See HS Basketball Star’s Game-Winning Shot Before He Collapsed and Died
- Posted on March 4, 2011 at 2:43pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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FENNVILLE, Mich. (The Blaze/AP) — A Michigan high school’s star basketball player collapsed on the court and later died after making a game-winning layup in overtime to cap his team’s perfect season.
Wes Leonard of Fennville High died Thursday night, Holland Hospital spokeswoman Deb Patterson said. A cause of death has not yet been determined.
Leonard’s winning shot was captured by a local news camera:
Paramedics performed CPR on the 16-year-old before he was pronounced dead at the hospital, Patterson said.
Leonard, a junior who also excelled as the quarterback of the Blackhawks football team, was “by far the best player on that basketball team – outstanding athlete,” said coach Mike Miller, whose Bridgman team lost 57-55 to Fennville Thursday night.
“All of Bridgman’s thoughts and prayers are going toward Fennville right now,” Miller said.
Grief counselors were on hand at the high school on Friday, the Fennville School District said.
Leonard’s mother, Jocelyn, is a choir teacher at the middle and high schools and is the director of Fennville High’s production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” A scheduled performance of the musical was canceled for Friday, and it’s undecided whether there will be shows on Saturday and Sunday.
Chad VanHuis, a 21-year-old Fennville High graduate who once umpired Leonard’s middle school baseball games and was his camp counselor, heard that Leonard had collapsed as he headed into work.
During his break around 1:30 a.m., VanHuis, an assembly line worker at an auto glass factory in nearby Holland, logged on to Facebook and learned of his friend’s passing.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said VanHuis, who remembered opposing baseball coaches asking to see his birth certificate, not believing a 12-year-old could be so big and skilled.
“He was very courteous. He was the nicest kid. You’d think with his star potential, because he’s so gifted, he’d be cocky, but he never really was that way.”
On Thursday, Leonard, who earlier this season eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his high school career, laid the ball in with less than 30 seconds remaining. Bridgman wasn’t able to score during the ensuing trip down the court, giving Fennville a 20-0 season. Leonard fell to the ground after teammates and fans rushed the court.
Fennville Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer remembered Leonard as “the quintessential all-American kid.”
“He had a great grin and was always cheerful. Younger kids throughout the community looked up to him and idolized him,” Weeldreyer said. “Wes was strong and powerful. As the quarterback of our championship football team, he could throw a dart 40 yards down the field. He had the body of a linebacker, but brought the ball up the floor for our 20-0 basketball team.”
Leonard is the second Fennville athlete to die in 14 months.
Wrestler Nathaniel Hernandez, 14, died in January of last year after suffering a seizure at home following his participation in a high school wrestling match, The Holland Sentinel reported.
Fennville is about 200 miles west of Detroit.
—
Associated Press writer Mike Householder in Detroit contributed to this report.
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Comments (80)
mcellu
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:42pmbreaks my heart. Here I am complaining about a $900 ER bill b/c my kid’s nose was broken by a cheapshot in the last game of his b-ball season. Thank God that’s all I have to deal with.
Report Post »MightyBee27
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:39pmMy thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. It’s hard to imagine him being so young and leaving this earth already.
Report Post »sablegsd
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:35pmWhat a sad story. Heartbreaking.
Report Post »mdlwoods
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:27pmThoughts and prayers to his family and many friends. God chose to take one of his finest home to be with him. A reward for this young man, an earthly loss for his family. You will see him again.
Report Post »DonnaA
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:20pmThis same thing happened to my cousin Mickey. He knew he had a bad heart but loved basketball.
Report Post »Thomas Luppe died of a heart attack 1/16/1963 shooting a basket at Dayton college. He was 19 years old. My Mom & my Aunt never got over it. I think they named a award or something after him. I was a kid, but I do remember his smile. He always shared his icecream with me.
edubble21
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:08pmThis is an extremely horrible story. Thoughts and prayers are definitely with the family.
Report Post »SilentReader
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:04pmMy prayers go out to his family and friends.
Report Post »beckNcall
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:59pmVery, very sad. He might have been our next George Washington. My heart goes out to his family, friends and community. The entire nation is shocked and sadden by the loss of such a fine upstanding young man.
Report Post »powedj
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:35pmGod has taken this young man for a special purpose. There is still a George Washington out there, just like him and I hope he shows up by 2012. We can’t wait any longer.
Report Post »HUGGINGMYBABIES
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:51pmOh my…..prayers to the family and friends…..seriously as a mother, this is my biggest fear :( losing a child……..
Report Post »ares338
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:48pmWhat a fine young man. He will be missed.
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:44pmPerhaps he was smoking on the crack pipe before the game?
Performance enhancing drugs? He’s well muscled, unusually big, looks like maybe acne, all possible effects of steroids.
Report Post »Airb0rne4325
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:55pmStuff that hole in your face please. The rocks that are rattling around in your brain housing unit are disturbing my tranquillity.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:47pman expected response from a troll that frequents this site looking to cause trouble
you should be ashamed of yourself
Report Post »Beware of Romans
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:50pmSpoken like a true bitter German Nazi.
Report Post »ILUVJESUS
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 11:49pm“Leonard is the second Fennville athlete to die in 14 months.” Wha???
Report Post »The other kid died after a sports event too!
Jack007
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 10:05amOnly the lord knows why this great kid didn’t get a miracle
Report Post »Beware of Romans
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:42pmGod needed a guard for heavens basketball team.
He will have no problem earning his wings!
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:39pmOur prayers for peace, joy and comfort are going out to the family and friends affected by this terrible tragedy.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:25pmOnce, I lost a student like this young man. His dying did me in. So precious, so good, “best all round”, gracious, kind. biggest smile… I yelled at GOD over that one. It took me months to quit crying over the world’s loss of that young man and the deep sadness I felt. Somewhere in all my telling GOD, “LORD, I’ve got a list a mile long of people YOU could take out right now and we would never miss them. Why _____?” And HE answered, “Because I love _________, too, and want HIM HOME with me.” Dried up my tears on the spot. Apparently GOD loves Wes, too, and wanted him HOME. I’d bet you a root beer float that Wes and Alex are up there running around playing bb and laughing and happy to be HOME with the ONE WHO loves them so. Now, we just need GOD to fill those holes in our hearts. And HE will. HE will.
GOD BLESS Wes’ family, friends, community, school, teachers, students and adults. May GOD heal your broken hearts as you travel through these hard times.
Report Post »KarenKat
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:24pmI can’t speak to anyone as to why somehting like this should happen… But it is a reminder that none of us are promised to tomorrow or even the next moment…. I pray for the family for GOD’s comfort in this most devistating time………
Report Post »Biminy
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:24pmTruly sad for everyone. I hate to see good people taken so young.
Report Post »I saw a news story a couple of years ago of a similar story about 17 y/o football player in GA. He just dropped during a football practice. Same king of situation; bull of a kid, bright, strong and then just drops for no apparent reason. According to the Doctor of the news story, it turns out the kid had a certain kind of heart defect and the Doc said the only symptom for this heart problem is death. Everything seems normal and then the heart just goes.
Everyone in Fennville is our thoughts and prayers.
Airb0rne4325
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:51pmHelluva thing. Poor family. Hand of God punches your ticket anywhere, anytime.
Usually it’s Septal Wall Defect in the heart, and he throws a clot.
Possibly a lethal arrythmia from a sudden surge of Catecholamines, sent him into V-Fib.
Both; neither. Who the hell knows?
I pray that the family has good support in the community; give them the strength to get through this horrible time.
Report Post »WhatsUp
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:17pmGod Bless this young man, his family and friends–We pray that you will be a guardian angel for all who knew and loved you.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:11pmHow heartbreaking. I feel so very sorry for his family & friends. Father, God, please pour your blessings down upon all of these people. Show them your mercy & love.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:05pma perfect kid, who went straight Home to Heaven.
Report Post »justsaying
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 5:29pmTrue. Prayers for his family and friends
Report Post »joesample
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:03pmSo very sad. My heart breaks for his family. I hope God can bring them comfort.
Report Post »Venom
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 2:59pmIf you post something political on here, you need to turn off the computer and step outside.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 2:54pmLeonard is the second Fennville athlete to die in 14 months.
_________________________________________________
I wonder what’s going on in Fennville? My condolences to this young man’s family and friends.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:41pmAn enlarged heart is one of the primary side effects of prolonged steroid use.
Report Post »hifi74
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 7:50pmRowgue,
While that is a possibility I suppose he was a rather statuesque kid at over 6 ft tall. It seems more likely that it was a natural cause.
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 9:33pmIt’s insanely rare for a teenager to develop an enlarged heart from natural causes. The things that naturally cause an enlarged heart are things older and/or unhealthy people are afflicted with, not top notch teenage athletes.
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 2:53pmeven now I am praying for everyone affected by this tragedy. 2nd death at this school in the last 14 months….so sad. May God be their obvious comfort.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 2:55pmHow horrible for his family and fellow students!
Report Post »Thoughts and prayers go out for them.
Marylou7
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 2:51pmThis is every parent’s nightmare. Oh how my heart goes out to them. Our Lord is the only one that can bring comfort during a tragedy such as this.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 2:46pmSuch a sad story for everyone involved. Few people get to die doing something they love but this young man did. Prayer go out for his family and God speed.
Report Post »Arminianism
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 2:58pmSo very sad, we need more young men like him. My prayers go out to him and his family…
Report Post »hifi74
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:07pmMan talk about bitter sweet, He helps take his team to a perfect season, has a phenomenal scoring season and then this in what should be a moment of pride, accomplishment, and joy. I hope for the best for the family, friends, and others else involved.
Report Post »Lt_Taz
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:18pmGRANDMA, I can only add May the Lord comfort and guide his family, and may his soul and all the souls of the faitfully departed rest in peace amen.
Report Post »Creestof
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:25pmA young man loved by many dies…but first…an ad for furniture!
Don’t you all make enough money that you can at LEAST not force people to watch idiotic ads before such a serious & heartbreaking story?
Report Post »aLinedog
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:26pmWhat was it the Greeks chanted in the olde olympiad? “Die now.” As fitting as such an accolade always seemed to my romantic scholarly mind, life is already too short. Old Grim may be lofting that fell scythe above thy head even now, are you ready?
Report Post »The prayers of the penitent hold much water in the eyes of the Lord, our God.
-line
“.. chinese jet fighter…” rofl. Never saw that before it was mentioned, now I can’t stop seeing it.
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:29pmGood Lord, one of the youngest is now home with you; please we ask of you to look after the family he has left behind, and provide comfort to them with your presense during this time of grief they are going through.
Report Post »leftiesaredangerous
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:31pmDang…
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:36pmI heard on the news here locally that they found he had an enlarged heart…so sad…my thoughts and prayers go out to his community, friends and family. So young and full of life…
Report Post »Airb0rne4325
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 3:58pmPossible Takotsubo then. Rare, esp for young men, but possible.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:04pmOh great. A somber story ptrseeded by a medical marijuana ad…WTF!
Report Post »Okieflyover
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:06pmWow. No words for this. Only prayers.
God’s Speed young man. You will obviously be missed.
Report Post »chfields62
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:18pmUnfortunately, as the song says…the good die young……My deepest condolences to his family…..
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 4:23pmhow horrible for this family and this community…when death comes at a strange occurance as this…its very disheartening…my prayers also go with Leonard and his family and community…
Report Post »skinnydipinacid
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 6:57pmHow incredibly sad, especially having a family, team and fans going from such an emotional high… to an all time low.
Report Post »home_of_the_brave
Posted on March 4, 2011 at 7:22pmSomething very telling about the still photograph right before he collapsed was how bright red his hands were compared to the rest of his body. If you watch the layup in the video notice his hands were normal color. When the brain does not get enough oxygen the first thing it does is shut down the supply to the limbs, most notably the hands and feet first in order to assure the vital organs receive oxygen for as long as possible. What a terrible tragedy, my heart and prayers go out to his family.
Report Post »Rice Water
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 8:51pmThat boy is a true American Hero.
Report Post »