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College Basketball Player Collapses And Dies During Game

Written by Associated Press on January 15, 2010 12:42 pm

Player Death S Indiana Basketball

OWENSBORO, Ky. — Southern Indiana center Jeron Lewis died late Thursday after collapsing on the court during a game at Kentucky Wesleyan, school officials said.

Lewis, 21, fell under the basket with about 4 minutes left, said athletic department spokesman Ray Simmons. Lewis was rushed to Owensboro Medical Health Center, where he died just before 10 p.m.

“The play was under the basket. The ball was rebounded, we were on defense, and the next thing I knew – most everyone knew – all of a sudden the officials start blowing whistles, and Jeron was motionless with the trainer from Kentucky Wesleyan,” Simmons told The Associated Press. “They started giving him treatment, took him to the medical center. That is where he passed away.”

Simmons said he had no details about what may have caused his death, and the school scheduled a press conference for Friday afternoon.

Messages were left early Friday seeking comment from the Kentucky Medical Examiner and Daviess County coroner.

The 6-foot-8, 260-pound Lewis was in his second season with Division II Southern Indiana, averaging 12.8 points and 8.0 rebounds. The Eagles won Thursday night’s game, 74-69.

RELATED: Sports Deaths Of 2009

Simmons said Lewis had a “great sense of humor and a soft touch with kids.”

Lewis, from Fort Wayne, Ind., where he led the state in rebounding as a high school senior, is survived by his infant son, fiancee, mother and sister.

“The university community is heartbroken with the passing of this outstanding young man,” university president Linda Bennett said in a statement late Thursday. “Jeron was an excellent example of a student athlete who strove to be the best that he could be. He will be truly missed, not only by his teammates, but by the university community. Our prayers are with Jeron’s family in their time of need.”

Lewis’ death was reminiscent of the passing of former Loyola Marymount star Hank Gathers, who collapsed on the court during a West Coast Conference tournament game on March 4, 1990, and was pronounced dead about 1 1/2 hours later.

RELATED: Golf Pioneer, Bill Powell, Dies At 93

Tags: Basketball, Black Athletes, Deaths, Indiana
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  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Andre396/ Andre396

    man that’s too bad i feel for his family to go through that tragedy my condolences

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/maddox2u2/ maddox2u2

    This is so sad. It seems like this is happening more and more. My heart goes out to this young man’s family.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/mahogany_goodies06/ mahogany_goodies06

    Life is too short. To Jeron family you guys are in my prayers.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/mahogany_goodies06/ mahogany_goodies06

    Life is too short. To Jeron family you guys are in my prayers.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/good4life_atsugarluv/ good4life_atsugarluv

    WOW, MY HEART GOES OUT TO HIS FAMILY, WOW, I HAVE A SON HIS AGE. THAT IS SO SAD. I WILL KEEP THE FAMILY IN PRAYER. PEACE

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/choc68leggz/ choc68leggz

    my Gosh, and may the Jeron family be held in Jesus hands during this time of grief! My prayers are yours!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Whos_GiNa/ Whos_GiNa

    Wow..my condolences and prayers to the Lewis family!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/PseudoRican/ PseudoRican

    Yeah that’s tough, just heard this story on ESPN
    According to the story he leaves behind a baby that was born only a few days ago =/

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/al4love32/ al4love32

    iam so sorry about your lost iam sure he was a very good man and my heart goes out to him and his family RIP JERON LEWIS!!!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/lilhottchick04/ lilhottchick04

    wow very sad he’s so young also…life is too short we never know when it’s our time… my heart goes out to hs family

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/jrock8978/ jrock8978

    this is very sad my condolences to the family.and prayers to the family

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    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by BlackInformant, Shirley Huang, Esq. and Shirley Huang, Esq., susanna. susanna said: College Basketball Player Collapses And Dies During Game | News One: College Basketball Player Collapses And Dies … http://bit.ly/50stpw [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/seXXXyness1/ seXXXyness1

    What a sad story:( Such a beautiful child! I look at all the things that have happened in the world just this week and it makes me SO grateful and appreciative of the life that i have. My heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to the family of JERON and i pray that GOD will comfort you all in your time of sorrow. Just know that he is now in a better place. GOD’s will was done and this young mans journey is just starting……..RIP JERON

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/CAROLINAGIRLSRDABEST/ CAROLINAGIRLSRDABEST

    I agree with you seXXXness1 and all the rest of ya’ll as well.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/DARK-LYON/ DARK-LYON

    Our condolances go out to this young man and his Fam…your life was too short..but your in heaven…GOD bless U and your FAM….Kuroi shishi…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/MrCooldaddy7/ MrCooldaddy7

    My condolences goes out to the team and family. Sad, especially for young and talented individuals that are bright and, make a positive difference in peoples lives.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/masculine31/ masculine31

    When I hear of basketball players dying on da court, it just angers da HECK out of me!!! Most times it is very easily prevented. Listen to ur body. I feel bad for this guy, these dumbazz coaches they have now a days is just sad! RIP baby boy!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Mega_bass2107/ Mega_bass2107

    yeah man that’s f**ked that you died like that i’m gon remember the times we played against each other back in high school for the short time i was there

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Real_bumbleclot/ Real_bumbleclot

    he is in a better place

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/BlackCasper2001/ BlackCasper2001

    Man, that’s just tragic. I am bothered by this. I don’t have much to say but I just feel like someone young got robbed of their life. Death is sadder anything in this world to me. I just don’t get why so many people who are trying to be productivein life are dying too soon. SMH. It scares me.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/FocusedIn07/ FocusedIn07

    I’m truly sorry to see that. May he RIP and God be with the family, friends, and that campus/team…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/BabyBoy1603/ BabyBoy1603

    IT WAS SAID THAT HE HAD AN ENLARGED HEART. HE’S A PROFESSIONAL ATHELETE. YOU MEAN THE DOCTORS OR WHOEVER DIDNT DO A FULL EXAMINATION. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THESE COACHES HAVE PLAYERS TO TRY EXPERIMENTAL STEROIDS OR SOMETHING. SOME KIND OF EHANCEMENT. ALL THESE YEARS THIS BOY WAS A LIVE AND NO ONE KNEW HIS HEART WAS ENLARGED. DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU HEAR AND SEE IN THE MEDIA. I SMELL COVER UP OR SOMETHING. THINGS ARENT ADDING UP. I COULD BE WRONG.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/USMC2171/ USMC2171

    I really don’t see why everyone is so quick to blame the coaches. I’m sure the 21 years of his life the parents would of been the first to know if he had a enlarged heart or not. They would know whether to let their son play ball or not. And if the son didn’t listen i’m sure they would of brought it up to the coaches so that they did know.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/dabratt_ny/ dabratt_ny

    Whether his heart was enlarged or not, the fact remains that a 21 y/o young man died. Regarding his rumored medical condition, know that many programs have waivers that can be signed by the player (or parents if a minor) which relinguishes the school from any fault if that waiver is signed & something happens to that player; who knows if this school offered this & if he signed it. Please don’t mistake this for me placing blame on anyone, know that at the end of the day, if its your to go, your gone, pre-existing medical condition or not.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/dabratt_ny/ dabratt_ny

    Whether his heart was enlarged or not, the fact remains that a 21 y/o young man died. Regarding his rumored medical condition, know that many programs have waivers that can be signed by the player (or parents if a minor) which relinguishes the school from any fault if that waiver is signed & something happens to that player; who knows if this school offered this & if he signed it. Please don’t mistake this for me placing blame on anyone, know that at the end of the day, if its your time to go, your gone, pre-existing medical condition or not.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Yapha_MalkahAdiyah/ Yapha_MalkahAdiyah

    What a sad and unfortunate event. But my prayers are with him and his family..He is now in a better place R.I.P

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/po-cahontas03/ po-cahontas03

    I have a friend that died of an enlarged heart on campus. Out his 18yrs of life he never knew he had an enlarged heart neither did his folks. It wasnt until his autopsy that they found it. Im 25 yrs old and in 04 i entered into a health program at school and a requirement was to have a physical before hand. If it wasnt for the physical i wouldnt have known that i had MVP(mitral valve prolapse) basically a hole in my heart. So you see you can have a heart condition and not know it. But what i can say is that i will sleep alot and not know why and once they found the MVP, they said that was the cause of it. I would tell everyone if you feel or know its not normal go have yourself checked. I couldve been gone by now honestly..i have to take meds everyday for MVP and without them i cannot function.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/mizzexotic/ mizzexotic

    Rest in Peace…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/CristalMoet/ CristalMoet

    That’s sad someone knew of his problems and wanted to keep it a secret so they could continue to win I know some coach knew and if he was a real good player someone had something to do with it to get him out the way ppl are real evil and wicked in this world today.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/SexyMoneyMaker/ SexyMoneyMaker

    Thats so sad plus he had a little baby too – RIP

    SWAGGTALK100

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Azrael3/ Azrael3

    This is such a sad story. My deepest sympathies to his family…

    One of my colleague’s brother died while playing soccer…the kid was only 21 years old and dropped dead right on the field. They later found out that he had a heart condition that would not have been detected by a normal check-up. It was very hard to see my co-worker, who was usually very upbeat and silly, be so broken hearted.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/mizzlady0505/ mizzlady0505

    rip

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/LIPZZ_N_HIPZZ/ LIPZZ_N_HIPZZ

    Nowhere in that story did I read that this young man had an enlarged heart!!! Use your vowels, people…
    May his soul rest in peace and prayers to his family.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Ladyd121/ Ladyd121

    That is exactly how an ex boyfriend of mine died. He was playing basketball and collapsed on the court and died but he had an enlarged heart. RIP James.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Unique_Choc-lit/ Unique_Choc-lit

    May the good Lord watch over the bereaved families. Let this be a life lesson to all that are knowledgeable of this unfortunate event. Let us gather strength one from another and not take life for granted. As the world grow colder by the minute, let us grow stronger in the Lord with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Seeking salvation and righteousness as we journey on. Jesus is the answer for the world today and no one can stand against us when God is for us. In Jesus name I pray…Amen.

    I thank God that he is no longer sufferring from illiness, if any. The main concern is his spirit and how lived life and that it be an example for those that remains. You all be blessed and seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and the rest will be added unto you.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Baby_Oklahoma/ Baby_Oklahoma

    This is really sad, but hopefully this will raise awareness of the importance of getting check-ups. Ignorance is certainly not bliss, especially when it takes the life of an innoncent young man with a family. May he rest in peace and condolences to the family.

    *Sweet Cheeks*

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/rayray_nyc/ rayray_nyc

    I am a college athlete…basketball @ that…may u rest in peace young sir.

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