Zeke Upshaw, a 26-year old swingman for the G League's Grand Rapids Drive, has reportedly passed away today, just two days after he collapsed on the court near the end of a game.
The Drive, an affiliate of the Detroit Pistons, shared a statement from Upshaw's mother, in which she explains that her son died Monday morning after "continued efforts from the medical team at Spectrum Health" in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“After continued efforts from the medical team at Spectrum Health, Zeke made his transition at 11:16 am. To family, friends, teammates, coaches, fans & confidants, thank you for your prayers and support during this most difficult time,” said Upshaw’s mother, Jewel, via Twitter.
“Details of his memorial will be announced at a later date. We’d like to thank the many doctors and nurses at Spectrum Health for their efforts in caring for our son. We’d also like to thank the Drive for the support they have extended to our family.”
"The Drive family is mourning the tragic loss of Zeke Upshaw. He had a warm personality and was a tremendous representative of our organization both on and off the court. Our thoughts are with all of Zeke’s family and friends during this difficult time," said the Grand Rapids Drive.
Upshaw, who played three seasons at Illinois State and one year at Hofstra, collapsed to the floor on Saturday night with less than a minute remaining in the team's regular season finale against the Long Island Nets. According to ESPN, he scored 11 points and helped the Drive earn a playoff spot with a 101-99 victory in his final game.