Former Michigan basketball star dies at 33

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1. Wolverines

• Updated: May. 05, 2024, 8:41 a.m.|
• Published: May. 05, 2024, 8:20 a.m.

Darius Morris, shown here during his sophomore season at Michigan in 2010-11, died at 33. (Photo: Angela J. Cesere | MLive.com)AnnArbor.com

Former Michigan basketball star Darius Morris is dead at the age of 33, it was reported on Saturday.

Morris played two seasons at Michigan, leading the Wolverines to the 2011 NCAA Tournament as a sophomore before leaving for the NBA. He played across four seasons for five NBA teams in addition to stints overseas and in the G League.

Details of his death have not been made public. TMZ reported his body was found in the Los Angeles area on Thursday. Morris, who grew up in the city, lived in the area.

Morris appeared in all 67 games during his time at Michigan, with 53 starts. The 6-foot-4 point guard averaged 15 points, a Big Ten-leading 6.7 assists, and four rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2010-11 and was named to the All-Big Ten third team. He set Michigan's single-season record for assists, a mark since surpassed by Trey Burke and Zavier Simpson.

"He was a leader in that program-changing 21-win season (who) laid the foundation for Michigan's next decade of success," then-Michigan head coach John Beilein wrote about Morris on social media on Saturday. "RIP D-Mo and condolences to the Morris family."

Michigan earned an 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament that year, beat 9 seed Tennessee by 30 points in the first round, and lost to 1 seed Duke by two in the next game.

Morris was drafted by his hometown Lakers in the second round, 41st overall, in 2011. He played his first two seasons with the Lakers before stints with the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Brooklyn Nets. The 2014-15 season was his last in the game. He also played in China, Russia, and France as recently as 2020.

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