Former Texas A&M, St. John's basketball players die from coronavirus

March 24 (UPI) -- Former Texas A&M guard David Edwards and former St. John's guard Lee Green have died after battling the coronavirus.

Edwards' former teammate, Charles Henderson, shared the news of Edwards' death Monday on Facebook before it was confirmed by Texas A&M. Edwards died in New York City in an intensive care unit.

"Never in a million years would I have even imagined my backcourt teammate would go before his time," Henderson wrote on Facebook. "I just got the news that Dave Edwards passed away. For those that have been praying for him, he is now in a better place."

Henderson added: "This coronavirus has hit me in the heart. We need to find a vaccine. Dave was one of the fiercest competitors and best point guards that I've ever met. Nearly unstoppable.

"I learned how to become tough as nails competing against him everyday and shaking off adversity. Will also remember the four years we were together after he transferred from Georgetown to Texas A&M."

Green, 49, also was a retired police officer. The Bronx, N.Y., native played at St. John's from 1991 to 1994. His former teammate Lamont Middleton told the New York Post he died from the coronavirus before his death was confirmed by St. Johns' director of sports medicine Ron Lifonte.

Edwards, who was born in 1971, played at Georgetown in 1989 before transferring to Texas A&M. He averaged 13.5 points, 7.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game in three seasons with the Aggies. He holds the school record for assists in a single season after tallying 265 assists during his senior campaign.

He played at the now-closed Andrew Jackson High School in Queens, N.Y., before starring for the Hoyas and Aggies.

Green averaged 2.3 points per game in three seasons at St. John's. He was an All-American at the now-closed St. Nicholas of Tolentine High School in the Bronx before playing at St. John's. He played on two NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament teams.