Taurian Fontenette: key obituary facts
Is Taurian Fontenette dead? Yes. Taurian Fontenette died on November 2, 2026, at age 43.
Cause of death: Taurian Fontenette's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Taurian Fontenette known for?
He was an American basketball player.
More about Taurian Fontenette
Born: 1 January 1983.
Place of birth: Hitchcock.
Gender: male.
Nationality: United States.
Education: University of Texas at El Paso.
Taurian Fontenette, an American basketball player known for streetball, died November 2, 2026, aged 43.
Born in Hitchcock, Texas, on January 1, 1983, he attended Hitchcock High School as a member of the class of 2000. His college career took him to the University of Texas at El Paso in 2000–01, Richland Junior College from 2001 to 2004, and Paul Quinn College in 2004–05.
Fontenette played on the AND1 Mixtape and Ball4Real tours, where he became known for his leaping and dunking ability. He was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 185 pounds. His original streetball name was “Air Up There”; after AND1 claimed naming rights to it, he also performed as “Mr. 720,” “Birdman,” “The Human Pogo Stick,” “Your Highness” and “Way Up There.” At an AND1 game in Houston in 2006, Fontenette drew widespread attention for a 720-degree dunk, described as the first widely documented feat of its kind. Video of the dunk was shown on ESPN’s SportsCenter and circulated widely online, bringing his aerial style to audiences beyond the streetball tours. His nicknames and signature dunk reflected the athletic feats that marked his performances.