The twin sister of University of Alabama freshman quarterback Keelon Russell has died just days after they both graduated high school.
Kierston Russell, a star basketball player at the siblings’ high school in Duncanville, Texas, died this week, the Tuscaloosa Police Department announced Thursday with permission of the family.
Her death “appears to be non-criminal in nature,” the department said, without any additional information on exactly how she died.
Russell’s brother Keelon is a freshman quarterback on the Alabama football roster who enrolled early and attended the team’s spring practice, according to Al.com.
The pair had both graduated from Duncanville High School at the end of last month.
Kierston Russell played for the school’s girls basketball team, the Pantherettes, which moutrned her death “with shattered hearts.”
“A fierce competitor with a heart of gold — her light, love & legacy will live on,” the team tweeted.
Her QB brother also shared several messages of support on his Instagram over the past days.
“Dear God, thank you that every good and pleasant gift is from above. You are the source of every blessing in my life — my health, my work, my relationships and the strength to face each day,” Keelon wrote in one post.
“As James 1:17 says, ‘Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.’”
Russell was the No. 2 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class per the 247Sports Composite.
While initially headed towards Southern Methodist University, he flipped to the University of Alabama after Nick Sheridan, Alabama’s co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, recruited him.
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