Connors State College sophomore Ethan Dietz has died from injuries sustained during a basketball game last Saturday in Texas, the school announced Tuesday. The 6-foot-8 forward from Vilonia, Arkansas, was injured in the second half of the contest.
While the exact cause is still under investigation, a college spokesperson indicated that initial reports suggest Dietz suffered a head injury. He had played 20 minutes in the game, recording eight points and four rebounds before the incident occurred.
In a statement, the college remembered Dietz as a player who “exemplified what it means to be a Cowboy, to value hard work and being part of a team.” The school community is grieving the loss, with several men’s and women’s basketball games subsequently canceled.
Dietz was averaging 11 points per game this season. A vigil in his honor is scheduled for December 1st at the college’s campus in Warner, Oklahoma, as the campus community mourns the tragic loss of the young athlete.
By James Kisoo
