A 12-year-old hoops star died during an all-star basketball game over the weekend, the Atlanta Journal-Constitutional reports.
Jeremy Nelson “was having a heck of a game” according to his coach, Bryan Larrieu, before he pulled up after missing a shot during the Saturday night game. Larrieu took Nelson out of the game. But he slipped in and out of consciousness soon as he sat on the bench. He was rushed to a local hospital where he later died.
There is no known cause of death at this point.
The 6-foot player was well-respected at Budford Middle School, according to schools superintendent Dr. Geye S. Hamby.
“Jeremy was a very kind young man and an excellent student athlete,” Hamby told the Journal-Constitution. “Jeremy had a presence in the hallways and on the court. He was a young man that always shared kindness with others and one that the students enjoyed being around. His very pleasant demeanor will be missed by all.”
“He was just a wonderful kid, said DeMarcus Irons, who coached Jeremy when he was 10, and has known him since he was 8 years old. “It’s a big loss. He represented everything good we were trying to do with these kids,” in the league.
The boy’s father, Herb Wilson, told CBS Atlanta that his son received annual physicals and had no known health issues. “When it’s your time – your number comes up,” Herb Nelson said. “I would have traded places a thousand times with my son. You can’t run from your time.”
All of Nelson’s siblings play basketball. His twin sister, Jessica, plays basketball for Buford’s seventh-grade team. And his older sister, Kristina, a senior on the Buford high school team, recently signed to play with Notre Dame.
