The joy of a Clipper win over Minnesota to end a grueling 2-6 Grammys/All-Star Game road trip was quickly replaced by sadness for Blake Griffin when he received news that a close childhood friend--Wilson Holloway--lost his battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Blake Griffin recently talked about Holloway with ESPN's Colleen Dominguez:

Although the All-Star festivities back in Los Angeles wouldn't allow Griffin to grieve for his friend, upon winning the Slam Dunk title on Saturday night, he stated he would give the trophy to the family of the late Holloway.

Los Angeles Clippers' Blake Griffin holds the trophy after winning the slam dunk contest during the NBA basketball All Star weekend in Los Angeles, February 19, 2011. (Reuters)

Griffin and Holloway--a two-sport athlete--were teammates at Oklahoma Christian School, where they won the basketball state championship in 2006 and 2007. While both had gone their separate paths--Griffin to Oklahoma and Holloway to Tulsa--the two had kept in close touch.

Holloway--an offensive linemen--was experiencing shortness of breath during football workouts in early 2008 and was advised to seek medical attention. That spring, doctors had found a tumor in his chest. Removal of the tumor and subsequent chemotherapy treatments lead to a cancer-free diagnosis in August 2008.

Holloway played in six games in the 2008 season before he was once again diagnosed with cancer in October. He endured more chemotherapy treatments. He continued to battle against the disease, and while he did not play, he was listed in the 2009 and 2010 Golden Hurricane football media guides.

In a strange twist of fate, the Clippers' first game after the All-Star break is on Tuesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Upon completion of his All-Star duties on Sunday, Griffin plans to fly to Oklahoma for Holloway's funeral, which is scheduled for Monday.