Social media erupted with grieving posts after 17-year-old Caleb White of Pinson Valley High School in Alabama died suddenly after collapsing on the court while playing the game he loved.
Many people have spoken out about how unusual and abnormal it is for young, healthy athletes to suddenly die of cardiac arrest. It is estimated that only 1 in 10,000 young people (ages 1 to 34) usually experience cardiac arrest each year. This means roughly 2,000 young people in the United States may experience cardiac arrest each year. (Poll: Are You Concerned About the Direction of the Country? VOTE)
White was rushed to the hospital around 1:15 p.m., but doctors were unable to revive him.
Caleb was ranked number 3 in Alabama and number 43 in the entire country, according to ESPN. His grandfather, George Varnadoe Jr., announced the tragic news on Facebook.
Caleb White, 17-year-old No. 3 high school basketball player in Alabama, dies after collapsing on court https://t.co/uHjP4NPz3o pic.twitter.com/9VVOkFbqbu
— New York Post (@nypost) August 11, 2023
“At 17, he was dead!!!!” Varnadoe wrote in a grieving social media post. White was an honor student and known by friends and family for being “very respectful, highly intellect, an excellent role model, and a phenomenal basketball player.” (Trending: Democrat Threatens To Leave Party In Scathing Statement)
“Our whole family was really looking forward to his upcoming senior season and afterwards, playing for a D-1 school and then perhaps the NBA,” Varnadoe wrote. “But…..it wasn’t meant to be.”
“Gonna miss you Caleb White,” one person wrote.
🚨 JUST IN: Youth basketball star Caleb White is DEAD after collapsing during a workout at school
The 17 year old was a top 25 high school basketball star in the country. The Alabama’s number two high school player was pronounced dead at a local hospital on Thursday.
His cause… pic.twitter.com/LSNONuNYP0
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) August 11, 2023
“You see, everything that happens, happens on time, because God wouldn’t allow it to happen, if it wasn’t on time. And so it was with Caleb. We all have an appointment with God, one that you can’t reschedule.”
The Jefferson County Coroner has yet to determine the cause of death, but it is suspected to be cardia arrest.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Caleb’s family, his classmates and basketball team and extended school family,” AHSAA executive director Alvin Briggs said. (Poll: Should Athletes Kneel During National Anthem? VOTE)
“He was an outstanding student-athlete who played in the North-South All-Star Basketball Game last month. He was an outstanding student-athlete and role model.”
