College Basketball Player, 18, Found Dead on Campus

Kaiden Francis, a freshman at the University of Mobile in Alabama, tragically passed away on Tuesday at the age of 18. The university’s president, Charles Smith, confirmed the news in a letter to the university community. Francis, who was a member of the school’s basketball team, collapsed during a routine skills workout and was found unresponsive.

The cause of Francis’ death has not been disclosed. The university community is mourning the loss of the young athlete, with Smith commending the swift and heroic actions of students and medical professionals who were present at the time of the incident. He expressed the university’s collective grief, stating, “our hearts are heavy as we process this tragedy.”

In response to the tragic event, the university suspended classes on Wednesday and held a vigil in Francis’ honor. Additionally, the university postponed its Wednesday and upcoming Saturday basketball games.

Smith shared his personal connection with Francis, stating that he and his family had the privilege of watching Francis play just a week prior to his death. He described Francis as a profoundly gifted player who was loved by his teammates. He also asked for prayers for Francis’ family, coaches, and teammates, who are grappling with the loss.

Francis, a 6-foot-2 guard from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had shown promise in his freshman season, averaging 5.5 points on 42.4 percent shooting over six games. He had a career-best performance in his last game on November 16 against Life University, scoring 10 points.

The University of Mobile, a private Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences university, has a basketball team that was ranked 24th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics coaches’ poll as of November 13.

Kathy Dean, a spokesperson for the university, confirmed that Francis had recently passed a series of health screenings, including heart and lung evaluations, with no indications of health concerns.

Darnell Archey, the coach of the basketball team, expressed his grief over Francis’ death on social media. He praised Francis’ positive energy and potential on the court, stating that his loss would be deeply felt by the team and the university community.

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