Senior University of Indianapolis basketball player Dai-Jon Parker drowned in Morse Reservoir Thursday, the university confirmed Friday.

"The entire University of Indianapolis community mourns the loss of Dai-Jon Parker, a senior student-athlete with a vibrant personality who had a great future ahead," the statement said. "This is a tragic situation for everyone involved, and UIndy is offering counseling and support to the people closest to him. Please keep Dai-Jon's family, friends and teammates in your thoughts and prayers."

Crews recovered 22-year-old Parker's body around 6 p.m. Thursday from Morse Reservoir. He was from Baton Rouge, La.
Rescue teams were called to the reservoir around 3:40 p.m. around the 1300 block of Lighthouse Point in Hamilton County. Dive crews from several departments searched for more than two hours before side scan sonar found the body at the bottom of the lake in an area 11 feet deep.


He was with another man and two women. The men got on a tube and were being pulled by the boat when they hit a large wave and both were thrown off. Neither was wearing a life jacket even though investigators said there were enough on board that they could have.

The boat turned around to pick them up, but the victim dipped below the water's surface before they reached him, and never came back up.

"There was a pontoon and a Sea Doo out there. Someone on the pontoon had hollered, 'Please hurry! Please hurry!'" recalled neighbor Dottie Menard.

Investigators with the Department of Natural Resources said dive teams found Parker's body in 11 feet of water after nearly two hours of searching

DNR officers are investigating if alcohol played a role in the drowning.

Prior to joining UIndy's team, Parker had played three seasons for Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

Vanderbilt's head coach, Kevin Stallings, released the following statement:

"We are extremely saddened with the news of Dai-Jon's death. Everyone who watched him play basketball knew what kind of athlete he was. But, to those of us who knew him and loved him, he was as good and happy of a person as you would ever meet. He always had a smile on his face and I will always remember him for that smile and the positive spirit he had. We send our deepest condolences and prayers to his family, friends, and others who were lucky enough to have met him. The Vanderbilt basketball family will miss him."