Former Valencia Vikings basketball star David Stroud died Saturday at 1:15 a.m. following a courageous battle with cancer.  He was 19. Family and friends were at his bedside.

“We had the privilege of being right there with him, loving him, holding him and helping him get to the other side,” his family said in a statement.

Stroud graduated in 2009 from Valencia High School.  The best year of basketball for the 6-foot-5 Stroud was his junior year when he averaged 3.0 points per game, shot 46 percent from the field and 53 percent from the free throw line.  His career game came against California High School when he scored 11 points on 5 of 7 shooting.

Shortly after the end of that season, Stroud was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He was hospitalized in April 2008.

His supporters participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Santa Clarita.

“As a 16 year old young man, being told that you have cancer is one of the scariest things that can happen,” reads the description for Team Proud Strong on the ACS website. “Rather than wanting people’s pity, David took the fight against cancer head on and never complained, rather choosing to be charismatic and optimistic.”

Stroud battled septic shock and had multiple bone marrow transplants, according to the website.

Family members said Sunday his death was “an experience of heaven meeting earth, gathering him in its arms and taking him home.”

“Dave, we’ll never forget you,” the family’s statement said. “We’ll do our best to live what you taught us – to be people who love and laugh, who love life and are thankful for the gift of being awakened for another day, people with integrity who never quit and never back down in the face of adversity.”