Purdue Boilermakers Lose Redshirt Freshman Jay Simpson
By Mathew Muncy
Feb 2, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; Purdue Boilermakers forward Jay Simpson (23) guards Penn State Nittany Lions guard Graham Woodward (3) during the second half at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
In a press release issued yesterday by Purdue University, redshirt freshman Jay Simpson has been informed by team doctors that his basketball career is over.
Simpson was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It’s the same heart condition that has killed numerous basketball players, including Hank Gathers and Reggie Lewis.
He played in only 10 games his freshman year before receiving a medical redshirt after suffering a foot injury and sitting out the rest of the season. This year Simpson has played in 26 games, starting in seven of them, and averaging 4.3 points and 3.6 rebounds.
It’s a tough loss for the Boilermakers as they lose a talented and valuable young player, but catching the medical condition early on likely saved Simpson’s life.