Kansas recruit Andre Maloney dies after suffering stroke on sidelines

UPDATE: Maloney has passed away on Friday night, according to a hospital spokesman who spoke to KC Metro Sports.

Andre Maloney, a standout senior wide receiver at Shawnee Mission West High School in Overland Park, Kan., is in a vegetative state after suffering a stroke on the sidelines Thursday night, according to the Kansas City Star’s Sam McDowell.

Maloney suffered the stroke after he went untouched on his way to a 63-yard touchdown. While reaching for a drink of water on the sidelines, he stumbled and collapsed. Maloney was taken to a local hospital by ambulance.

Doctors discovered a blood clot in his brain and were unable to remove it during a three-hour surgery. Maloney’s family was told he is unlikely to ever come out of the vegetative state, and they are planning to stop treatment, according to the Kansas City Star’s report:

“The doctors have told us he will not come out of it, so either he will remain like that, or what will happen is we’ll make a decision to let him be free,” said (cousin) Carla Montoya, 20, who was raised by the same grandmother as Maloney. “He wouldn’t like that. He’s been an athlete since the day he could walk. It would be unfair for us to hold onto him.”

Most of his Shawnee Mission West teammates stayed at the hospital through the night.

“It was really sad to see him like this,” (teammate Mario) Louis said. “Everyone looks up to him. He’s really a great guy.”

Maloney was regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2014 class out of the state of Kansas. He committed to play for the Kansas Jayhawks on June 20.