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15-year-old metro Detroiter dies of heart attack during basketball tryouts

Posted at 11:40 PM, Mar 21, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-23 05:57:26-04

A 15-year-old basketball player at Lincoln Park High School passed away after suffering a heart attack during tryouts on Monday night.

Xavier Carter died early Tuesday morning after being transferred to the University of Michigan Hospital.

Tryouts were held Monday night at Lincoln Park High School.

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"He was playing basketball and he was working really hard and he said he was having chest pains,” said fellow student and friend, Jade Bates.

Students tell 7 Action News they are stunned and heartbroken by Carter’s death.

"They're taking it pretty hard, everybody here loved Xavier,” said friend and fellow student, Alma Martinez.

"The whole day was quiet, just tears,” said friend and fellow student, David.

People who knew Carter said he was a bright light and his smile and dance moves will be something they don’t forget.
 
"He was just that funny kid who made everybody laugh,” said David.
 
"He was really funny, he was always upbeat, every time I saw him he was really happy, he was always smiling and he was always dancing too,” said Martinez.

There’s a GoFundMe account set up to benefit Carter’s family.

Students told 7 Action News there will be a candlelight vigil in honor of Xavier Carter on Thursday at 7:30 on the football field at Lincoln Park High School.