Caleb Swanigan, a former NBA player and star at Purdue, died Monday night. He was 25.
The Purdue men’s basketball program tweeted the news Tuesday morning. According to WANE-TV in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Allen County Coroner’s Office said Swanigan died of natural causes.
“Devastated. Our thoughts and prayers to Caleb Swanigan’s family and friends. The world lost a gentle soul last night,” the tweet read. “Love you Biggie.”
After winning the Big Ten Player of the Year award in 2017, Swanigan was drafted in the first round of the NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 26th pick. Swanigan, a 6-foot-9 forward, spent three seasons in the NBA with the Blazers and the Sacramento Kings, playing in 75 career games and averaging 2.4 points per contest.
💔 Devastated.
— Purdue Mens Basketball (@BoilerBall) June 21, 2022
Our thoughts and prayers to Caleb Swanigan’s family and friends. The world lost a gentle soul last night.
Love you Biggie. pic.twitter.com/spU2hQtJdi
A top recruit out of Homestead High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Swanigan went on to star at Purdue. As a freshman, Swanigan 10.2 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for the Boilermakers before upping his production to 18.5 points and 12.5 boards per contest as a sophomore.
• Jacob Calvin Meyer can be reached at jmeyer@washingtontimes.com.
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