Family and officials say that a Louisiana High School basketball student passed away during a pickup basketball game at a community court in Morgan City, Louisiana, on April 17.
Brandon Sterling, 18, was a senior at Assumption High School in Napoleonville, Louisiana, 50 miles south of Baton Rouge. Sterling planned to graduate high school this year before his life was tragically cut short.
According to Brandon’s mother, Darnisha Sterling, Brandon hit his head hard on the concrete and started to have seizures. “They said he hit his head on the concrete and he started to seizure,” Darnisha said. “They said he was shaking real bad.”
Afterward, Darnisha said Brandon remained on the court for “up to 30 minutes” after taking that hard hit to the head and falling. Upon an ambulance arrival, Brandon Sterling was taken to Ochsner St. Mary Hospital in Morgan City, where he was pronounced dead.
According to his mother, Sterling had no pre-existing conditions and was in perfect health. “He was so active,” she said. “I don’t know what happened.”
Darnisha Sterling is still waiting on autopsy results from the medical examiner because she is searching for answers to what happened to her son. Law enforcement has ruled out foul play as a cause of death for Brandon.
Morgan City police Captain Betty Augman said Brandon’s death is still under investigation.
“We are doing our due diligence to investigate what happened to the young man and family,” Augman said. “We don’t suspect any foul play. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family at this time.”
Brandon was not only a great athlete but had aspirations of entering the medical field to follow in the footsteps of his mother, attending Nicholls State University as well.
“I never heard anyone say a bad word about him. He stayed out of trouble and looked after his brothers. I appreciate everybody that has been reaching out to me. It’s good to know how loved my baby was- I just want my baby back,” Darnisha said.
“He was the best kid,” she told the outlet. “He was a jack of all trades who was good at basketball and football. He could dance. He was good at everything. Sterling even had a high school basketball recruiting profile on the “Next College Student Athlete” website.
Sterling has a personal statement on his profile about who he is, what type of athlete he is, and why he loves the game.
“I’ve always liked a challenge, and when I play basketball, I will always find a challenge for me,” the statement says. “(You) can count on me because I will always go above and beyond trying to better myself and my teammates. This is more than a sport to me; it’s my life.”
He also wrote on his profile that his favorite player was Kevin Durant and that he wanted to be able to match or surpass KD’s talent. “I hope to be like and better than him one day, and I’m pushing to make that come true,” he wrote.
According to his obituary, sterling leaves behind his parents, five siblings, and tons of aunts, uncles, and many relatives.
Brandon may be gone, but he’s leaving a lasting impact on his friends, family, and others.
