Portland State Basketball

Former Portland State star and NBA player Freeman Williams has died at the age of 65.

The Utah Jazz, who Williams played for during the 1982-83 season, announced his death on Twitter on Wednesday:

Williams is best-known for his four-year college stint at Portland State from 1974-75 to 1977-78. His 3,249 career points in college ranks second in NCAA history, behind only Pete Maravich (3,667).

The California native averaged more than 30 points per game in each of his final three college seasons. He had four games with at least 59 points, including an 81-point outing against Rocky Mountain in February 1978.

Williams was named to the All-American team as a senior in 1977-78, alongside Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Mychal Thompson. He led the NCAA in scoring average as a junior (38.8) and senior (35.9).

After leaving school, Williams was the eighth overall pick in the 1978 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics. He was traded to the San Diego Clippers shortly after the draft.

Williams spent three-plus seasons with the Clippers before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks in January 1982. He played in just 50 more NBA games after the deal, including nine in 1985-86 with the Washington Bullets.

In between stints with the Jazz and Bullets, Williams had a stint with the Tampa Bay Thrillers in the CBA. He averaged 14.7 points per game in 323 appearances with four different NBA teams.

Williams was inducted into Portland State's athletics Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class in 1997. The school also retired his No. 20 jersey.    

Portland State announced basketball player Deante Strickland, who also joined the Vikings' football team ahead of the 2019 season, died in a shooting Friday afternoon. He was 22.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Deante," athletic director Valerie Cleary said. "He represented everything it means to be a Viking in his hometown of Portland. He will forever be remembered for his character, determination and warm smile. Our prayers go out to his family and friends."

A Portland homicide detective arrested Tamena Strickland, Deante's sister, on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, according to The Oregonian. Two women, the siblings' grandmother and aunt, were also shot and are recovering in the hospital.

Damian Strickland, Deante's uncle, told The Oregonian that "everyone is shocked."

"The contractors were giving him CPR as he was saying, 'My sister shot me … I don't want to die,'" Damian said. "We're confused as to the motive. There wasn't any ongoing disagreement or anything weird."

Vikings head basketball coach Barret Peery joined Cleary in mourning Strickland's death:

"We are all deeply saddened and grieving about this tragic news. We are better for having had Deante in our lives. His smile, passion and energy for life was second to none. He lit up a room and made the people around him better in every way. He loved his family, his friends and everyone around him. He had great pride in being a kid from Portland, and it showed in how he competed each day. We will never forget him, and he will always be with us. I love Deante and am a better man for having the opportunity to coach him. This entire community will miss him."

Strickland attended Central Catholic High School in Portland before heading to Casper College in Wyoming. He returned to his hometown to join the Vikings ahead of the 2017-18 campaign.

The guard averaged 7.0 points, 2.5 assists and 2.2 rebounds across 31 appearances last season.