Jason Collier
Encyclopedia
Jason Jeffrey Collier was an American
professional basketball
player in the NBA. At death, the tall center
Collier weighed 250 pounds (113.4 kg). He was the first active NBA player to die since Malik Sealy
in 2000.
Collier led Catholic Central High School of his hometown Springfield, Ohio
to the 1996 Ohio State Basketball Championship, for which he was named 1996 Ohio Mr. Basketball
. After transferring from Indiana
, he completed his college career at Georgia Tech
and was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks
with the 15th overall pick of the 2000 NBA Draft
. He was traded on draft day to the Houston Rockets
in exchange for their pick, Joel Przybilla
. He then played for the Rockets and the Atlanta Hawks
, averaging 5.6 points per game over his career.
During the NBA off-season, Collier died suddenly at the age of 28 on October 15, 2005 in Cumming, Georgia
. His autopsy indicated that he died because of a "sudden heart rhythm disturbance caused by an abnormally enlarged heart." The Georgia
's chief medical examiner, Dr. Kris Sperry, said Collier's heart "was above the accepted limits, even for a man of his size", and said the organ was about one and a half times the size it should have been. It was reported that he experienced shortness of breath before losing consciousness. Medical treatment was performed by emergency medical technician
s, but Collier died en route to the hospital.
The Hawks wore permanent black shoulder patches on their uniforms to honor Collier.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player in the NBA. At death, the tall center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
Collier weighed 250 pounds (113.4 kg). He was the first active NBA player to die since Malik Sealy
Malik Sealy
Malik Sealy was an American professional basketball player, active from 1992 until his death in an automobile accident at the age of 30...
in 2000.
Collier led Catholic Central High School of his hometown Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northeast of Dayton. Springfield is home to Wittenberg...
to the 1996 Ohio State Basketball Championship, for which he was named 1996 Ohio Mr. Basketball
Ohio Mr. Basketball
This is a list of players who have won the title of Ohio Mr. Basketball.There are actually two awards, one awarded by the Associated Press, and one awarded by the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association.-Associated Press Mr. Basketball:...
. After transferring from Indiana
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
, he completed his college career at Georgia Tech
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
and was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
with the 15th overall pick of the 2000 NBA Draft
2000 NBA Draft
The 2000 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2000 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Until 2011, it was the last draft held at the home arena of an NBA team; the following and subsequent drafts have all taken place at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. This draft is...
. He was traded on draft day to the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
in exchange for their pick, Joel Przybilla
Joel Przybilla
Joel Przybilla is an American professional basketball player. A 7'1" center, he last played for the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA.- High school career :...
. He then played for the Rockets and the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
, averaging 5.6 points per game over his career.
During the NBA off-season, Collier died suddenly at the age of 28 on October 15, 2005 in Cumming, Georgia
Cumming, Georgia
Cumming is a city in Forsyth County, Georgia, United States. The population was 5,430 at the 2010 census. However, places with a Cumming mailing address have a population of around 100,000...
. His autopsy indicated that he died because of a "sudden heart rhythm disturbance caused by an abnormally enlarged heart." The Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
's chief medical examiner, Dr. Kris Sperry, said Collier's heart "was above the accepted limits, even for a man of his size", and said the organ was about one and a half times the size it should have been. It was reported that he experienced shortness of breath before losing consciousness. Medical treatment was performed by emergency medical technician
Emergency medical technician
Emergency Medical Technician or Ambulance Technician are terms used in some countries to denote a healthcare provider of emergency medical services...
s, but Collier died en route to the hospital.
The Hawks wore permanent black shoulder patches on their uniforms to honor Collier.