Tylee Craft, beloved UNC receiver, dies at 23 from cancer

North Carolina vast receiver Tylee Craft died Saturday morning after a prolonged battle with most cancers, the college introduced.

Craft, 23, of Sumter, South Carolina, was identified with Stage 4 lung most cancers on March 14, 2022. The UNC group had rallied behind him with the #TyleeStrong hashtag since his analysis. He had undergone quite a few therapies, however the most cancers unfold via his physique and mind. Nonetheless, he had enrolled in graduate programs towards a grasp’s diploma in utilized skilled research and graduated in Could with a bachelor’s diploma in train and sports activities science/sports activities administration.

North Carolina honored Craft throughout Saturday’s soccer sport towards Georgia Tech. It additionally occurred to be the workforce’s annual Most cancers Consciousness Sport. Family and friends members carrying shirts bearing Craft’s title and quantity have been acknowledged throughout an on-field ceremony.

Broad receiver J.J. Jones wore Craft’s jersey together with his No. 13 and final title in the course of the sport. Moreover, the North Carolina males’s basketball workforce wore shirts bearing Craft’s title and quantity for its intrasquad scrimmage on the Smith Middle following the soccer sport and had a pre-scrimmage second of silence in Craft’s honor.

“This younger man fought so exhausting for his two and a half years,” North Carolina soccer coach Mack Brown stated. “The docs informed us he outlived what he ought to’ve. And he did it with the spirit, he did it with a smile on his face, he did not miss a gathering, he did not miss observe, he coached these different unimaginable younger individuals.”

Brown informed reporters he did not be taught of Craft’s loss of life till after the sport however sensed one thing had occurred after sharing an emotional hug with Craft’s mom on the finish of the primary quarter.

“I believe the household feels the love, and so they’ll proceed to really feel the love,” Brown stated. “What we have got to do is be sturdy and pray for power for us as leaders to assist these guys on the sector and off the sector. … So greater than ever earlier than I’ve bought to step up and be stronger for them and ensure that I might help them handle the stuff and transfer ahead of their lives.”

Craft had been scuffling with debilitating again ache, so North Carolina’s athletic coaching employees took him to the hospital in 2022 for extra testing to find out the reason for it. That is when he was identified with Stage 4 massive cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. He instantly started an aggressive remedy of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Based on North Carolina, when Craft was identified, his household stated docs informed them he was simply weeks away from dying.

In 2022, Craft was acknowledged with the Disney Spirit Award, offered yearly to school soccer’s most inspirational particular person or workforce. He was additionally one in every of 5 school athletes named to the Uplifting Athletes Uncommon Illness Champion Staff that 12 months.

Info from The Related Press was used on this report.