Caleb Swanigan dead at 25: Ex-NBA and Purdue player dies after rise to stardom following homelessness as a child

FORMER NBA and Purdue University star Caleb Swanigan, who rose to stardom after experiencing homelessness as a child, died at 25.

The former Portland Trail Blazers star died of natural causes, the Allen County Coroner’s Office told WANE 15.

Purdue men's basketball team paid tribute to Swanigan on Twitter, sharing: "💔 Devastated. Our thoughts and prayers to Caleb Swanigan’s family and friends. The world lost a gentle soul last night. Love you Biggie."

Swanigan grew up in an unstable home, bouncing between homes in Utah and Indianapolis during his youth and spending time in homeless shelters before being adopted.

The former McDonald's All-American high school hoop star played college ball for the Purdue Boilermakers and was ranked among ESPN's top prep players in the national class of 2015.

During his college career, he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week three times, a record at Purdue.

Swanigan was also named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and received a National Freshman of the Week award.

He entered the 2017 NBA Draft and was selected 26th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers.

However, Swanigan never found success in the pros, having two stints with the Trail Blazers before being traded to the Sacramento Kings in 2019.

He last appeared in the league in 2020 for the Blazers but opted out of playing in the NBA Bubble for personal reasons.

TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR SWANIGAN

Tributes poured in for the former NBA big man after the news of his death broke on social media.

Swanigan former college teammate, Vincent M Edwards, wrote: "💔 4E #RNE."

The Big Ten Conference tweeted: "The Big Ten sends our deepest condolences to Caleb Swanigan's family and friends, and the Purdue community."

Former NBA guard Evan Turner wrote: "R.i.p. Caleb Swanigan."

His former Blazers teammate Jusuf Nurkić shared: "My thoughts and prayers to Caleb Swanigan’s family 🙏🏻."