Unfortunately, Bo Kimble has been down this road before. Fortunately, though, he may be able to provide some wisdom for a high school basketball team as it goes through losing a teammate.
The Fennville (MI) High School boy's basketball team will meet with Kimble as they try to cope with the recent death of 16-year-old teammate Wes Leonard. He passed away shortly after collapsing on the court last week just moments after hitting a game-winning shot to cap off a 20-0 regular season for Fennville.
Kimble is no stranger to the scenario. He was a teammate and good friend of Hank Gathers who tragically died after collapsing on the court while playing for Loyola Marymount in a 1990 college basketball game.
"I 100 percent understand what they're going through," Kimble said on ESPN's First Take on Monday.
"You never really get over it," Kimble said at a news conference prior to Monday night's game. "I want to help give them some advice on how to cope."
When asked what Kimble would say to the team as he addresses them before the state playoff game on Monday night, Kimble said that he will be sure to emphasize that Leonard should be remembered for all of the great things he did, despite having his life cut short.
"[I'm going to] just try to help them look at all of the great things that they love and respect of Wes Leonard instead of the tragedy and loss of him," Kimble said. "Just know that America, our foundation and myself, want to give support and honor his legacy. We're going to keep his name in the forefront as we do Hank Gathers' to solve this problem."
The foundation that Kimble mentions is the 44 for Life foundation that helps raise awareness for heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest.
Both Gathers and Leonard died as a result of heart ailments.
