The family of the 21-year-old Toronto basketball player who was found dead over the weekend says the university student accidentally choked on a piece of chewing gum in her sleep.
Shanice Clark was found unresponsive at approximately 3 a.m. local time on Sunday in her dormitory at the California University of Pennsylvania. The young athlete -- who graduated from Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute in Scarborough in 2011 -- was on a basketball scholarship.
Her former coach, Cleveland Clunis, says Clark's sudden death came as a shock for both her friends and family.
"Her mom called me and she was crying. I didn’t believe her. It was so difficult to believe," Clunis told CTV Toronto.
Clunis, who runs a not-for-profit basketball program, started coaching the 6-foot forward when Clark was just 12-years-old. He described her as being driven and motivated.
"It was sky's the limit. I felt that even if she finished university, she could still continue on – maybe play overseas or something like that," he said.
After graduating from high school, Clark attended Santa Fe College in Florida on a basketball scholarship. Two year later, she transferred to California University, where the promising player received another scholarship.
Clark also attended many basketball camps, where she was known for being a cheerleader to many of her teammates.
"She's the one clapping -- always trying to encourage her teammates," said long-time friend and fellow athlete Vayga Clunis, who played alongside Clark for half a decade.
Clark's family and friends says in addition to playing basketball, she also dreamed of becoming a broadcaster one day.
"(She was) smart, beautiful – she had everything and now it’s all gone," Vayga Clunis said.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Janice Golding
