Bremen Students And Staff Play In Honor Of Basketball Player Who Died

OAK FOREST, IL — Bremen High School students and staff came together Friday to raise and donate money for a senior athlete at the school who died in February.

Cameran Wheatley died Feb. 8 after collapsing following a basketball game at Chicago High School for Agricultural Studies. While the 17-year-old's cause of death has still not been released, family told reporters the boy did not have any pre-existing health conditions.

Wheatley's death was a "tragic loss" for the Bremen High School community, a spokeswoman wrote in a statement Friday, which is why school officials chose to dedicate the proceeds from the annual student vs. staff basketball game to Wheatley's family.

The annual game did not take place the past two years due to COVID-19 restrictions. The tradition includes one team of teachers or staff playing against one team of students during the school day.

Students purchased tickets to leave during the last class period on Friday and watch the game.

Following Friday's game, Bremen students had raised $1,300 for Wheatley's family. In addition to the money, those close to Cameran said playing in his honor helped them remember the best things about him.

"Even though it's been over two months, I love that we are still talking about him," said Charles Parrish, one of Cameran's friends who coached the student team during Friday's event.
He loved this sport, it was his passion. We will forever be saying, 'Long live Cam.'"

Yasmeen Sheikah, a spokeswoman for District 228, told Patch almost 400 students and staff attended the nail-biter match which ended with a score of 33 to 32 for a teacher team win.

Dimetris Gayden, a junior at Bremen High School and Wheatley's cousin, said the money and support meant a lot to him.

"It's been hard, but this is the first time in a while I genuinely smiled," Gayden said. "I appreciate everyone that came, it made my day, and means a lot knowing it’s going to my family."