The former Ohio star was something of a journeyman in the league until she made her mark with the Orlando Magic. Sadly, the team announced that forward Brandon Hunter passed away on Tuesday. He was 42 years old.
Former NBA forward Brandon Hunter dies
According to reports on Tuesday, the former NBA forward Brandon Hunter deceased. In a statement from the last team he played with in the NBA, Hunter’s passing was acknowledged. “We are terribly saddened to learn of the loss of our former teammate, Brandon Hunter,” the team’s statement read. “We send our deepest condolences to the entire Hunter family.” There has been no official information on Hunter’s cause of death.
That said, Hunter’s mother-in-law, Carolyn Cliett, later told the press that her son-in-law collapsed during a hot yoga session at an Orlando-area studio. “It was hot yoga and he did it regularly,” Cliett said. “As far as we know, he was in good shape. We are just shocked. Hunter, a Cincinnati native, played at Ohio for four seasons during which he averaged 21.5 points and an NCAA-best 12.6 rebounds as a senior during the 2002-03 campaign . Naturally, current Bobcats coach Jeff Boals paid tribute to Hunter on social networks. “…One of the best to ever wear the green and white,” read the caption under a photo of Hunter.
Looking back at Brandon Hunter’s career
Selected as a second-round pick – 56th overall – by the Boston Celtics in the 2003 NBA Draft, Hunter would only play two seasons in the NBA. During his first year in Boston, the Ohio product played in 36 games in which he averaged 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. After his freshman campaign, he was picked up by the then Charlotte Bobcats (now Charlotte Hornets) during the summer of that year during the NBA expansion draft, then traded to the Magic in exchange by Keith Bogans.
With the Magic, where he will play his final season in the NBA, Hunter averages 3.1 points and 2.2 rebounds in 31 games. He would go on to be signed by the Milwaukee Bucks as a free agent in 2005, but was not released until a month later. After a stint in the Continental Basketball Association, followed by a two-week trial with the Cavs led by LeBron James At this time, Hunter went abroad. For nearly a decade, he performed in Greece, Italy, France and more. Eventually, the curtain fell on Hunter’s career after stints in Israel and Uruguay respectively. He is survived by his wife, Mary, and their three children.
