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Ohio college basketball player dies in Indiana

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN/WANE) –  The Allen County Coroner’s Office confirmed Thursday that University of Dayton Basketball player Steve McElvene has died.

McElvene died at 11:19 a.m. Thursday according to the coroner.  An autopsy will be performed Thursday and results will be available following that.

The president of the University of Dayton Dan Curran sent a statement Thursday to students, faculty and staff. Curran said, “I am writing to share the sad news of the death of a member of our campus community. Steve McElvene, a second-year student and member of the men’s basketball team, passed away Thursday in his hometown of New Haven, Indiana.”

“We extend our deepest sympathy and prayers to his family, friends, professors, teammates, coaches and our entire campus community,” Curran said.

Men’s basketball coach Archie Miller said: “We are devastated at this news. Any death is a tragedy, but for someone so young who worked so hard to have his dreams within reach, it’s hard to put into words how painful this is.”

UD says Campus Ministry will be scheduling a prayer service for Steve McElvene.

Multiple coaches told WANE-TV in Fort Wayne that McElvene collapsed around 11 a.m. on Thursday. Glenn Marini from our sister station WANE in Fort Wayne writes an enlarged heart is suspected as the cause of death. The Allen County coroner confirmed 11:19 a.m. as McElvene’s time of death.

McElvene had just visited New Haven High School earlier this week to speak to a class of academically at-risk students, relaying how he was able to turn his life around.

McElevene sat out his freshman season (2014-15) at Dayton due to academics but worked to improve. At 6-foot-11, he arrived at Dayton weighing over 300 pounds but dropped sixty pounds to begin the 2015-16 season listed at 268.McElvene attended New Haven High School in Indiana as a junior and senior after moving from Alabama. As a senior he averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks a game.

As a freshman he set the Dayton single-season record for blocks with 55. He averaged 6.1 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Flyers.

Social media responded quickly.

McElvene, a Freshman for the 2015-16 season, played Center for the Flyers. According to the team’s website, he averaged 6.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. McElvene set Dayton’s single-season record for block with 55, passing Chris Wright.