Highly-Ranked High School Basketball Recruit Collapses During Game

A highly-ranked men’s high school basketball player collapsed on the court Sunday during a game in Long Island, New York.

The contest featured two nationally-ranked squads: New Jersey’s Roselle Catholic and New York’s Long Island Lutheran.

Roselle Catholic’s 6’8″ junior forward Tarik Watson collapsed during the game.

Watson is ranked #102 in the class of 2024, according to Rivals.

He has offers from Creighton, Georgetown, and Providence.

The crowd was horrified after Watson fell on the court with just over six minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter.

“I don’t think he stopped breathing, but he lost consciousness for a little bit,” said Lutheran assistant athletic director Todd Huebner.

“But he came back pretty quick.”

“A Roselle Catholic basketball player who is one of the top-ranked high school juniors in the country collapsed on the court Sunday afternoon.

Several NJ high school athletes have collapsed during games during the past several months.”https://t.co/YQLs4X8NMU pic.twitter.com/HKk2XB8797

— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) January 30, 2023

🚨BREAKING — Tarik Watson, Top-Ranked NJ Athlete Collapses Suddenly During Game

“Several NJ high school athletes have collapsed during games during the past several months.”

Are you paying attention?https://t.co/e634o0zoGS pic.twitter.com/PKVvL02YNe

— James Cintolo, RN FN CPT (@healthbyjames) January 30, 2023

Praying for our brother Tarik Watson and his family ❤️ we know he’ll be back even stronger 💪🏽🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/y2XeSBEM7W

— New Heights Lightning NYC (@NH_Lightning) January 30, 2023

Newsday reported:

Watson was immobilized as a precaution and placed on a stretcher. He was taken to Cohen Children’s Hospital in Queens, according to Huebner. There was no immediate word on his condition, but before he was wheeled outside, the Division I recruit raised his left arm and gave a thumbs-up.

Crusaders coach John Buck said Watson was responsive and talking. Huebner said Watson seemed in good spirits.

“He had movement in all of his extremities,” Huebner said. “Everything seemed good when he left.”

The game was suspended with LuHi leading 21-10. It isn’t known whether it will be resumed.

Buck took the PA mic and first told the crowd of a delay after Watson left and said a prayer for him, then returned a little while later to inform everyone of the suspension.

Huebner explained that Watson appeared to be lightheaded and passed out.

Buck commented that Watson “fainted without any specific reason and went down.”

Roselle Catholic coach Dave Boff said the incident was “very scary.”

As New Jersey 101.5 commented, several New Jersey high school athletes have recently collapsed during games:

Several New Jersey high school athletes have collapsed during games during the past several months.

A 15-year-old basketball player for the Saint James School of Basking Ridge went into cardiac arrest and collapsed during a game at Hillsborough High School on Jan. 6. Three Hillsborough police officers administered CPR and revived him after one shock with a defibrillator.

A ninth-grade student athlete collapsed during practice at Warren Hills Regional High School in September. He was flown to Morristown Medical Center.