Pittsburgh Teen Dead After Collapsing At School Basketball Practice

PITTSBURGH, PA — A freshman basketball player at Imani Christian School collapsed at practice and later died.

The school and surrounding community is mourning the sudden death of Jaiquawn Jay, 14, of Penn Hills.

Jaiquawn collapsed during practice Tuesday and later was pronounced dead at UPMC Children's Hospital in Lawrenceville. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office has yet to release a cause of death.

Imani Christian basketball coach Khayree Wilson provided this statement to WTAE-TV: "Our Imani family and 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. This loss will sit heavily on our hearts for a long time.”

The nearby Woodland Hills School District boys' basketball team offered its condolences in a social media post.

"Our hearts are with the entire Imani Christian Academy basketball family for the loss of one of your own. No team should ever have to experience this kind of pain," the team stated in a Facebook post.

"We stand with you in love, strength, and solidarity. To the player’s family, friends, teammates, and coaches — we are lifting you up during this unimaginable time.

"May his memory live on both on and off the court."

Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.