35 Years After Hank Gathers Tragic Death, College Basketball Community Still Sheds a Tear for Loyola Marymount Legend

“What an amazing, short life, but a life well lived.” Loyola Marymount University took the NCAA by storm in the late eighties, and it was all thanks to two childhood best friends. Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble, after transferring from USC in their freshman year, excelled under coach Paul Westhead’s leadership. They shook up the entire league with their effortless combination and sheer dominance.

But Hank Gathers was something special. “The most doctor-tested man alive,” he called himself on a regular basis. Health issues, a tough upbringing, nothing could stop him from pursuing what he loved. Gathers loved playing ball, and he was good at it too.

He scored mostly from under the rim, and had NBA dreams that weren’t far off from becoming a reality. In the 1988-89 season, Gathers led the league in scoring and rebounding, putting up 32.7ppg and 13.7rpg. But even though he was hearing chatter–he could be a top NBA prospect–Hank Gathers chose to return to college. After all, he was a responsible man.

Gathers had fathered a child at an early age, and a large part of his NBA dreams was that he could better provide for his son, Aaron. There was no doubt that the six-foot-seven forward was a family man through and through. He took the responsible and informed decision of returning to school and completing his degree, just in case.

However, it was in his senior year that tragedy struck. It started small. He collapsed in a home game against UC Santa Barbara in December 1989, with doctors finding out an anomaly in his heartbeat. Doctors prescribed Gathers beta-blockers to manage his condition and allow him to continue playing. But he kept pushing the dosage down.

It was on 4th March 1990 that he left the world behind. Hank Gathers never got to fulfill his NBA dreams, he never got his degree. He never got to see his son grow up. In the WCC Tournament semi-finals against Portland, he collapsed on the floor again. This time, he couldn’t get up. It has been thirty-five years since that day, but Hank Gathers continues to live on in the hearts of LMU and NCAA fans.

Fans pay their respect to Hank Gathers

No words can describe how important Hank Gathers was to the Loyola Marymount University Lions. He was beloved by his teammates, and his rivals alike. After his passing, they made an emotional push to the Elite Eight in his memory. Decades have passed since that unfortunate day, and NCAA fans are still giving love to the LMU legend.

One of his fans posted an emotional tribute to him on their X status. The user shared their morbid account of seeing Hank’s death as a young child. “RIP Hank “The Bank” Gathers. I still recall being 10 years old when I saw a newspaper’s sports section back cover with a photo of Gathers’ young son putting a rose on the casket at his funeral in Philadelphia. That was shocking.” 

Aaron Crump was just six when his father passed away. Gathers brought Aaron to a shoot-around in 1990, introducing him to the LMU Lions. He was always proud, and never ashamed to be a father regardless of the circumstances he was in. It was a tragedy that no young man should ever have to go through, but life doesn’t always pan out the way.

Another fan told their story on X. “One of my most shocking childhood memories as a 13-year-old young basketball player, was watching @SportsCenter and hearing this news. Bo Kimball shooting left handed free throws in honor of his friend will never be forgotten. RIP Hank Gathers.” After Gathers’ death, his best friend offered a personal tribute for him the rest of the season.

Gathers was a notoriously terrible free-throw shooter. So much so, that he switched his shooting hand in his last year of school. To honor his accomplishments, and the bond that the two childhood friends shared, Bo Kimble shot and made 3 free-throw attempts with his left hand after his passing.

Fans gave their condolences and wishes to the star that was extinguished too early. “Hard to believe. God bless him.” One fan said, while another called it a “Sad day for basketball.” The way that he left the world was very unfortunate. There were rumors that he wouldn’t take his medication on game days because they were affecting his performance, which worsened the situation.

His sad passing made Hank Gathers one of the biggest ‘what-if’ scenarios in the NBA community. One user on X mentioned him and Len Bias in the same bracket. “Hank and Len Bias were gonna take the NBA by storm…. 2 tragic stories…” Their stories, while equally tragic, are quite dissimilar.

It is wonderful to see that even after his passing, Hank Gathers lives in the hearts of LMU and NCAA fans. Revisiting the past is important to pay respect to those that came before us, and to learn from them as much as possible. Gathers’ legacy will continue to live on alongside college basketball, as it his right.