Steve McElvene Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Steve McElvene Dead Dies

(Getty)

A 20-year-old basketball center at the University of Dayton collapsed and died at his family’s home in Fort Wayne, Indiana on the morning of May 12. According to the Dayton Daily News, center Steve McElvene is thought to have died of an enlarged heart, although an autopsy is still pending.

Here’s what you need to know:


1. He Was in Town to Speak to At-Risk Students at His Former High School

WANE reports that McElvene was in New Haven, Indiana, to speak to a class of at-risk students at his former high school. The station says that he had been “relaying how he was able to turn his life around.”

McElvene had attended New Haven High School in his junior and senior years after he moved to Indiana from Alabama. According to his Facebook page, he was a native of Indiana and moved to Alabama in 2005. WANE reports that in his senior year, McElvene hit an average of 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.

ESPN had rated him as the 40th best center in the country and the ninth-best player in Indiana for the 2014 class.


2. McElvene Missed Games in 2016 Due to Illness

(Getty)

(Getty)

He joined the University of Dayton in 2014 but sat out the season due to his academic performance. In his freshman year, McElevene set a new record for blocks at the school with 55 while averaging 6.1 points and 5.6 rebounds, according to his official profile. The Dayton Daily News reported in February 2016, McElvene sat out a February 2016 game with George Mason due to an undisclosed illness.

His coach at Dayton, Archie Miller, said about McElevene’s passing, “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. Our hearts and prayers go out to Steve’s family. My family, but in support of each other at this terrible time.”


3. There’s Been an Outpouring of Emotion on Twitter as Friends & Fans Mourn McElvene

This Post was deleted by the Post author. Learn more

As the tragic news of McElvene’s death spread, his name became a national trending topic on Twitter. Here are some of the most poignant messages of mourning:

You’re unable to view this Post because this account owner limits who can view their Posts. Learn more

https://twitter.com/J_Mitch5/status/730812389151678464/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw


4. He Was a Discover Arts Major at the University & Went by the Nickname ‘Big Steve’

Steve McElvene Funeral

(Getty)

On his official profile at the University of Dayton’s website it says that McElvene was Discover Arts major at the school. The bio mentions that he went by the nickname “Big Steve” in college. He’s survived by his parents, James and Jenell Shoals as well as his younger siblings, Escarvar and Trayshawn.


5. An Enlarged Heart in an Athlete Is Sometimes Referred to as ‘Athletic Heart Syndrome’

Graphic footage above. Enlarged hearts among athletes are sometimes referred to as “athletic heart syndrome.” McElvene’s death comes less than a week after Cameroonian soccer player Patrick Ekeng died on the field in Romania after suffering from a suspected enlarged heart.