Fullerton College Star Dies Suddenly at Home

Mike Goff, 19, a sophomore basketball player at Fullerton College, died of unknown causes at his home in Anaheim Saturday morning.

According to Ken Hill, Fullerton sports information director, Goff was eating breakfast with his parents when he complained that he wasn’t feeling well.

“He got up from the breakfast table and collapsed in the living room,” Hill said.

Goff was taken to Humana Hospital in Anaheim, where he was pronounced dead.

An autopsy is scheduled today, according to the Orange County coroner.

Fullerton Coach Roger See learned of the death after he returned Saturday from Riverside, where the team played in a community college tournament.

Fullerton guard Roy Joseph had phoned the Goffs and then left a message on See’s machine.

“I knew it had to be serious because he (Goff) would have called (if he couldn’t make it to the game),” See said. “We (the team) waited an extra 10 minutes, but we had to go. We thought he might meet us there.”

Goff played Friday night and scored 11 points in a victory over Santa Barbara. On Wednesday, Goff scored his season high, 25 points, against Cypress.

“I talked to our trainer, Bill Chambers, and he said (Goff) didn’t have a history of heart problems,” Hill said. “Chambers said Goff was not on any medication.”

Goff was selected Fullerton’s most valuable player last season, when he averaged 15 points and 7.2 rebounds. He also was an All-Orange Empire Conference selection.

He was a 1988 graduate of Magnolia High in Anaheim, where he set six school records. He holds records for scoring in one, two and three seasons and for single-game scoring, 53 points, which he set his senior year.

“He was the best basketball player our school ever had,” Magnolia Coach Al Walin said.