Dedric Willoughby Passes Away at 49

[Gerbs]

I got his jersey as a kid bc he was my favorite player. Was way too big my mom had to hem it and it still went down to my knees.
But now it fits great and I wear it all the time. Was at Hilton probably 7-8 years ago and someone tapped me on the back and told me nice jersey. Turned around and it was Dedric. Really cool moment

 

[bsaltyman]

Man, just terrible news. He was so young. I remember watching him play, and it really helped solidify my Cyclone fandom. RIP

 

[Billups06]

We have very few players in his level before or after him.

Never realized until now. I knew he was 1,000+ scorer but thought that always included his time at New Orleans - he scored over 1,000 points in two years at Iowa State alone. Quite the feat given Iowa State's offensive philosophy at the time.

 

[spierceisu]

I remember someone telling me that his senior year he barely practiced because his knees were shot. He was so smooth in his movement, it never showed. I also heard his knees were the reason he didn't play longer in the NBA. No doubt one of my favorites and will be missed. So sad he passed so young.

 

[CRCy17]

Was my favorite player as a kid. One time my birthday I got to to take some friends to a game and we printed signs that said “Hit the 3 Willoighby” thinking the players would be able to see them in the balcony (we were young haha). After the game we hung around the concourse by the exit from the locker room and sure enough got to meet DW and he thought the signs weee cool, signed them, and even asked to keep one.

Flash forward to 2009, my senior year as a manager for the team and while DW missed the 100 years celebration the year before, he managed to make it to a game the following year, and I helped escort him around, coincidentally on my birthday.

Good memories of a great player and person. Will be missed

 

[laminak]

Damn, too sad. I loved watching him play here. I'll always remember his long shot vs KU in the Big 8 tourney.

 

[Halincandenza]

Damn. Wonder what happened. An underrated legend.kid could flat out shoot and score. His number is another one I think should be in the rafters.

 

[cyatheart]

Man he won us so many close games. Hilton was nuts then. Back and forth, backa nd forth. They would play so damn slow, cause they were always waiting for Dedric to cut and get open. That Ku Big 8 tourney game is my single favorite ISU sports memory every, wild game. Go look at that KU roster, wild they were able to beat them. They could never guard Dedric, he just killed them, he killed everyone. And yes, he didn't practice much at all his senior year was my understanding.

 

[jsb]

Damn. Wonder what happened. An underrated legend.kid could flat out shoot and score. His number is another one I think should be in the rafters.

The Register article said a heart attack while playing basketball.

 

[TitanClone]

I got his jersey as a kid bc he was my favorite player. Was way too big my mom had to hem it and it still went down to his knees.
But now it fits great and I wear it all the time. Was at Hilton probably 7-8 years ago and someone tapped me on the back and told me nice Jersey. Turned around and it was Dedric. Really cool moment

The same thing happened to me with Troy Davis the day he was inducted into the HoF. I was a freshman in high school walking around the stadium with my mom, "nice jersey young man," I didn't recognize him until he was being introduced on the field. Still have the jersey but it doesn't fit anymore. Always cool to see former players interact like that.

 

[Halincandenza]

The Register article said a heart attack while playing basketball.

Damn.

 

[Billups06]

Another 3 from the same Kansas game. So much nostalgia right now.

 

[cyatheart]

Such a unique game too.....could just flat out shoot from anywhere, silky finesse shooter, but a really physical guy to guard at the same time....and was so damn tough he could just shut guys down on the defensive end.

 

[burn587]

I remember someone telling me that his senior year he barely practiced because his knees were shot. He was so smooth in his movement, it never showed. I also heard his knees were the reason he didn't play longer in the NBA. No doubt one of my favorites and will be missed. So sad he passed so young.

I seem to remember him pulling a groin or hammy midway through his senior year that really limited him the rest of the way as well.

What a shooter though, and that was in a system designed to limit possessions and win in the 50’s. As others have said, he was just a super nice guy. Had a couple of interactions with him when I was a kid (I think at the Hoiberg basketball camps) and he was very gracious with his time and nice to everyone.

 

[Chitowncy]

Some of you have posted he was before your time. One thing I'll say, he was absolute STONES in crunch time. I've never seen a player -- except maybe Michael Jordan -- who had more of a penchant for sticking in the DAGGER. A team would make a little run to get close, he'd sprint down and nail a three and just suck the life out of them. Definitely belongs in the conversation of all-time greats.

This is so true. From that Big 8 Conference Title game where Willoughby's smoothly sinking those free throws with 5 seconds left to win it, to multiple last second threes. Has to be a top 3 most clutch Cyclone bball player all time.

So sad. I hope his family is doing ok. So sad to lose a legend and genuinely decent human being so young. I got the opportunity to play pick-up basketball with him a couple times when he was in his early 40s and he treated everyone (including all us jo schmos) equally and well. RIP. He will be sorely missed.

 

[cyatheart]

Another 3 from the same Kansas game. So much nostalgia right now.

Kansas was so damn good, they weathered 9 threes from Dedric that game and still won.

 

[ISUChippewa]

Kansas was so damn good, they weathered 9 threes from Dedric that game and still won.

I know a lot of Cyclone fans hate Roy Williams, but I do remember after this game in particular he was very impressed with Dedric and was quite gracious in victory. I believe his quote was something along the lines of Dedric was so hot that Michael Jordan wouldn't have been able to guard him.

 

[Cyientist]

This is tough, he was one of my favorites.

 

[Billups06]

Kansas was so damn good, they weathered 9 threes from Dedric that game and still won.

So damn good. Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz, Jacque Vaughn, Scot Pollard as starters. Pierce didn't even play much in that game due to injury.

 

[KCClone1]

Never realized until now. I knew he was 1,000+ scorer but thought that always included his time at New Orleans, but he scored over 1,000 points in two years at Iowa State alone. Quite the feat given Iowa State's offensive philosophy at the time.

That Cato, Pratt, SB, JH team struggled to score at times. He carried the load so many games.