By Greg Halbleib

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A former Illinois State basketball player who collapsed during an NBA G-League game last week has died.

The Grand Rapids Drive confirmed Zeke Upshaw died in a Grand Rapids hospital late Monday morning. Upshaw collapsed during the final minute of a game on Saturday and was taken off the court on a stretcher. Grand Rapids television station WOOD reported Upshaw had suffered a cardiac arrest.

Upshaw played at Illinois State from 2010 to 2013 before transferring to Hofstra for his senior season. He then played for two seasons in Slovenia and Luxembourg and was in his second season with the Grand Rapids Drive.

Illinois State coach Dan Muller took over the Redbirds before Upshaw’s final season in Normal, and remembered Upshaw as an extremely upbeat person.

“Never had an attitude, I mean ever, ever,” Muller remembered. “Integrity, smile all the time, continue to work hard. Zeke didn’t have to do that, but it speaks to the kind of character he had, the family he had.”

Muller said Upshaw remained positive while handling his reserve role under a new coach, which led to Muller helping Upshaw land at Hofstra for his senior season.

“He goes on to Hofstra and has a great year, and still has a legitimate, successful professional career all these years later because of all the hard work he put in,” Muller recalled. “He was a great teammate and an absolutely wonderful, wonderful human being.”

Upshaw was a native of Chicago. He was 26.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].