LOGAN, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Utah State University basketball player Danny Berger collapsed during practice on Tuesday and was taken to a local hospital. He is listed in stable but critical condition.
Berger collapsed at practice and was tended to on the court by the USU Athletic Training staff. CPR was performed and the AED was used on him until ambulance personnel arrived. Berger was flown to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. Tests and evaluations are ongoing.
Utah State was scheduled to play at BYU Wednesday night, but because of Berger's condition, that game has been postponed. No makeup date has been announced.
Berger is 6'6" junior forward from Medford, Oregon. He has been averaging 7.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game for the Aggies this season.
Berger's sister Lauren posted on her Facebook page, "Things are looking up for Danny as of now. Everyone keep him in your prayers please."
Reaction on the Utah State campus was one of shock and devastation.
"It was just shock at first," said Utah State graduate Matt Sonnenberg. "I got a text from somebody saying [Berger] collapsed and it was his heart. Just crazy thoughts run through your mind."
"It's scary," said junior Trevor Mann. "It's definitely a scary thing to have someone so young, who is quite an athlete. It's a big deal seeing something so tragic happen. We're concerned."
Berger is in his second year with the Aggies, and transferred from Chemeketa (Ore.) Community College to USU in 2011 after serving a 2-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Detroit, Michigan.
Utah State has a strong, loyal and passionate fan base, which will rally around Berger as he recovers.
"It's a close community," said Sonnenberg. "People really kind of feel a sense of closeness to all these players. We really want to get behind one of these players if something tragic happens."
"It's one of life's unexpected things," added Mann. "You just hope for the best, especially when it happens to someone so important."
