North Carolina football player Tylee Craft dies from rare lung cancer at 23

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina soccer participant Tylee Craft died Saturday morning from a uncommon type of lung most cancers, coach Mack Brown mentioned.

Brown made the announcement in his postgame information convention following the Tar Heels’ loss to Georgia Tech. Craft was 23.

“This younger man fought so arduous for his two and a half years,” Brown mentioned. “The docs informed us he outlived what he ought to’ve. And he did it with the spirit, he did it with a smile on his face, he didn’t miss a gathering, he didn’t miss apply, he coached these different unbelievable younger folks.”

UNC had honored Craft — who was identified with a uncommon type of lung most cancers in March 2022 — throughout Saturday’s soccer recreation, which additionally occurred to be the staff’s annual Most cancers Consciousness Recreation. Family and friends members sporting shirts bearing Craft’s identify and quantity have been acknowledged throughout an on-field ceremony.

Broad receiver J.J. Jones wore Craft’s jersey together with his No. 13 and final identify towards the Yellow Jackets.

Brown informed reporters he didn’t study of Craft’s dying till after the sport however sensed one thing had occurred after sharing an emotional hug with Craft’s mom on the finish of the primary quarter.

“I believe the household feels the love and so they’ll proceed to really feel the love,” Brown mentioned. “What we’ve acquired to do is be robust, and pray for energy for us as leaders, to assist these guys on the sector and off the sector. … So greater than ever earlier than I’ve acquired to step up and be stronger for them and ensure that I will help them handle the stuff and transfer ahead of their lives.”

UNC soccer additionally introduced Craft’s dying in an announcement posted on social media, adopted later by a tribute video to Craft’s reminiscence. Moreover, the UNC males’s basketball staff wore shirts bearing Craft’s identify and quantity for its intrasquad scrimmage on the Smith Heart following the soccer recreation, and had a pre-scrimmage second of silence in Craft’s honor.

Craft, from Sumter, South Carolina, performed in seven video games at receiver and on particular groups as a real freshman in 2020, and 4 video games in 2021 earlier than his prognosis. Nonetheless, he had remained current and near this system.

“Tylee meant a lot to so many and affected us in methods we’ll all the time be grateful for,” the soccer program’s assertion mentioned. “He was 1-of-1 and, whereas he gained’t be with us in physique, he’ll be watching over us together with his endearing smile and countless positivity.”

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