Former University of Louisville Player Marvin Stone Dies

I hope I never have cause to write such heartbreaking posts again  - especially back to back.  What an unbelievable week this has been.I’m sure you remember Marvin “Tree” Stone - the 6-foot-10 center who played at UK before transferring to U of L. 

Marvin became sick during halftime of a semifinal game on Tuesday night, April 1, while playing for Ittihad Jeddah in Saudi Arabia’s professional Elite Cup, according to eurobasket.com.  

A teammate (and former NBA player), Mahmoud Abdul-RaufAbdul-Rauf said Ittihad’s coach was talking to the team Tuesday in the locker room at Jiddah’s Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium at halftime against Ohud when Stone “started sliding down from the bench” and soon “was on the floor.”

“At first I think people thought he was having a seizure,” he said.  “We put him on the floor. I was rubbing his head trying to calm him down and some people were pouring water on his face. Then some five or six guys picked him up and put him in an SUV and they drove him off.”

Marvin was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.  He was only 26 years old.

Abdul-Rauf told the English-language Arab News newspaper that there wasn’t a physician on hand at the sports complex during the game.  He urged Saudi sports authorities to look into the situation and “provide professional care” at sports facilities like “the rest of the world does.”

26 years old.  I’m sure everyone will forgive me for punctuating that with a damn.