Father launches scholarship bringing awareness to heart condition causing sudden death in athletes
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - He had the heart of a champion, and a heart that failed him too soon.
Dennis Price Jr., also known as 'DJ' to most people, was a former basketball player at Ridgeway High School. He was loved by his community, teammates, and school.
“He was coming into his own... he learned the game the right way. He was one of the top players in this city”, Dennis Price explained.
His father told FOX13 he never thought he'd have to bury his son at just 16 years old. He remembers the day like it was yesterday.
Price said he was on the road when he got a call from his son's house phone. He instantly knew something was wrong when the call came from that number. It was DJ’s mother calling to share the news that would change both of their lives forever.
“She was screaming. I didn’t understand anything she said but I knew what she was saying. It was the hardest thing,” Price shared.
DJ died from a condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Which came as a shock to his parents considering that he was healthy and active.
Price explained it's now his priority to do something so other parents won't have to face the tragedy they did. “I couldn’t imagine being in her position. It was hard for me, but I don’t want to see another mother go through that,” Price said.