Former Arizona high school basketball player Jaylon Johnson, who was on track to pick up Division I college offers, has died after collapsing after a game played at a junior college event in Oklahoma on Oct. 2.
The 6-foot-10 sophomore, who played for Kansas' Independence Community College, was 19.
Johnson finished his high school basketball career in 2025 at Skyline Prep, having previously played at Phoenix Mountain Pointe, Scottsdale Desert Mountain and PHH Prep.
Chris Diaz, Johnson's coach at Skyline Prep, said he was at the game in Oklahoma when Johnson collapsed. He died a few days later.
"There were two Division I schools there, watching him, and they were about to offer him," said Diaz, who now owns a sports agency. "I was watching the game.
And about five minutes later, he collapsed.
"He was really on his way to get all of these scholarships."
Johnson was hospitalized and pronounced dead on Oct. 5, Diaz said.
"Jaylon had that date circled, October 2," Diaz said. "He played his ass off that day. He went to school early in the summer just to train. He was in the best shape of his life."
A GoFundMehas been started to help pay for having Johnson's body returned to Arizona along with funeral and burial expenses.
Independence Community College posted on its Facebook page about Johnson's death.
"It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Jaylon Johnson, a member of our Pirate family and the ICC Men’s Basketball program," it reads. "Jaylon was a teammate, classmate, friend, and valued member of the ICC community. Our hearts are with his family, friends, teammates, coaches and everyone who knew and cared for him.
"As our Pirate family grieves together, we ask that you keep Jaylon's loved ones in your thoughts and respect their privacy during this incredibly difficult time."
Johnson started his high school career as a freshman at Mountain Pointe, where coach Kaimarr Price regarded him as a great teammate and hard worker.
"Jaylon was a bright young man who everyone liked," Price said. "He was on a good path and ready to lock in with basketball and chasing his dream.
"You could always find him in the gym with his friends. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and all of his friends who loved him dearly. He will surely be missed."
Michael Contreras, who helped coach Johnson in AAU ball and at PHH Prep, called Johnson a "hard-working, selfless human being who truly cared about his peers and family."
"Had a bright future in basketball," Contreras added. "He would have been at the Division I level after this season at Independence."
John Ortega, who heads the PHH Prep program, said that Johnson always put a smile on everyone's face when he was in the gym.
"He worked extremely hard this summer and was poised for a huge year," Ortega said. "It's an unbelievable tragedy to lose a young man like him. His future was so bright."
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former Arizona high school basketball player Jaylon Johnson dies at 19
