Toledo’s basketball players will be wearing a No. 3 patch on their jerseys today in memory of teammate Haris Charalambous, who died Oct. 9 after collapsing in a morning preseason conditioning workout.
“The players won’t forget Haris,” 11th-year Rockets’ coach Stan Joplin said. “We’re going to wear the ‘3’ on our jerseys, and I think it’s kind of brought the team together. It was very tough on the players. Everyone was devastated, but I think the players have some closure.
“Haris will be in our prayers and memories for the rest of our lives. He was the ultimate team player and was well liked by everybody. He had an outgoing personality and was a great guy to be around.”
Charalambous, a junior from Manchester, England, collapsed around 11 a.m. during the opening moments of a team conditioning session on the school’s outdoor track. He was taken to the Toledo Hospital after 911 was called to the scene.
The cause of death – according to the Toledo Blade newspaper – was a tear in Charalambous’ aorta. The tear allowed blood to empty into the surrounding membrane and tissue, putting so much pressure on the outside of the heart that the organ was unable to fill with new blood or pump properly.
“We’ll never forget him. We don’t want to forget him,” said senior forward Keonta Howell, who takes a team-leading 19.8 scoring average into today’s noon nonconference clash with Kansas University at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo.
“Haris was our brother,” senior captain Justin Ingram told the Blade. “We can’t believe he’s really gone, but we know he’s in our hearts and looking down on us. That will help us get through this and have a great season for him.”
Charalambous scored 18 points in 23 games his sophomore season. He was fifth on the team with six blocks and averaged 1.8 points and 1.5 boards. He was expected to be a factor this year.
“Haris had worked hard to get in top shape so he could help the team even more,” Joplin said of the 6-foot-10, 245-pounder, who had lost 25 pounds in conditioning. “His work ethic and desire to get better were reasons that everybody on the team loved him.”
KU coach Bill Self said he felt for the Toledo program and community.
“Certainly it puts everything in perspective,” Self said. “It’s hard going through losses. They don’t even count in the big picture of what life is about. You have to feel for anybody, any family or program who loses a close family member and loved one. I’m sure it’s been tough for Stan, his staff and players. Hopefully they’ve rallied around it.”
