The brother of Wes Leonard, the Michigan high school basketball star who died minutes after hitting a game-winning layup to preserve a perfect season, collected a trophy on his behalf after his late sibling's team claimed a thrilling victory in a state district championship, the Holland Sentinel reported Saturday.
Mitchell Leonard, 13, accepted the Class C trophy amid chants of "Wesley Leonard" in front of 3,614 people inside DeVos Fieldhouse after the Fennville High Blackhawks overturned a 10-point deficit to defeat Covert 51-48.
"It was an emotional moment, knowing that he was up there watching us," said Mitchell, who was invited onto the court by the Fennville players. "They're like brothers to me now. They always will be. Just like family."
Senior Adam Siegel added, "It felt right. If Wes was here, he'd be the one picking up the trophy."
The 16-year-old died March 3 after suffering cardiac arrest amid postgame celebrations, shortly after his game-winning shot in overtime secured his team a 20-0 regular season.
An autopsy the next day found that his death was caused by an enlarged heart, a condition he had unknowingly lived with for years. Around 2,000 people gathered last Tuesday in Holland, Mich., for his funeral.
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