03-08-2025
A year after HSE student died at 17, basketball community honors him with 3-on-3 tournament
FISHERS – The night Baron Spires died, Matt Brandenberger texted his best friend into the early morning hours, hoping beyond hope the news was not true.
'It finally hit me that next morning,' Brandenberger said. 'He wasn't responding. It was reality.'
It was a on July 21, 2024, when the 17-year-old Spires, about to begin his senior year at Hamilton Southeastern, died unexpectedly. Baron, who was born with a heart defect, had undergone open heart surgery a month earlier. Everything seemed fine. But on a Sunday night just a few days from the start of school, he died in his sleep.
'It was heartbreaking,' his mother Ginger Spires said.
Almost immediately, knowing Baron would not want his family and friends to sit around in sadness, the family went to work formulating plans to honor Baron's life. He loved basketball. Baron was a Steph Curry fan who wore No. 30 throughout his years playing basketball for the Hamilton Southeastern youth program and the Indy Hoops travel team with his coach for eight years, Matt Webster.
Memorial contributions for Baron's funeral went toward donations to Indy Hoops Academy, in honor of Baron. But with a year of planning, another idea came to fruition Saturday morning at Pro Net Sports Facility in Fishers: The first Baron Spires Memorial 3 on 3 tournament named 'Beyond the Buzzer.'
Nearly 50 teams participated in the event at a cost of $100 per team with all of the proceeds going to the Baron Spires Memorial Scholarship Fund.
'A lot of families will do a memorial walk or different ways to honor their kids,' Ginger Spires said. 'We decided to partner with Matt and donated the facility to honor Baron. Every year in Baron's name, we will do a college scholarship for a kid in Matt's program. We're very fortunate that a lot of people wanted to honor Baron and we wanted to honor Baron in a positive way.'
The basketball community showed up in forced to support Baron's parents, Michael and Ginger Spires and their oldest son, 20-year-old Mason, who played on a team with 2023 Mr. Basketball Markus Burton of Notre Dame and former Indiana Elite Central AAU teammates Bryce Hoover of Franklin Central and Spencer White of Carmel.
'It was really cool to see a bunch guys who I played with, and Baron played with and even people who don't really play basketball,' said Mason, who will be a junior at Indiana University. 'Everyone just kind of coming together and being a part of something that is bigger than basketball. It's a cool thing to be a part of.'
Barely a year removed from his brother's passing, Mason said some days are better than others. Saturday was one of those better days.
'Hosting a basketball event and doing something for his name is something that motivates me and keeps me going,' Mason said. 'It was all basketball for him for 15 years growing up. It was his favorite thing to do. It's fun to be able to carry it on for him.'
Webster, who played at the University of Evansville from 2003-07, said Baron's team is one of the few he stayed with as coach year to year for multiple seasons.
'Baron was a gym rat kid who will listen and do anything you asked him to do,' Webster said. 'On and off the court, just a great kid. He was so coachable. For me, any kid who will do what you say, work hard with no excuses, is a dream to coach. He was just an unbelievable kid with a big heart who would truly do anything for anybody. Those are the kids you love coaching. I'm sure he's looking down on us here and thinks this is just awesome.'
Baron never wanted anyone to know about his heart condition, his mother said. Not that he was embarrassed about it — he just did not want anyone to treat him differently or feel sorry for him. He was smart and funny; quiet unless he was around his closest friends. And until that night in July of last year, it seemed his worst health issues were behind him.
The night before, the Baron had gone out to eat with his family downtown. He showed no signs of illness.
'He passed away peacefully in his sleep with no symptoms,' Ginger said. 'He literally laid down and took a nap and his heart stopped. (Doctors) thought he had a fatal arrhythmia, which a lot of athletes have.'
Hamilton Southeastern and Fishers honored the Spires family at halftime of the annual Mudsock rivalry basketball game in December at the Fishers Event Center. Both teams wore black 'Baron' bands on their jerseys.
Other than his family, probably no one in the building on Saturday was as close to Baron as Brandenberger, who will be a manager for the Ball State basketball team this season. They grew up together, first meet up at recess basketball in elementary school. Later, in middle school, they bonded over video games, playing Fortnite until 3 a.m. some nights.
'I'd do anything to go back to that,' Brandenberger said.
They were on the same Indy Hoops team from sixth grade on. They sat next to each other on the bench and rebounded for each other before games.
'We were always there for each other,' Brandenberger said. 'I loved that kid. He means so much to me.'
Even though Brandenberger never got the response on his phone he was hoping for from Baron, he never stopped. Even now, Brandenberger sends texts when he is thinking of Baron or passes along Instagram reels he finds funny. Or whatever else strikes his interest.
'I still stay in touch,' Brandenberger said. 'I talk to him daily.'
