Sports
Top HS Basketball Prospect From Charlotte Dies At Virginia Event
James Hampton, 17, from the Charlotte AAU program Team United, collapsed Saturday night at a Nike Elite Youth Basketball League event.
HAMPTON, VA — A top basketball recruit from Charlotte, North Carolina, collapsed on the court and died during a Nike basketball event in Hampton, Virginia, according to news reports. James Hampton, a senior at Liberty Heights Athletic Institute and member of the Charlotte AAU program Team United, collapsed during a game against Nike Phamily Saturday night, team director Jacoby Davis told the News and Observer.
The game was part of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League event, held at the Boo Williams Sports Complex. Hampton had been running when he looked at a referee, said, “Hey, ref,” and collapsed, Davis told the newspaper.
The teen seemed to be unconscious when medical workers ran over to him. They gave him chest compressions as Hampton's team gathered at the team's bench, the newspaper reported.
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RIP to James Hampton who passed away after collapsing during an EYBL game yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and teammates @teamunitedhoops pic.twitter.com/Ek1SDjgEHJ
— Overtime (@overtime) May 27, 2018
“He just fell down on the floor,”Davis told the newspaper. “He had seizures a year ago and I remember (one of the Team United coaches) telling me that, ‘I saw his eyes rolling back in his head.’ I ran on the court thinking he was having a seizure. A trainer came over and said he didn’t know what was wrong. Another trainer checked his pulse. He said he didn’t have a pulse. It got crazy after that.”
Hampton was a Class of 2019 basketball prospect, CBS Sports reported.
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Team United wanted to play their game Sunday in Hampton's honor, the newspaper reported.
Deepest condolences for the young man and his family. No words...
— Nike Phamily EYBL™ (@PhxPhamily) May 27, 2018
Sad news from Hampton, Virginia tonight and the Nike EYBL. James Hampton passed away during the game and was only 17yrs old. Prayers up to his family and Team United family. No parent sends their kid to an AAU tournament never to see them alive again. Devastating R.I.P kid! pic.twitter.com/vWtyx0Kreg
— Brandon Bender (@BrandonBenderB5) May 27, 2018
Photo credit: Shutterstock / pittaya46
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