Notre Dame High Basketball Player Dies After Collapsing at Practice

A freshman on the Notre Dame High School girls basketball team died Monday after collapsing at practice, the president of the Sherman Oaks, California, school said in a statement.

Nikki Valdez was observing practice after classes when she "suddenly collapsed," according to the statement from Brett Lowart. She was treated by paramedics and rushed to Sherman Oaks Hospital. Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful.

"My daughter was a vivacious 14-year-old girl," Adam Valdez, father of Nikki, said. "She was loving and she will be missed."

Valdez told NBC4 that she had no preconditions.

"She was the apple of my eye. She was daddy's girl," Valdez said.

Her coach, teammates and members of the school staff were at the hospital when her death was announced, Lowart said.

"We are still trying to figure out what happened," Lowart said.

Grief counseling was made available to students, and a prayer service was set to be held Tuesday in the gym after fifth period.

"The Notre Dame community will assuredly come together in faith, as it always does, to comfort and support the Valdez family and one another. Thank you very much for your prayers," the statement said.

Valdez, a member of the Class of 2019, was also a cross-country track runner, and has an older brother who also attends Notre Dame High.

Notre Dame High is a co-ed Catholic college preparatory school.

"We are mourning," Valdez said. "Life has dealt us a difficult blow."
 

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