Brandon Hunter, who played briefly for the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic, died Tuesday at age 42.
His mother-in-law, Carolyn Cliett, said he collapsed while doing hot yoga in Orlando, but no cause of death was announced.
“It was hot yoga, and he did it regularly,” she told NBC News. “He was in good shape as far as we know. We’re just shocked.”
Hunter, a 6-foot-7 forward, was a four-year starter at Ohio University from 1999-2000 to 2002-03. He averaged 16.9 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 119 games for the Bobcats. He put up 21.5 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game as a senior.
The Celtics selected him in the second round of the 2003 draft (56th overall). Hunter played in 36 games (12 starts) for Boston in 2003-04, producing 3.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per contest.
He played 31 games, all off the bench, the following season for the Magic, averaging 3.1 points and 2.2 rebounds.
Former Ohio basketball coach Tim O’Shea posted on Facebook of Hunter, “He was the best player I ever had the good Fortune of coaching — he excelled at Ohio University, and then went on to play in the NBA for Boston and Orlando, then successfully in Europe, before transitioning to a successful career as a sports agent. We stayed in touch over the years, and I was incredibly proud of the husband, father, and citizen he became.. please keep his family in your prayers.”
