A 2003 Perkins High School graduate died Friday afternoon in an apparent homicide.

Anthony Blackman, a former Perkins basketball standout, was shot in the back in the 3100 block of East 79th Street in Cleveland.

Blackman moved to Cleveland with his family to attend Cuyahoga Community College several years ago.

He earned his associate's degree in May 2009, and needed one more semester to earn his bachelor's degree.

"We're just blown away," said Victor Watkins, Blackman's uncle and legal guardian. "It's been crazy. Just unbelievable. Just sad."

Cleveland police were called to the scene at 2:39 p.m. Friday after residents heard gunfire, according to a police department news release.

Emergency medical workers found Blackman lying in the grass with a bullet wound in his back.

He was still alive, but died en route to MetroHealth Medical Center, the news release said.

Police made no arrests as of Friday night, but the family said Saturday afternoon the police have a suspect in custody.

The homicide unit referred all phone calls Saturday to the police department's public information officer. The public information officer didn't return a phone message.

T.J. James, who coached Blackman his first three years at Perkins and still teaches at the high school, remembered Blackman as a "coach's dream."

"As a person, he had a tough upbringing, he didn't have a Mom or Dad around, but he was very respectful: A kind and courteous young man," James said. "He never gave you one bit of a problem. He was always 'Yes sir, No sir.' Never made bad decisions off the court. One of the most overachieving kids I ever coached. He would just not take no for an answer.

"I was in shock when I heard the news. I couldn't believe it."

In 1999, Watkins moved from Cleveland to take a job at the Ford plant in Sandusky -- what's now Automotive Components Holding.

Watkins and his wife, Angela, became Blackman's legal guardians so they could move him to Perkins, too.

"One of the main reasons I moved up there, so he wouldn't get caught up here in these streets," Watkins said. "He was a hard worker. Had dreams of going over seas and playing basketball. Real clean cut. Just a real good kid."

After playing at Cuyahoga Community College, Blackman earned a partial scholarship to play basketball at a small college in southeast Ohio.

He only needed a few credits to graduate, his family said.

Scott McVeigh, who coached Blackman his senior year at Perkins, remembered Blackman as a "great kid. A hard worker."

"He got everything out of the ability that he had," McVeigh said. " Unfortunate. Just a 25-year-old young man."

Those who knew Blackman bemoaned Friday's fatal act of violence on The Plain Dealer's website.

"I personally watched this kid go through years of college and accomplishment, said one anonymous commenter. "He won a championship playing basketball with our very own Cuyahoga Community College. He had more potential than any young person that I see these days.

"My heart goes out to this family because they poured love and encouragement on Anthony from every direction."

Another commenter, using the screen name "Honesty," said she also knew Blackman.

"He was my first love and this was a senseless act of violence," she said. "These youth need to wake up and stop killing each other."