Students and faculty at Claiborne Parish's Homer High School are mourning the loss of a fellow student who died unexpectedly Thursday afternoon while at school.

Claiborne Parish School Superintendent Dr. Janice Williams told KSLA News 12 that 11th Grade Student Gekobe Hunter died after playing in a pick-up game of basketball.

Williams said Gekobe had just started playing when he collapsed while running on the court. When the ambulance arrived, she said Gekobe was awake. However, Williams said he died a short time later at Homer Memorial Hospital.

The Claiborne Parish School Board released a short note on Gekobe's passing. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our fallen student and we will do all that we can to ensure that our compassion and our hearts are in the right place. Extra counselors will be available for our students and faculty."

Williams remembers Gekobe as being close with his teacher, full of energy and outgoing. He was also very active with the Future Business Leaders of America. Andrew Ducote, the state advisor for the organization, said Gekobe was the 2013-2014 District 1 Vice President.

This morning, Homer Mayor Alecia Smith posted the following message on her Facebook page: "There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go. Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal. It's a sad devastating day for so many citizens in Homer. The Homer High Basketball team and Homer High FBLA have lost a great, great Student. Gekobe assisted me with the back to school drive just last week. Such a nice, jovial and respectful young man. May God bless the Hunter and Randle family in their time of sudden bereavement."

An autopsy will be done to determine what caused Gekobe's death.