BARNWELL, S.C. --- A Barnwell High School football player died Sunday of complications from heatstroke suffered during a practice last week.

James Wooden died at 4:54 a.m. at Richland Memorial Children's Hospital in Columbia.

The 16-year-old junior, who was 6 feet, 5 inches tall and weighed 360 pounds, was an offensive and defensive lineman.

The official cause of death was heatstroke, which led to multiple organ failure. He also had a body temperature of 108 degrees, said Charles Dooley, a deputy coroner for Barnwell County.

Cave Funeral Home of Allendale will handle the funeral arrangements, Mr. Dooley said.

On Tuesday the team had just completed some conditioning exercises and held a team meeting. When players started a second set of conditioning drills, James complained of dizziness, Barnwell High athletic director and head football coach Joey Still said.

Mr. Still drove James to the school gym, where the coaching staff gave him sports drinks and water. James did not lose consciousness during the episode, Mr. Still said.

After consulting with his mother, Henrietta Williams of Barnwell, Mr. Still had James taken to the Barnwell County Hospital. About 10:30 a.m. Wednesday an ambulance with a pediatric intensive care team took him to the Columbia hospital, Mr. Still said.

During the first day of football practice, Aug. 1, James experienced heat exhaustion. He was examined at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and was held there at least two days for observation.

Barnwell High principal Linda Zionkowski said counselors would be at the high school Tuesday.

"You can't imagine a greater role model than James. He's going to be missed. He's one of the really good kids," she said.

An impromptu memorial service was held Sunday night at the Hagood Baptist Church in Barnwell. A crowd of about 150 students, faculty and parents gathered to remember the student known as "Big James."