A Pittsburgh high school has paid tribute to a 14-year-old student who died after he collapsed during basketball practice.
Per WTAE, the teen, identified as Jaiquawn Jay, was a student at Imani Christian Academy. The fatal November 18 incident occurred inside the school gym, and Jay collapsed around 7:30 p.m., the medical examiner’s report stated.
“Jaiquawn became unresponsive while taking a break during basketball practice and later died en route to Children’s Hospital,” an email that was sent to Imani Christian Academy families stated, KDKA reported.
A day after his passing, the school changed its morning schedule to allow students and staff to properly deal with the fatal incident. Counselors were also around to offer support.
READ ALSO: Teen athlete dies after collapsing at practice, twin brother hospitalized
“Last night– our Imani family and the East Side community lost a truly special young man, Jaiquawn Jay. Jaiquawn was an incredible kid-hard-working, respectful, and built with a quiet toughness that set him apart,” Imani Christian’s Head Basketball Coach, Khayree Wilson, said in a statement. “This loss will sit heavily on our hearts for a long time.”
Other neighboring school districts also offered words of support to the Imani Christian Academy basketball family.
“From our basketball family to yours. Our hearts are with the entire Imani Christian Academy basketball family for the loss of one of their own. No team should ever have to experience this kind of pain,” Woodland Hills High School shared in a social media post.
A GoFundMe set up to help raise funds for Jay’s family states that the deceased teen “played baseball, soccer football for the hornets in Wilkinsburg for 4yrs.” The fundraiser adds that Jay’s favorite color was “teal blue,” and he was the “youngest of three other brothers” who are aged “35,31 and 30.”
