Nayeem Bhat, a student of Government Degree College Handwara, died when army opened fire to disperse a stone-pelting mob which was protesting against alleged molestation of a girl in the town, about 85 kilometres from here.
A budding top order batsman, Nayeem had attended an Under-19 national level camp three years ago, his friends claimed.
Several photographs of Nayeem at various cricketing events, including a net session with Jammu and Kashmir's star all-rounder Parvez Rasool, were being circulated on social networking sites soon after his death.
"Nayeem was crazy about cricket but his journey has been cut short," said Waseem Ahmad, a childhood friend of the deceased youth.