrated.The Spartans were coming off a 68-65 loss to No. 10 Arizona in Honolulu.I was very disappointed in the way we were kind of `deer in the headlights but you know you have four freshmen playing at Madison Square Garden and coming off the Hawaii trip, that was the way we played. Well get better.Kentucky led 34-26 at halftime and the Wildcats opened the big lead with a 16-7 run that made it 51-37 with 12:04 to play.dddddddddddd Michigan State continued to struggle from the outside and the Wildcats led by as many as 23 points.Its the same freshmen that played against Canisius and we were down with three minutes in the half, Calipari said. Weve got a long way to go. This shows us what were capable of and now we have to build from this. You have to convince them that if we become a great defensive team.BIG PICTURE:Kentucky: The Wildcats freshman class is as loaded with talent as any recruited by Calipari and this group has size. ... Last season the Wildcats had trouble setting any kind of presence inside but with freshmen Ban Adebayo and Wenyen Gilbert grabbing 11 rebounds between them. Kentucky was able to stay on the glass with the Spartans only being outrebounded 44-40.Michigan State: The Spartans played in Honolulu on Friday and then headed across the country for this game. Michigan State will travel 13,600 miles by Nov. 29 and in a 21-day span they will face at least three Top 15 opponents. ... Michigan State wont be at full strength for a while as they wait for Gavin Schilling and Ben Carter to return from injuries.ALL ALONE:Monk was the only Wildcat to make a 3-pointer. The rest of the team was 0 for 7. Nobody on Michigan State made more than one 3.You have to give Monk credit he was 3 for 13 going in and hit some big 3s early, unguarded on the break, Izzo said.FOUL SHOOTING:Kentucky was 16 of 20 at the free throw line while the Spartans were 3 of 9.SITTING PRETTY:In the row behind the Kentucky bench were Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Larry Brown who was Calipari boss at Kansas and Bruiser Flint, the coach who succeeded Calipari at Massachusetts. Also sitting in a good seat was New York Knicks guard Carmelo Anthony. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski went over and gave Anthony a big hug before the second game. The two were part of the last Olympic gold medals for the U.S.UP NEXT:Kentucky: The Wildcats return to Rupp Arena to face Duquesne on Sunday.Michigan State: The Spartans finally stop traveling to go home and play Mississippi Valley State on Friday. ' ' '