BLUEFIELD, WV (WVNS) — Students and staff at Bluefield State College are mourning the loss of a student athlete after he suddenly collapsed and died during an open gym basketball game, according to school officials. 

25-year-old, Timeyin Amatossero-Keke passed away Monday. He was attending an open gym Monday night at Bluefield High school with his teammates. After finishing a play, he sat down to retie his shoes and suddenly collapsed. Teammates rushed him to Bluefield Regional Medical Center where efforts to revive him failed and he later passed away. 

Officials said Timeyin was a sophomore from Lagos, Nigeria, and had a passion for the school’s basketball program and his teammates.  

The following was posted to the Big Blues Men’s Basketball Facebook page: “It is with a heavy heart this morning that we ask for prayers for our basketball and athletic family. Last night we tragically lost one of our very own. Timeyin Amatossero-KeKe. Timeyin was sophomore from Lagos, Nigeria and had a passion for our program and his teammates. Timeyin had a strong mind and just wanted a chance to play collegiate basketball. We ask that at this time you all keep his family and our student-athletes in your thoughts as we deal with this difficult time. Thank you.”

Athletic Director, John D. Lewis, described Timeyin as a model student athlete, who lead by example and made an impact on the Bluefield community, even though he lacked local routes.

“He was the highest GPA on the men’s basketball team and he gave back to the community, he was really an individual that impacted lives,” Lewis said. “He was in the Lemonade Parade just a couple of days ago. We had an international luncheon just yesterday at 2:00 p.m. He was a part of it.”

Taking on a challenge was second nature to Timeyin who balanced being an engineering and technology major with his basketball schedule.