KG-MVP21

TOLEDO, Ohio -- Toledo basketball player Haris Charalambous died Monday after collapsing during conditioning practice.

Trainers performed CPR on Charalambous until paramedics arrived. The 21-year-old backup center was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, university spokesman Lawrence Burns said.

The cause of death was not immediately known.

"The players are devastated," Burns said. "This has been a shock to our entire athletic program and university."

Charalambous, a junior from Manchester, England, was expected to come off the bench this season. He played 23 games last season, averaging less than a point per game.

The workout had just started and the players were doing some light running when Charalambous collapsed on the court.

Burns said he didn't know if Charalambous showed any signs of distress. He also did not know if the player had any past health problems.

"We won't speculate until the autopsy is completed," he said.

Coach Stan Joplin, who was recruiting in Arizona on Monday, cut short his trip to return to the school. Players met with assistant coaches after Charalambous was pronounced dead.

Charalambous attended the Hun School -- a prep school in Princeton, N.J. -- in 2003-04. In England, he was captain of the junior national team and played with the Manchester Magic in the senior men's league.



Just suck, bless u Haris :(