A junior college men’s basketball player in Oklahoma died after suffering an injury during a game, school officials announced.
Ethan Dietz, a sophomore forward at Connors State College in eastern Oklahoma, died Tuesday, Nov. 25 after he suffered an injury in the Cowboys’ game on Saturday, Nov. 22 against Grayson College. It is unclear how Dietz was injured, but Shannon Rigsby, a spokesperson for the college, told USA TODAY Sports initial reports indicated he suffered a head injury in the game.
The school said in a statement Dietz ‘exemplified what it means to be a Cowboy, to value hard work and being part of a team.’
From Conway, Arkansas, Dietz was in his second season with the Cowboys after he played in 36 games in 2024-25 — 29 of which he started — and averaged 7.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. This season, he started in all eight games and averaged 11 points with a team-high 9.4 rebounds per game.
“Ethan Dietz was the kind of player a coach always hopes for’ Connors State athletic director and men’s basketball coach Bill Muse said in a statement. ‘He was talented athletically and academically and he understood the importance of hard work. If you ever saw him smile, you knew he was all heart. He was a person of character as well as a great teammate. Our hearts and prayers continue to be with Ethan’s family, friends and our team as we process this heartbreaking loss.’
In wake of Dietz’s death, Connors State canceled its games against Southern Arkansas University Tech on Wednesday, Nov. 26 and against Grayson College on Monday, Dec. 1. The women’s basketball team also canceled two contests.
Connors State announced it will hold a candlelight vigil for Dietz on Dec. 1.