Jalen Hill, a former basketball standout at UCLA and Corona Centennial Excessive, has died.
The tragic information was confirmed by Hill’s highschool basketball coach Josh Giles, who coached Hill for 4 years. He was 22 years outdated.
Giles and Hill grew very shut throughout Hill’s time at Centennial.
“He lived on the identical block as I did. I’d decide him up and take him to high school day-after-day with (teammate) Sedrick Barefield,” Giles mentioned. “It could take 25 minutes to get to and from college day-after-day, so we’d discuss within the automobile, and it was by no means about basketball.”
“We’d discuss politics, relationships, faith. He was a really curious, clever child. I cherished him. He was one of the best,” Giles added.
Hill’s father, George Hill, posted a tribute on Instagram, additionally confirming Hill’s passing.
“Our hearts are shattered and fully damaged to tell household and buddies that our beloved son, Jalen, has handed away,” the publish reads. “Jalen went lacking whereas in Costa Rica and we've just lately discovered of his passing. …”
No reason behind dying has been offered, however Giles confirmed the information after exchanging textual content messages with George Hill.
“We all know Jalen has performed an element within the lives of so many individuals,” the household publish reads. “We additionally acknowledge the function that so a lot of you've performed in his. As we attempt to navigate this devastating time in our lives, we ask that you simply please give us time to grieve. Hold us in your ideas and prayers.”
Hill was clear about his wrestle with nervousness and despair following a global shoplifting scandal. He and teammates Cody Riley and LiAngelo Ball had been detained after stealing objects from three shops in the course of the workforce’s journey to China to play Georgia Tech in November 2017, resulting in season-long suspensions, and he shared his feelings with the Los Angeles Instances in April of 2021.
Hill performed his final recreation for the Bruins on Jan. 30, 2021, going scoreless in 11 minutes towards Oregon State. He by no means suited up once more as UCLA superior to the Closing 4.
“I’m identical to, nah, I have to take this break,” Hill advised The Instances later that spring, citing the strain he had placed on himself to succeed. “It was a troublesome resolution to make, however as soon as I knew what I needed to do, it wasn’t onerous, like I found out, like, that is going to assist me.”
Hill – a 6-foot-10 middle identified for his athletic rim safety – graduated from Centennial in 2017 after averaging 18.8 factors and 12.5 rebounds per recreation his senior 12 months.
He arrived in Westwood for his freshman 12 months that very same fall and redshirted the 2017-18 season earlier than occurring to play in 77 video games at UCLA via three seasons, tallying 40 begins averaging 6.5 factors, 6.4 rebounds and eight profession double-doubles.