Purdue says Jay Simpson has career-ending heart condition

There was nothing overly alarming about Jay Simpson's exit from Purdue's game at Nebraska on Feb. 23.

Over the next two weeks, the Boilermakers learned the truly frightening nature of the incident.

Purdue announced Tuesday night that Simpson's basketball career is over. Tests discovered a heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy -- the same condition that led to the deaths of basketball stars Hank Gathers, Reggie Lewis, Kevin Duckworth and Jason Collier.

Purdue said Simpson was not available for comment on Tuesday.

"Obviously, this is very tough and upsetting news to take," Purdue coach Matt Painter said in a media release. "You never want to see a young athlete's career end in a fashion like this. Jay had a very bright future in our program and we are disappointed that he will not be able to continue his basketball career.

"We are very fortunate that our doctors were able to detect this condition early, which will enable Jay to live a long and healthy life."

Simpson averaged 4.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 26 games this season. He collapsed without taking contact in the second half of that game against Nebraska and did not return.

The Champaign, Ill., native had not practiced since and as recently as Tuesday morning Painter said the team was still awaiting test results.

"HCM is a disease which causes structural abnormalities to the heart and may lead to sudden death in young exercising athletes," Purdue team doctor Greg Rowdon said in the same release. "Its discovery precludes the participation in competitive sports."Simpson ended up taking a medical redshirt during his original freshman season. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound Simpson, who suffered from asthma and dealt with conditioning issues during his two seasons as a Boilermaker, never fully recovered from a broken foot in the spring.

He showed up this past fall in better shape and earned early starts in A.J. Hammons' absence, and later when Painter tried to protect Hammons from picking up cheap early fouls.

Season highlights included 14 points and six rebounds in a season-opening victory over Northern Kentucky and seven points and three rebounds off the bench in a Jan. 15 victory at Illinois in his hometown.

"This is sad news," Nebraska coach Tim Miles said via Twitter on Tuesday.

Purdue said Simpson will remain on scholarship and is on pace to graduate in 2016.