Former KU basketball player Muscadin severely injured in car crash on way to Wichita
Former New Mexico and Kansas basketball center Gethro Muscadin was involved in a serious car wreck Wednesday night and has sustained possible life-threatening injuries, a New Mexico Lobos social media account and four of his former coaches reported via Twitter on Thursday.
A source close to Muscadin’s family told The Star the accident occurred near Topeka, though The Star was unable to obtain details from the Kansas Highway Patrol on Thursday. The Albuquerque Journal reported that the accident was near Topeka.
According to one source close to his family, Muscadin and his girlfriend attended the KU-Nevada game on Wednesday as spectators and were driving to her hometown of Wichita afterward. A source close to Muscadin told The Star that Muscadin was a passenger in the vehicle, which was involved in a one-car crash en route. The driver also reportedly sustained injuries.
New Mexico coach Richard Pitino confirmed during his radio show on Thursday in Albuquerque that Muscadin was involved in what the show’s host called “a serious car accident overnight.” Muscadin recently decided to transfer from UNM to a yet-to-be-determined destination after playing in 12 games and starting nine this season.
Muscadin played at KU in 2020-21. He also played at Wichita-area Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas during his high school career.
“It’s devastating,” Pitino said on his radio show. “Although he was going to move on, he’s still part of our family. I think that the more and more you do this, the more and more you see that when guys are transferring they are still part of your family. I talked to him two nights ago about finding another school for him, helping him. Hopefully we can still do that. All I can say is it’s serious. He’s in the fight of his life right now.
“We are devastated as a program,” Pitino continued. “The locker room was very, very, very somber today. We are just praying for him. We really are. Life is so fragile. lt’s a really really difficult reminder of that. It is going to be a fight, and we’re there with him. Our locker room is certainly really struggling. It’s been a tough day. Who knows what the future holds? We’re certainly praying for him in a big way.”
Muscadin, a 6-foot-10, 230-pound sophomore center from Haiti, recently left New Mexico’s program via a mutual decision between Muscadin and Pitino. He played sparingly in 12 games at KU during his freshman season in 2020-21, then transferred to New Mexico, where he averaged 9.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.
The coach noted: “I’m praying. You’ve got a young man fighting for his life. Our guys ... I think they are very spiritual, They are all close to Gethro off the court. I was very close to Gethro off the court. I recruited him out of high school very hard at Minnesota. I recruited him when he entered the portal (this past offseason, after he decided to leave KU). I’m really really hopeful some good news will come our way. It will be a long road. It’s going to weigh on our guys.”
Twitter buzzed with news about Muscadin on Thursday.
“Lobo fans: please pray for Gethro Muscadin, who was in a serious car accident last night. Every prayer helps,” the official Lobo basketball account wrote Thursday on Twitter.
“Twitter family ! Please keep our family member Gethro Muscadin in your prayers ! He was in a horrible accident and is now fighting for his life ! Each prayer is truly appreciated !” Vonzell Thomas, coach of Southern Assault 3SSB and Muscadin wrote on Twitter.
“Please pray for Gethro Muscadin. He’s fighting for his life after a horrible car accident last night. Every prayer matters right now. So tragic and devastating,” wrote New Mexico coach Richard Pitino.
Kansas coach Bill Self wrote: “Last night Gethro Muscadin and a friend were involved in a serous one car accident. He, his friend, and their families need a miracle. Please lift them up as Gethro fights for his life.”
Self did not wish to comment when contacted by The Star.
Jeremy Kipness, who coached Muscadin at Aspire Academy in Louisville, wrote on Twitter: “Please pray for Gethro Muscadin. He’s fighting for his life after a horrible car accident last night. Every prayer matters right now. So tragic and devastating.”
He was ranked No. 140 in the recruiting Class of 2020 by Rivals.com and played 33 minutes total in 12 games during his freshman season at KU. This season, he averaged 20.5 minutes a game for the Lobos. He hit 48.8% of his shots, including 2 of 5 three-pointers and 30 of 39 free throws (76.9%). He also had 19 blocks.
This story was originally published December 30, 2021 at 8:50 PM with the headline "Former KU basketball player Muscadin severely injured in car crash on way to Wichita."
