Alabama State Mourns Loss of Student-Athlete

Montgomery, Ala. - The Alabama State University campus is mourning the death of its student, Deshean Porchea, who died suddenly after collapsing during a pick-up basketball game on campus late this afternoon. Porchea, 19, was a member of the 2008 SWAC regular season championship basketball team. He was a sophomore at Alabama State.

“Our campus is shocked and saddened by Deshean’s sudden passing, and our hearts and prayers go out to his family and friends,” said ASU President Joe A. Lee. “Deshean will be remembered for his tremendous intensity and friendly personality, both as an athlete and as a student. He will be deeply missed.”

Porchea had just completed a game with friends and walked off the court and collapsed. He was then taken to Jackson Hospital where efforts to revive him failed, he died at 4:27 p.m. “Deshean was a valued member of our athletics department, and our condolences go to the Porchea and Usher family,” said ASU Interim Athletic Director Ron Dickerson. “He was a key reserve for the Hornets basketball team and always gave his very best to everything he did.”

Porchea was a native of Rochester, New York. He played high school basketball at Luella High School in McDonough, Georgia where he had been Player of the Year, Player of the Week and received the Coaches Award, and the Offensive and Defensive Award. “He was just a good all round kid,” said ASU head coach Lewis Jackson. “He played with a contagious fire that carried over to his team mates, he was a good person. It is a great loss to our team and our university.”