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Kennedy Grad Thompson Dies Playing Basketball

MOHEGAN LAKE, N.Y. ? Former Kennedy Catholic basketball star Tyrell Thompson, 23, collapsed and died Wednesday while playing basketball at Fort Lee, Va., where he was stationed with the Army.

A cause of death had not yet been determined, according to The Journal News. Thompson, a graduate of West Point, was engaged to former Kennedy basketball player Michelle Smyth, and they planned to marry next May. He was scheduled to be home next week to make plans for their wedding.

Thompson played on the Kennedy Gaels 2004 Class B state and Federation championship team his sophomore year. The Gaels were in the state finals again his junior and seniors years.

Lou DiMello, longtime AAU basketball organizer and athletic director at Ardsley's House of Sports, said Thompson was a top player during his time at Kennedy.

"He had a really nice career here [at Kennedy] and was a very good athlete and good young man," DiMello said. "I don't know what the cause was, but it's very sad."

Thompson’s death follows the death of Scarsdale resident Peter Sauer, who collapsed while playing basketball in early July. Sauer, who played at Stanford University, died of causes related to an enlarged heart.

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