Jerrod Mustaf, a former All-ACC big man at Maryland and the No. 17 overall draft pick of the New York Knicks, died Monday at the age of 55. He played four NBA seasons in total, one for the Knicks and three for the Suns, but his career was derailed when he was characterized by police as “an investigative lead” in the murder of Althea Hayes, who was pregnant with a child she believed was Mustaf’s at the time of her death. He would go on to play another seven years abroad before retiring. – CBS Sports.

Mustaf was born in Whiteville, North Carolina where he was raised by his mother Lilly Mae George. At age 14, Jerrod Mustaf moved to Maryland to live with his father, activist Shaar Mustaf. Jerrod Mustaf’s father, a self-described “black militant” would have a significant impact on his life, encouraging him to be a community leader and activist. Mustaf went on to play basketball at DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. He was one of the most heavily recruited players in his senior year.

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