Steve McElvene, University Of Dayton Basketball Standout, Dead At 20

University of Dayton basketball player Steve McElvene died Thursday morning at 20 years old after collapsing at his family’s home.

“We are devastated at this news,” McElvene’s coach, Archie Miller, wrote in an issued statement. “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.”

Both the university and the Allen County (Indiana) Coroners Office confirmed McElvene’s death, according to Dayton Daily News. And while the results of the autopsy are not yet known, local news outlet WANE-TV has stated that the cause of death is believed to be an enlarged heart.

McElvene was a standout defender for Dayton. In his first year on the court for the Flyers, the 6-foot-11-inch center set a program record with 55 blocks, also tallying 6.1 points per game at a 61 percent shooting clip.

Just this week, per WANE, the 20-year-old had returned to his old high school in New Haven, Connecticut, to meet with “academically at-risk students, relaying how he was able to turn his life around” after academic struggles forced him to sit out the 2014-2015 basketball season.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to Steve’s family,” Miller added. “My family, our team and our staff will have to pull together, not only in support of Steve’s family, but in support of each other at this terrible time.”