Teen collapses at basketball game, dies

Austin Cooper Newsom, a 15-year-old student of Creekview High School in Cherokee County, died Thursday night during a basketball game at a Ball Ground school.

Newsom collapsed around 9:45 p.m. during a Cherokee County Youth Basketball League game. He was taken by ambulance to Northside Cherokee Hospital in Canton, where he was pronounced dead, Cherokee Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Jay Baker said. Newsom, a Creekview freshman, was said to have health problems that contributed to his death, Baker said.

“No autopsy was performed, and this is being treated as a natural death,” Baker said, stating there was no indication of foul play.

Grief counselors were at Creekview, in Canton, Friday morning to help students who were struggling with Newsom’s death, Cherokee schools spokesman Mike McGowan said. The family has not released funeral plans, McGowan said.