Brooks Thompson, 45, first-round NBA pick, dies in Texas

He is seen here coaching Texas-San Antonio in the 2011 NCAA Tournament. He recently suffered complications because of a blood infection.

Former Oklahoma State basketball player Brooks Thompson passed away Thursday The former Cowboys star was 45.

Thompson played four seasons and 168 games in the National Basketball Association, including a short stint with the Suns during the 1997-98 season.

Thompson transferred from Texas A&M to Oklahoma State in 1991 and concluded his Cowboys run with a career-best 16.9 points per game in 1993-94 on a Bryant Reeves-led team. “Great spirit about him”.

Prior to taking the UTSA job, Thompson was an assistant at his alma mater, in addition to Arizona State and Southeastern Louisiana.

“The UTSA family is very saddened to learn that Brooks Thompson passed away on Thursday”, UTSA Athletics Director Lynn Hickey said. Entering last season, he was one of just 10 Division I head coaches who were former first-round selections, a group that also included ASU’s Bobby Hurley and Grand Canyon’s Dan Majerle. He was relieved from his coaching duties at UTSA following a 5-27 record with the team.

“Former Oklahoma State assistant and head coach Sean Sutton had the following to say about his former colleague, per Cooper: “[He] certainly was a great husband and dad to Michelle and his three wonderful little girls. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Michelle, his daughters, Ryan Michelle, Brooke and Addison, and the rest of his family in this hard time”.