Danielle Ballard, a former women's basketball standout at Louisiana State University (LSU), died early Thursday morning after being hit by a car in Memphis, Tennessee. According to the Memphis Police Department, the tragic accident happened in Tenessee on Thursday around 1:26 am Central Time.
The 29-year-old was brought to the hospital in severe condition, immediately after the accident, but she was pronounced dead upon arrival. The driver remained at the scene, and the incident is under investigation.
Ballard attended LSU for three years, receiving first-team All-SEC accolades in 2015. During her LSU career, she averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. The basketball player's honors included Louisiana Freshman of the Year, MVP of the women’s basketball team, and an All-SEC Defensive Team selection.
LSU said in their statement, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Danielle. She meant a great deal to our program and was such a big part of our women’s basketball family. It’s difficult to understand why this happened to someone who was so full of life and had so much promise. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.”
Ballard was a native of Memphis and attended Central High School, where she was a four-time all-state selection and a McDonald's All-American nominee. Ballard, a Central High School alumnus, was ranked by ESPN as the No. 25 overall high school athlete and the No. 7 guard. During her junior year, she helped Central win its first state title in 89 years, averaging 13 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.87 steals per game.