Shining Star Football Player Matt James Dies, But Light Continues to Shine

CINCINNATI, OHIO – Xavier High School student and Notre Dame recruit Matt James has fallen to his death in Panama City Beach, Florida.

The seventeen year old high school football player plummeted to his death from the third story balcony at a Days Inn Motel early on the evening of April 02, 2010. James was also a member of the school’s varsity basketball team.

Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly and his staff had originally tried to recruit the high school senior to play for Cincinnati. Kelly was then hired to coach for Notre Dame in December 2009. James announced his intent to play at Notre Dame in February 2010.

The James family was attending a birthday party for a family member when they received a call notifying them of their son’s death. Officials had not released the victim’s name to the public but news had spread quickly through text messaging and online social networks such as Facebook. A vigil was planned and took place on the high school’s football field that same evening.

There is an investigation into the cause of the fall. James is the second student to fall from a balcony in Panama City Beach this year.