Ancient UCLA striker Jalen Hill has died Ben Bolch of Los Angeles Times reports. Josh Giles, Hill’s former high school coach, confirmed the news to Bolch.
“Hearing something like that is devastating at the next level,” Giles said.
According to Jeff GoodmanHill disappeared in Costa Rica and details surrounding his death are limited.
Hill spent four years with the Bruins from 2017 to 2021, wearing a red shirt his first year but playing the next three. His best season came in the 2019-20 campaign, when he started in 25 games for UCLA and averaged nine 9.0 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Overall, he averaged 6.5 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Bruins in 77 games.
Midway through his final season with UCLA in 2021, Hill stepped away from playing to take a break. He would later retire from basketball, citing a healthier lifestyle both physically and mentally without the game after battling both anxiety and depression.
Although Hill missed UCLA’s run to the Final Four that year, he had no regrets about pulling out. He explained that he learned a lot from the transition away from the game and how to have a healthier lifestyle.
“Focus on the good stuff,” Hill said, via Bolch, “because when you find yourself in a situation where you have anxiety or have mental health issues, you tend to focus on just that. and that’s pretty much the only thing you’re going to get because that’s the only thing your mind is focused on.
“So instead try to focus on the little things and you don’t have to lie to yourself, just be aware that what you’re going through is what you’re going through, but say tomorrow will be better and that is not a lie at all – but instead of just saying it, knowing it, knowing that tomorrow will be better, knowing that whatever opportunity you have next will be a success.
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