MOBILE, Alabama – Larry Rembert Jr. lost his best friend four years ago.

His father, former Alabama Mr. Basketball Larry Rembert Sr., died of a heart attack on Jan. 27, 2011.

Now, his son is carrying on his tradition.

The sophomore has helped spark McGill-Toolen to the No. 1 spot in the latest Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 7A rankings. He and the Yellow Jackets will host No. 3 Murphy in a Region 2 game Tuesday night.

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“Larry is one of three sophomores on our team,” McGill coach Phillip Murphy said. “Over the last three weeks, his role has gained importance. In fact, in the last four games, he’s been our second leading scorer.

“He is really starting to figure it out. Larry has a good feel for the game, and he works really hard.”

Rembert is a 5-foot-10 post player. His statistics at this point aren’t eye-popping (four points, four rebounds, two steals and two assists per game), but the spark he has provided off the bench for the 18-3 Jackets can’t be minimized.

“He’s one of those tireless players,” Murphy said. “Larry gives relentless effort and energy and has a high motor. He rebounds like he’s 6-foot-8 and he finishes at the rim as good as anyone I’ve had here.”

Rembert was just 12 when his father died at the family’s Mobile home.

“I was young, but I remember that day,” he said. “I came in and Dad was talking to me about shooting free throws and just about life. We had dinner, and I went to bed. I just remember my mom coming in yelling after that when Dad collapsed.”

Rembert said his father had a pacemaker inserted the previous year but seemed to be doing fine before his heart attack. He was 42 when he died.

“It was really tough,” said Larry Jr., who has three sisters and a brother. “It still is. I just try to cope day-by-day. My biggest responsibility at that time was just to help my mom get through it the best I could. It was tough on all of us.”

Rembert Sr. was Alabama’s 1985 Mr. Basketball. The 6-foot-8 star had a standout career at Keith High School and was selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game following his senior year.

He chose UAB over a host of other schools, including Alabama and Auburn. He averaged 9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in his college career, which spanned from 1986 to 1990.

“He was one of the best power forwards in high school I ever saw,” said Ron Ingram, Director of Communications for the AHSAA, who covered Rembert while working for the Birmingham News. “Larry was a man amongst boys in high school.”

Before he died, Larry Sr. passed along his love of basketball to his son.

“He pretty much taught me everything,” Rembert said. “He taught me how to jump, how to rebound, how to play a bigger man if I need to. He taught me about defense … everything.”

Murphy said that knowledge of basketball has been easy to see.

“He’s been around the game,” Murphy said. “He’s watched it, lived it. Larry has a lot of natural ability. He’s not as big as his dad, but he can play and he plays with a lot of heart.”

Murphy said Rembert already has a special place in the heart of his own two sons, Myles and Jackson.

“Larry is their favorite player on the team,” he said of his boys. “I’m not sure why. I think it is probably his heart. I’m always barking at my kids about going full speed and bringing that energy all the time. They see Larry doing that every time we practice or play a game.”

Rembert, who also plays wide receiver for Caleb Ross’ football team, has not forgotten his father.

“I think about him all the time,” he said, “especially when I step on that court.”

He said his father’s influence goes much further than just basketball.

“He taught me about a lot of things – how to change oil in the car, how to drive a little bit, pretty much everything,” Rembert said. “He taught me how to have a backup plan in case sports don’t work out. He taught me why an education was important. He taught me how to be a man.”

Larry Sr. also taught his son how to have fun.

“We used to wrestle all the time,” Larry Jr. said. “He was cool and funny. He was my best friend.

“I miss him.”