Robert Garza, a Texas high school basket player, collapses and dies on the court
A South Texas high school lost a budding star on Saturday, after 16-year-old Robert Garza collapsed during a game at an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) tournament in Austin.
The young and energetic Garza lost his battle with life, just after taking a sip of water during the break.
His sullen death comes at a time, when Texas was already trying to recover from the tragedy of losing another 16-year-old, Wes Leonard, who died after making a game-winning
shot on March 3. Leonard had died because of a sudden cardiac arrest.
Garza was a dazzling player for the Hoopsters, a South Texas club team. His sudden death came as a big shock for the management and the players and they are still finding
it difficult to come to term with it. Hoopster coach Arnold Martinez told the reporters that Garza’s physical condition before the game was apparently normal and he gave no indication of any discomfort.
"During pregame warm-ups, he was dunking the ball and laughing with his teammates. Everything looked good," Martinez stated. Garza was immediately taken to the Austin's
Brackenridge Hospital, where he was articulated dead by the Paramedics administrator. The cause of his death is still unknown.
Garza's high school coach, Abelardo Escobar was speechless on the death of one of the most fantastic product of his school.
"Robert was a great, great human being," Escobar said. "I am very, very sad. The Lord asked for an angel to come to Him today. He took care of his body. He ate all the right
things. I do not know how else to explain it."
Garza’s school teammate Carlos Gonzalez told the reporters that he was caring and friendly towards everyone in the school. Besides being a great basketball player, he was
a player with kind heart. He had a vast social network of great friends.
"He was quiet, but once you got to know him, he was fine. ... He inspired many people, many young guys. I'm going to miss everything about him," said Gonzalez.
The late Garza used to be the heartthrob of his friends, who now stand side-by-side with his grieving family. They are collecting money along with the coaches to help Garza’s
family in funeral arrangements.
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