Former Kansas and New Mexico forward Gethro Muscadin, who had been in a coma since December as a result of a car accident, has died. He was 22.
Both schools confirmed his death on Tuesday. Kansas coach Bill Self said Muscadin died late Monday night.
Muscadin played for Kansas in the 2020-21 season and transferred to New Mexico following that freshman year. He appeared in 12 games for the Jayhawks and 12 for the Lobos before deciding to leave the latter program, days before the accident near Topeka, Kan.
“Although only here one year, Gethro was loved and liked by all and will always be remembered as a Jayhawk,” Self said. “We wish his family and loved ones the best going through this most difficult time.”
He added on Twitter: “So young. So sad. He will always be a teammate of ours. RIP.”
Muscadin, a native of Haiti, left New Mexico because “we both agreed it wasn’t the right fit for him,” coach Richard Pitino said last December. About a week later, Muscadin was back in Lawrence, Kan., and watched the Jayhawks defeat Nevada 88-61 on Dec. 29.
According to the Kansas athletic department website, Muscadin and a friend were heading to Wichita after the game, and the car went off the road and rolled over multiple times. Muscadin, the passenger, wasn’t wearing a seat belt, per the report.
The Lobo community is saddened today by the passing of former New Mexico basketball player Gethro Muscadin. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this time. pic.twitter.com/ilDeksDDpE
— Lobo Basketball (@UNMLoboMBB) November 1, 2022
Both Self and Pitino asked for prayers for Muscadin in the aftermath of the accident.
“It’s bad. It’s bad,” Self said at the time. “Gethro, he’s definitely fighting for his life. And it will be a very, very, very long recovery if he’s able to get through this. So I’m praying for a miracle.”
Muscadin played two high school seasons at Sunrise Christian Academy near Wichita.
In his 24 college games, the 6-foot-10 Muscadin averaged 4.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. He played just 2.8 minutes per game at Kansas but over 20.7 minutes at New Mexico, he averaged 9.3 points and 5.3 rebounds.
–Field Level Media