“The Purdue basketball family is deeply sad and crushed by Caleb Swanigan’s loss,” Boilermakers coach Matt Painter said in a statement. “Caleb was a very thoughtful person and a gentle soul who stood out both on and off the field. He made a huge difference in the lives of everyone he touched, and he is longed for.
After leading the high school team to the first state title and being named Mr. Indiana Basketball in 2015, Swanigan initially dedicated himself to the state of Michigan before changing his mind and heading to Purdue. His adopter, Roosevelt Barnes, was a star in three Boilermakers sports, playing in the NFL as a defender and later becoming a sports agent.
As a second-year student at Purdue, Swanigan has won numerous accolades, including the 2017 Grand Ten Year Player Award and First Team Quotes from America. He set a record for 28 double doubles conferences and led Boilermakers to the Sweet 16 NCAA tournament.
That’s terribly sad. Biggie had a positive impact on everyone’s lives. There was such a thoughtful person and a gentle soul who had to transcend so much in his life.
He will be missed very much. https://t.co/Ivm5MiaCUm
– Purdue’s Matt Painter (@CoachPainter) June 21, 2022
The Portland Trail Blazers then chose Swanigan for the 26th overall draw, who later gave the Sacramento Kings a 6-foot-long and 260-pound striker in the mid-2019 mid-season. The following year, he was replaced by Trail Blazers, and his NBA career essentially ended when he refused to rejoin Portland during the late 2020 bubble near Orlando. Swanigan averaged 2.3 points in three NBA games and took 2.9 rebounds. seasons.
Trail Blazers said they had a “heartache” leaving Swanigan. marked On Tuesday, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Caleb’s family, friends, and everyone who loved him.”
They added, “Rest in peace, Biggie,” using a nickname from Swanigan’s childhood. He experienced homelessness, which made it difficult to follow a healthy diet, developed a sweet tooth, and allegedly weighed 360 pounds before entering eighth grade.
In 2017, after adopting Swanigan, Barnes said he began to reshape the child’s eating habits by removing sugar, salt and bread from their homes.
“There were times when he cheated, but the thing is, you have to have more days to win than you lose,” said Barnes, who praised Swanigan’s focus and determination. “… He had to learn to eat green things.”
As a result, the young man became a slender athletic star in a major college program and eventually a member of the highest league of professional basketball.
After Swanigan left the NBA, he pleaded guilty to drug abuse in 2021. After a photo circulating around that time showing that Swanigan has gained weight, Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard said in a web comment: “You don’t know WHAT he’s going through to make a drastic change.”
Lillard then added that people should show support to someone who is “naturally a great guy” and has gone the “black way”.
Another former teammate, Sacramento striker Harrison Barnes, played on Tuesday. tweet“RIP Biggie.”
“We are deeply saddened to learn of Caleb Swanigan’s departure,” Kings said. “He will be remembered as a great teammate and friend. Our hearts are with his family at this incredibly difficult time.
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