Former Louisville, Kentucky player dies

[Gerk]

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (April 1) - Former Kentucky and Louisville basketball player Marvin Stone died Tuesday after collapsing during halftime of a game in Saudi Arabia. He was 26.

Louisville spokesman Kenny Klein said Stone died of an apparent heart attack. Stone had signed a contract with Ittihad Jeddah earlier in the week and was playing in the team's Elite Cup semifinal game when he fell ill.

Stone's agent, Hirant Manakian, said Stone was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Stone was a McDonald's All-American at Grissom High in Huntsville, Ala., where he was named Mr. Basketball in 1999. He spent three seasons at Kentucky before transferring to Louisville, where he averaged 10.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots during his senior year in 2002-03.

"It really saddens all of us at U of L to see a young man like Marvin lose his life at such a young age," Louisville coach Rick Pitino said in a statement. "Our deepest sympathies go out to the Stone family."

[uva3021]

damn i remember him