Thursday drowning victim identified as UIndy student

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has identified the man who drowned Thursday in Morse Reservoir.

University of Indianapolis basketball player Dai-Jon Parker is the man who died. He’s from Lawrenceville, Georgia.

“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,” UIndy said in a statement. “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.”

Parker played three seasons at Vanderbilt before transferring to UIndy.

“We are extremely saddened with the news of Dai-Jon’s death,” said Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings. “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.”

A DNR official said Thursday that two women were in a pontoon boat pulling two men on an inner tube when the tube hit a wave, knocking the men over. The pontoon circled around to try to save the men but were unable to. One of the men – later identified as Parker – was a weak swimmer and did not surface.