Matt James, a top high school recruit from Cincinnati, Ohio, died Friday when he fell from a fifth-floor balcony while vacationing in Panama City Beach, Fla.

According to reports, James, who was an All-American offensive lineman and was set to attend Notre Dame in the fall, was drunk and leaning over the balcony pointing his finger at people on another balcony when he fell.

An autopsy said he died of brain injuries.

While James’ death is tragic regardless if it has athletic ties or not, it brings up questions about underage drinking and the type of lenience parents allow their kids.

James was in Panama City Beach on a spring break trip.

He was vacationing with 40 other students who he attended St. Xavier High School with and had six parents along as chaperones.

The national media has been playing up James’ death as an accident and a tragedy. While the death is undoubtedly sad, there is some blame to be passed around and some questions that need to be answered.

Why, first off, did parents think it would be a good idea to bring a group of 17- and 18-year-olds to the spring break capital of the world during the heart of spring break season?

Did the parents know the students were going to be drinking? How did the students obtain the alcohol?

Underage drinking, as sad is it may be, is seen as a pretty common practice these days, and when it comes to high schoolers, it is the responsibility of the parent to ensure their kids stay away from alcohol.

Allowing them to party in Panama City Beach is no such way.

There are tragedies and there are accidents, but when said incidents can be prevented it is impossible not to point fingers.

James’ death would not have happened if parents had used discretion.

Allowing a spring break trip is all fine and well, but a 17-year-old has no business in Panama City Beach, nor consuming alcohol.

An Associated Press report after the accident said the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco sent 18 extra agents to Panama City for spring break this year.

About 985 arrests were made between March 11 and 28 for underage possession of an alcoholic beverage. Panama City Police Maj. David Humphreys also told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that investigators have not determined where James got the alcohol.

He said criminal charges are possible if they find out how he got the alcohol. Now I’m not saying the parents are completely to blame. It was, of course, his own stupidity that led to his death.

But parents need to be smarter than to allow their kids in that type of a situation.

James’ death was not athletics-related. It reached the major media outlets of ESPN and others because he was a top recruit who had signed with a top-level football program.

His story is far more than athletics-based. It was the loss of a life because of his own stupidity and possibly the ignorance of his chaperones.

Can more be done to prevent these incidents in the future? Absolutely. Will it? I sure hope so.

Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or [email protected].