I’m forgotten March Madness legend who led school on Cinderella run after tragic death of teammate – now I’m a business consultant
The story of Bo Kimble is one of tragedy and triumph. Much like March Madness and the NCAA Tournament. Hank Gathers (left) and Bo Kimble (right) were both stars on the LMU basketball team Legends are made this time of the year. Heroes are born in the tournament. Folklore is written in March. And for a school sandwiched between the robust campuses of UCLA and USC, tucked away on the side of the 405-freeway, the entire sports world stood still for Loyola Marymount University on March 4th, 1990 as one story began while another came to a tragic end. That is the day that Kimble’s teammate, Hank Gathers, collapsed on the court during LMU’s semifinal game in the WCC tournament against Portland. Less than two hours after Gathers collapsed, the 23-year-old was pronounced dead. Gathers’ death was a result of cardiac arrest. His heart stopped, and so did all of America’s. “I lost a friend, teammate and brother, but the world lost an extraordinary human being and a kind spirit,” Kimble wrote in The Player’s Tribune in March of 2015. “Unexpectedly. Abruptly. Too soon. Gathers and Kimble ushered in the most successful period in the history of LMU basketballGetty Gathers sadly passed away at the young age of 23, due to ongoing heart complicationsGetty “My weakest moment was that first practice after Hank died. We were co-captains, so we would always start practice. When the first whistle blew, Hank and I would jog around the perimeter of the gym and the team followed. “At that first practice, we did our jog and Hank wasn’t there. That was the first time it hit me like a ton of bricks that he was gone and he wasn’t coming back. “What I needed to do was to go outside, cry and let everything I was feeling pour out. But I couldn’t do that. “I believed the rest of the guys were feeding off my strength because whatever pain they were feeling, they knew my pain was greater because I had known Hank for so long.” Kimble would lead the LMU Lions into the NCAA Tournament, with Gathers on everyone’s mind. The little school cast in the shadow right next to LAX, advanced all the way to the Elite Eight that year. March Madness Top Stories Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson ‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment Kimble led LMU to wins over New Mexico State, Michigan and Alabama before losing to UNLV, one game short of the Final Four. Over the course of LMU’s Cinderella run, Kimble honored Gathers by shooting the first free throw of every pair, left-handed. “I told everybody in interviews the day before the tournament — including CBS, who was broadcasting our game — that I was going to honor Hank by shooting the first free throw of every game I played in that tournament left-handed,” Kimble wrote. “It didn’t matter if I made it or missed it. That’s how I was going to honor my buddy, and say I love you and I miss you.” Kimble went on to be drafted with the eight overall pick in the NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, but only played three seasons. He has since gone on to become a high school basketball coach, and business consultant, helping businesses and individuals acquire private asset lending capital through real estate ventures. Kimble played two seasons with the Clippers before being traded to the New York Knicks, where he played for one seasonGetty Kimble was one of the best college basketball players in the countryGetty Kimble’s No. 30 and Gathers’ No. 44 jerseys were both retired by LMU and now hang proudly in the rafters. Kimble’s story is forever intertwined with that of Gathers’. While Gather’s story was the tragedy that never saw the triumph. Kimble’s was the triumph that persevered through the tragedy. How to watch March Madness in the UK *If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions. This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years. talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service. Click here to sign up to a Sky S
The story of Bo Kimble is one of tragedy and triumph.
Much like March Madness and the NCAA Tournament.
Legends are made this time of the year.
Heroes are born in the tournament.
Folklore is written in March.
And for a school sandwiched between the robust campuses of UCLA and USC, tucked away on the side of the 405-freeway, the entire sports world stood still for Loyola Marymount University on March 4th, 1990 as one story began while another came to a tragic end.
That is the day that Kimble’s teammate, Hank Gathers, collapsed on the court during LMU’s semifinal game in the WCC tournament against Portland.
Less than two hours after Gathers collapsed, the 23-year-old was pronounced dead.
Gathers’ death was a result of cardiac arrest.
His heart stopped, and so did all of America’s.
“I lost a friend, teammate and brother, but the world lost an extraordinary human being and a kind spirit,” Kimble wrote in The Player’s Tribune in March of 2015.
“Unexpectedly. Abruptly. Too soon.
“My weakest moment was that first practice after Hank died. We were co-captains, so we would always start practice. When the first whistle blew, Hank and I would jog around the perimeter of the gym and the team followed.
“At that first practice, we did our jog and Hank wasn’t there. That was the first time it hit me like a ton of bricks that he was gone and he wasn’t coming back.
“What I needed to do was to go outside, cry and let everything I was feeling pour out. But I couldn’t do that.
“I believed the rest of the guys were feeding off my strength because whatever pain they were feeling, they knew my pain was greater because I had known Hank for so long.”
Kimble would lead the LMU Lions into the NCAA Tournament, with Gathers on everyone’s mind.
The little school cast in the shadow right next to LAX, advanced all the way to the Elite Eight that year.
March Madness Top Stories
Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson
‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance
NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever
Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment
Kimble led LMU to wins over New Mexico State, Michigan and Alabama before losing to UNLV, one game short of the Final Four.
Over the course of LMU’s Cinderella run, Kimble honored Gathers by shooting the first free throw of every pair, left-handed.
“I told everybody in interviews the day before the tournament — including CBS, who was broadcasting our game — that I was going to honor Hank by shooting the first free throw of every game I played in that tournament left-handed,” Kimble wrote.
“It didn’t matter if I made it or missed it. That’s how I was going to honor my buddy, and say I love you and I miss you.”
Kimble went on to be drafted with the eight overall pick in the NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, but only played three seasons.
He has since gone on to become a high school basketball coach, and business consultant, helping businesses and individuals acquire private asset lending capital through real estate ventures.
Kimble’s No. 30 and Gathers’ No. 44 jerseys were both retired by LMU and now hang proudly in the rafters.
Kimble’s story is forever intertwined with that of Gathers’.
While Gather’s story was the tragedy that never saw the triumph.
Kimble’s was the triumph that persevered through the tragedy.
How to watch March Madness in the UK
*If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue
March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions.
This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years.
talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service.
Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
