Jerome Whitehead, who stared in college at Marquette and went on to have a 12-year NBA career, has died. Read more after the jump.
He was found dead in his home in El Cajon, Calif;, (near San Diego) back on Dec. 20, reports the Chicago Tribune and multiple other outlets. He was discovered by his sister and apparently had been passed away for a little while, according to the report.
An autopsy found that Whitehead had died from a gastrointestinal hemorrhage related to chronic alcohol abuse, an investigator at the examiner’s office said.
Whitehead was a 6’10 center (and occasional forward) who was drafted in the second round of the 1978 draft by the then San Diego Clippers and went on to play for Utah, Dallas, Golden State and San Antonio. He averaged 6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds a game. In the 1981-82 season he averaged 13.8 points a game for the San Diego Clippers.
Whitehead was a key part of Marquette’s 1977 national championship team.
