Ex-Vanderbilt guard Dai-Jon Parker dies at age 22
Former Vanderbilt guard Dai-Jon Parker died Thursday night after drowning while tubing with friends in Indiana.
Parker, who played at Division-II University of Indianapolis last season, was 22 years old.
CBSSports.com first reported that Parker had passed away.
"The entire University of Indianapolis community mourns the loss of Dai-Jon Parker, a senior student-athlete with a vibrant personality who had a great future ahead. This is a tragic situation for everyone involved and UIndy is offering counseling and support to the people closest to him," a University of Indianapolis statement said. "Please keep Dai-Jon's family, friends and teammates in your thoughts and prayers."
"We are extremely saddened with the news of Dai-Jon's death," Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings said. "Everyone who watched him play basketball knew what kind of athlete he was. But, to those of us who knew him and loved him, he was as good and happy of a person as you would ever meet. He always had a smile on his face and I will always remember him for that smile and the positive spirit he had. We send our deepest condolences and prayers to his family, friends, and others who were lucky enough to have met him. The Vanderbilt basketball family will miss him."
According to the Indianapolis Star, emergency crews recovered a body at Morse Reservoir in Hamilton County, Ind., around 6 p.m. after they were called to the scene hours earlier due to reports of a possible drowning.
Witnesses told investigators that Parker, who was reportedly not wearing a life jacket, went underwater after he was being pulled behind a pontoon boat on an inner tube. He and another man were thrown off the tube when it hit a large wave.
Department of Natural Resources officials said they are investigating the incident being alcohol-related.
Parker, a Baton Rouge, La., native, started 26 games for Vanderbilt during his junior season in 2013-14.
He transferred to the University of Indianapolis after not being allowed to return to the Commodores. Parker started all 31 games for Indianapolis last season, averaging 9.4 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.
- Scooby Axson
