loosekanen

February 21st, 2013 at 3:56 AM ^

Damn. Folks from the Indianapolis area immediately think of John Stewart, a Lawrence North/UK commit who died on the court in a similar manner. Just tragic. Really hurts to even think about it. Can't imagine how his family feels.

Blerg

February 21st, 2013 at 9:20 AM ^

Yes. I was in elementary school at the time of John's passing. Even as a little kid I noticed how it shook the whole Indianapolis area, just as I'm sure Josh's passing will shake his community. RIP to both John and Josh. Incredibly sad.

Rather be on BA

February 21st, 2013 at 9:18 AM ^

Tragic, RIP Josh. 

ECG stress testing should really become a required part of the physical for participation in high school sports.  Very easy to do, not that expensive, and can save lives.

WeisstheHutt

February 21st, 2013 at 4:01 PM ^

There's a lot of debate in the medical community about cardiac testing prior to high school sports. No countries that I know of do exercise ECG  - it may help identify a few exercise induced arrhythmias but otherwise probably isn't practical and might miss a lot of other things.  Italy has for years been doing standard resting ECG's.  It's pretty good at identifying hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (probably the number one reason athletes die during competition) and can identify prolonged QT.  Downside on ECG screening is false positives requiring additional potentially unnecessary testing.  A couple years go a large hospital in the detroit area (not UM) offered free 5 minute echo screening to look for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - our feeling was that this could provide a false sense of security because it could miss other potential causes. I do that we should be doing better at identifying at risk athletes before these tragic events occur. 

LSAClassOf2000

February 21st, 2013 at 9:44 AM ^

"I've been kind of overlooked and I just want to prove people wrong. That is my motivation. It's hard because I'm the middle child of seven, and it's hard to be away from family [at a boarding school]. You have to get it again. You have to do that in college, so I might as well start early." - Level, in an interview

It is very, very sad that he will not have this opportunity. Thoughts and condolences to his family and community.

Wettin 3's

February 21st, 2013 at 12:31 PM ^

Josh is from my hometown and I have a few friends that have played basketball with him in the past. He goes to school just down the street from my house. Sad to hear such a tragic story, thoughts and prayers go out to the boy's family!

WMU81

February 21st, 2013 at 12:49 PM ^

A lot of schools here in West Michigan are incouraging ecg's for young atheletes along with a regular physical.. Its a painless procedure and take a few minutes.. I would recommend it to all kids that are in any kind of an aerobic sport..