Former standout and consensus leader 2016-17 First Team All-American Caleb Swanigan died Monday, the school announced. The family confirmed the death. He was 25 years old.
Swanigan was also the Big Ten Player of the Year in 2017, after a season in which he averaged 18.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists for a Purdue team that went 27-8 and made the Sweet 16. Swanigan , a former McDonald’s All-American, took advantage of his dominant sophomore campaign for early entry into the NBA Draft. He was selected 26th overall in 2017 by the Portland Trail Blazers, where he played for two seasons.
The 6-foot-9 forward has spent time in the G League before returning to play 10 games for the Sacramento Kings in 2018-19 and 2019-20. He ended his playing career with the Trail Blazers, playing 20 more games for Portland during the 2019-20 season. Swanigan’s battle with weight gain eventually led him to abandon basketball. He later pursued a vocation in rap music – long before that, he lovingly took the nickname “Biggie” – although Swanigan also gained notoriety for his ongoing health problems, and a drug charge in 2021, after his departure from the NBA.
“Purdue’s basketball family is very sad and devastated by the loss of Caleb Swanigan,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said in a statement. “Caleb was a very thoughtful individual and a kind soul who knew on and off the court. He made a big difference in the lives of everyone he touched and he will be greatly missed.”
Swanigan died of natural causes, according to WANE TV station in Fort Wayne, Indiana, citing the Allen County Coroner’s Office.
Swanigan was open about his unstable situation growing up. Her father was a crack cocaine addict. She has had sprays where she has lived in shelters for homeless five times, according to an ESPN story from 2017, and has also fluctuated between living in Indiana and Utah, where her mother lived. Swanigan’s father, Carl, died of diabetes in 2014, before Caleb enrolled in Purdue. Swanigan’s path to Purdue was sculpted when former Purdue star Roosevelt Barnes, who coached Swanigan in grassroots basketball, took him and became his guardian at Fort Wayne. Barnes adopted Swanigan as he entered his teens. It was that decision that led Swanigan down a road in basketball that turned him into one of the best high school prospects in the country.
“Throughout his NBA career, Swanigan has worked extensively with young people in the Portland area and FoodCorps to promote healthy eating habits in schools and eliminate children’s hunger,” Purdue said.
Swanigan’s former teammates have been quick on social media to express their grief, including Vincent Edwards, who played with Swanigan at Purdue and posted pictures of his time together as Boilermakers.
Caleb Swanigan was selected in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. The Purdue men’s basketball program said Swanigan died Monday night.
Where is Caleb Swanigan today?
Caleb Swanigan appeared in Whitley Superior Court on Monday, May 17, 2021. Swanigan was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2017 and is currently a free agent. He won the coveted honor of the Indiana Basketball Gentleman after leading Homestead to his first and only state title in 2015.
What school did Caleb Swanigan go to?
Why did Caleb Swanigan leave NBA?
Swanigan was drafted into the Blazers in the first round of the 2017 draft and played in the NBA for three seasons, before leaving for “personal reasons.” I was living with ongoing health issues, according to CBS Sports.
Who is Swanigan?
(WANE) – Former Homestead and Purdue star and NBA player Caleb Swanigan has pleaded guilty to a minor drug charge in Whitley County. Swanigan pleaded guilty to one count of possession of marijuana in Whitley Superior Court on Monday morning. Swanigan, 23, was shot dead around 2 p.m.
How much does Caleb Swanigan weight now?
The other day, a photo of former Blazers big man Caleb Swanigan went viral. The photo shows Swanigan gaining weight. While he weighed 260 pounds when he played last season, reports have a forward swelling of 6’9 ”north of 400 pounds.
Is Caleb Swanigan a free agent?
Sacramento turned down a fourth-year option on Swanigan’s contract in October, assuring that he would be free to sign anywhere for 2020-21. He is currently a free agent.
Why isn’t Caleb Swanigan in the NBA? Swanigan was drafted into the Blazers in the first round of the 2017 draft and played in the NBA for three seasons, before leaving for “personal reasons.” I was living with ongoing health issues, according to CBS Sports.
What does Caleb Swanigan earn?
| Contract: | 1 year (s) / $ 1,045,297 |
|---|---|
| Average salary: | $ 1,045,297 |
| Signed with: | Remember |
Is Allen Crabbe still in the NBA?
However, after a year, Crabbe was traded to the Nets for Andrew Nicholson, who never played for the franchise. Crabbe spent two years in Brooklyn before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks before the 2019-20 season and last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves that same year.
Does Caleb Swanigan still play basketball?
Caleb Swanigan has made 10 appearances with the Sacramento Kings. The Purdue men’s basketball program said Swanigan died Monday night. WANE 15, a local news outlet in Fort Wayne, Ind., Has received confirmation from the Allen County Coroner’s Office that Swanigan has died of natural causes.
