Columbus State captain collapses in practice, dies

COLUMBUS - Jed Bedford, a prolific 3-point shooter who was the captain of the Columbus State University basketball team, collapsed in practice Sunday and died about an hour later.<br> <br> Bedford, 21, suffered an apparent heart attack at approximately 4 p.m. during practice at the Lumpkin Center on the Columbus State campus.<br> <br> Bedford was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Columbus, where he was pronounced dead at 5:03 p.m.<br> <br> Muscogee County Coroner James Dunnavant told university officials that cardiac arrest was the cause of death. He said Bedford&#39;s heart was enlarged up to three times its normal size.<br> <br> Bedford suffered his collapse about 30 minutes into the practice. An athletic trainer administered CPR until paramedics arrived, according to team spokesman Mike Peacock.<br> <br> ``One of my greatest fears as a coach was realized today,&#39;&#39; said Columbus State coach Herbert Greene. ``These players are like family to me and to each other. It&#39;s hard to even comprehend how something like this could happen.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Bedford, a senior from Leesburg, Fla., led Columbus State to a top 10 ranking last season and led NCAA Division II schools with 135 3-point goals.<br> <br> Bedford scored a school-record 617 points last season as he earned All-Peach Belt Conference and All-South Atlantic Region honors. He also was named MVP of the Peach Belt tournament last season.<br> <br> ``This is a terrible tragedy, the kind that we all hope we never have to deal with,&#39;&#39; said Columbus State University President Frank Brown.<br> <br> ``Jed was a well-known student athlete who represented the university well. His coaches and his teammates are extremely upset. Our hearts go out to his family.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Dunnavant said Bedford&#39;s enlarged heart was perhaps due to a hereditary ailment.<br> <br> ``The first thing we do in a situation like this, particularly with a young person, is check for drugs,&#39;&#39; Dunnavant said. ``But all of his tests came back negative. It could be something he was born with, something he didn&#39;t even know about.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> This season, Bedford was averaging 21.4 points per game. He scored 13 points with 11 assists and seven steals in his last game, a win over North Carolina-Pembroke on Dec. 6.<br> <br> Columbus State has indefinitely postponed its home game against North Carolina Central scheduled for Tuesday night.