Josh Level, a top high school basketball prospect from Greensboro, N.C., collapsed on the court during a timeout on Tuesday night and never got up. After being transported to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, the junior at New Garden Friends High School died. He was 17.
The circumstances of his death are still unknown to the public.
“We called 911 immediately, and a nurse gave him artificial respiration,” Simon Johnson, CEO of Quality Education Academy, told The Greensboro News & Record. “We’re very saddened by what happened.”
Level, a 6-foot-5 guard, was considered one of the state's top prospects for the Class of 2014. He'd been reported to have drawn scholarship offers or attention from programs like Oklahoma State, Charlotte, Wake Forest and N.C. State.
"My heart is so heavy for that young kid. This is a huge eye-opener for me personally. Put issues aside and enjoy the game. #RIPJoshLevel," N.C. State freshman Rodney Purvis, a North Carolina native, tweeted on Tuesday night.
In a recent interview with the basketball website BallisLife, Level's passion for the game was evident.
"Most guys lack … hustle and heart and desire to be out there," Level said into the camera. "To play this game, you have to have a lot of heart."
