Basketball Player Dies After Stroke

Earnest Killum, a Southland high school basketball star who was playing with Oregon State University, died Monday, three days after suffering his second stroke in six months.

Killum suffered a massive stroke Friday shortly after concluding an interview in which he talked about a mild stroke he suffered in July. He was cleared on Dec. 27 to join the basketball team.

“I don’t feel like I’m taking a chance playing basketball,” said Killum, a 20-year-old guard who was state division 5-A player of the year in 1990. “I’m not worried about nothing happening to me at all. I’m young, I’m not trying to be sarcastic or anything. That’s just the way I feel.”

Killum fell into a coma early Sunday at Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital in Inglewood, and was pronounced dead Monday afternoon after losing all brain function, said hospital neurologist Carl J. Orfuss.

Killum was feeling great in the days leading up to his collapse, Oregon State Coach Jim Anderson said. Killum had been looking forward to a triumphant return to Los Angeles, where Oregon State played USC on Thursday and UCLA on Saturday. Against USC, he scored 13 points in 16 minutes.

On Wednesday night, Killum attended a ceremony at his alma mater, Lynwood High School, where his number was retired.

Orfuss, who had treated Killum since Friday, said the death was not related to playing basketball. He said Killum suffered from a congenital disease that caused inflammation of the arteries. Orfuss said the disease progressed to the point where both carotid arteries were closed. He said at least two of Killum’s relatives died of a similar condition.

“It is the opinion of myself and all the physicians who treated Earnest here that he succumbed to a disease affecting the blood vessels and that his resumption of basketball in no way precipitated the terminal event,” Orfuss said.

An autopsy is planned for today.

Dutch Baughman, Oregon State’s athletic director who flew to Los Angeles on Sunday, said Killum was surrounded by about 20 relatives when he died. Killum’s mother, Thelma Woods, kept a bedside vigil since her son was admitted to the hospital’s cardiac care unit Friday.

Killum appeared to improve Saturday, but lapsed into a coma early Sunday, and was partially paralyzed. He was unable to speak, Orfuss said, and was placed on a respirator.

“On behalf of Oregon State University, we wish to extend our deepest and most sincere condolences to Earnest’s family,” said a shaken Baughman. “We are sure that the OSU basketball team and all others who had the privilege to know Earnest are also deeply saddened by this great loss. Earnest has been an inspiration for all of us.”

Killum had a blood clot removed from his left arm after suffering a mild stroke during a pickup basketball game last July at a Watts park.

Killum, who had to sit out his freshman season because of academic problems, was not immediately allowed to play for Oregon State after the first stroke.

After many tests, doctors found that Killum did not have a heart problem and began treating him with Coumadin, a blood-thinning drug. Orfuss said the drug was not a factor in Killum’s death.

Once Killum’s condition improved, he was cleared to join the team in late December. Doctors determined that the dosage of the blood-thinning drug could be reduced to lessen the risk of a bleeding injury.

“The coaches were not told anything,” Oregon State Coach Jim Anderson said. “The doctors always asked Earnest how he felt. It was understood that if he wasn’t feeling good he wouldn’t play.”

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