the basketball star , dubbed king james , praised the 19-year-old for the ` leadership ' , ` courage ' and ` strength ' she had shown while suffering from diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma -lrb- dipg -rrb- .
james , who posted an emotional farewell letter to the teenager via friday , just hours after she passed away from her rare tumor .
in the letter , the basketball star , dubbed king james , praised the chance to meet u in person but know you 're in a far better place now .