High school basketball player dies during pick-up game, Louisiana officials say

An 18-year-old high school basketball player died during a pickup game at a community court in Morgan City, Louisiana, on Sunday, April 17, according to his family and local officials.

The young man, Brandon Sterling, was a senior at Assumption High School in Napoleonville, Louisiana, according to a post on the high school’s Facebook page. Napoleonville is about 50 miles south of Baton Rouge.

Sterling’s mother, Darnisha Sterling, told the Daily Comet that her son was going to graduate high school this year.

“He was the best kid,” she told the outlet. “... He was a jack of all trades who was good at basketball and football. He could dance. He was good at everything.”

Officials at Assumption High School and Assumption Parish Schools did not return requests for comment from McClatchy News. Attempts to reach Sterling’s family were unsuccessful.

In a post on the Assumption High School Facebook page, administrators asked for prayers to Sterling’s family.

“Our hearts are broken,” the post says. “We love you! We will miss you dearly.”

Police said the results of an autopsy are pending, but they do not believe foul play was involved, Morgan City Police Lt. John Schaff told McClatchy News.

Sterling leaves behind his parents, five siblings and many aunts, uncles, grandparents and other relatives, according to his obituary.

Sterling’s mother told the Daily Comet that her son was healthy and had no pre-existing medical conditions.

“He was so active,” she told the outlet. “I don’t know what happened.”

In a personal statement on his basketball recruiting profile on the Next College Student Athlete website, Sterling described his love of the sport.

“I’ve always liked a challenge and when I play basketball I will always find a challenge for me,” the statement says. “(You) can count on me because I will always go above and beyond trying to better myself and my teammates. This is more than a sport to me, it’s my life.”

He wrote that his favorite player was Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets, and that he admired him.

“I hope to be like and better than him one day and I’m pushing to make that come true,” he wrote.

This story was originally published April 20, 2022 at 2:07 PM with the headline "High school basketball player dies during pick-up game, Louisiana officials say."