Paul Coro

The Republic | azcentral.com

Former Arizona Wildcats basketball star and Suns player development assistant Sean Rooks passed away Tuesday.

Rooks, 46, starred as a UA center from 1988-92, leaving Tucson as an all-Pac-10 selection for averaging 16.3 points and 6.9 rebounds as a senior. He was drafted 30th overall in the 1992 NBA draft and had a 12-year NBA career, playing 749 games for Minnesota, Atlanta, the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas, the Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans and Orlando.

Rooks collapsed and died at a Philadelphia restaurant after returning from New York to interview for a position on Jeff Hornacek's coaching staff, according to Yahoo!.

RELATED:Reaction to death of former Arizona standout Sean Rooks

"This is just a horrible shock," former Wildcats coach Lute Olson said in a statement released by UA. "Sean was such a wonderful young man with a great disposition. During his time at Arizona, he was always one of the most pleasant individuals to be around. His positivity was something I’ll always remember. This is a tough day and a terrible loss for Arizona basketball. We send our condolences to Sean’s family and friends.”

Rooks paid his dues to get into coaching with three D-League stops before joining the Suns as a player development assistant in 2012. Rooks worked with the Suns’ big men and had the genuine respect of co-workers. He left the team in the middle of the season for a coaching job in China just as the Suns fired Alvin Gentry and replaced him with Lindsey Hunter.

Rooks had been a player development assistant for the Philadelphia 76ers the past two seasons, but philly.com reported that his contract was not going to be renewed for next season. Yahoo reported that Charlotte offered its D-League head coach position to Rooks.

Sixers point guard and former UA player T.J. McConnell tweeted Tuesday evening, " 'You're the best Wildcat' #RIP"

In a statement released by the 76ers, Rooks' mother, Deborah Brown, said: "It is with deep sadness and overwhelming grief that we mourn the sudden loss of my son, Sean. Our family asks that our privacy be respected as we grieve during this incredibly difficult time."

Rooks had been active on Twitter during the day Tuesday, retweeting two of Nevada coach Eric Musselman’s tweets. Rooks’ Twitter profile quoted Muhammad Ali – “I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want.”

Rooks' son, Kameron, is a sophomore center on California's basketball team. His daughter, Khayla, is a Division I basketball recruit as a high school junior year in San Marcos, Calif.

Reach Paul Coro atpaul.coro@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-2470. Follow him at twitter.com/paulcoro.