Former Rutgers basketball star and Detroit Pistons wing Phil Sellers has passed away, per multiple reports.
Sellers, who had dealt with a number of health problems in recent years, was 69. He reportedly suffered a stroke last week and was unable to recover.
Dick Vitale, who recruited Sellers to RU as an assistant coach in the early 1970s, paid tribute to the Brooklyn native on Twitter this morning.
“Breaks my heart to learn of the passing of @RutgersMBB ex SUPERSTAR. PHIL SELLERS. To me he is the greatest STAR to ever wear a RUTGERS uniform,” Vitale said. “Have great memories in recruiting Phil when I was on the staff of Dick Lloyd .Along with Mike Dabney led Rutgers in mid 70’s to greatness & a Final 4. May Phil RIP.”
Breaks my heart to learn of the passing of @RutgersMBB ex SUPERSTAR. PHIL https://t.co/UMozG4g9q8 me he is the greatest STAR to ever wear a RUTGERS uniform.Have great memories in recruiting Phil when I was on the staff of Dick Lloyd .Along with Mike Dabney led Rutgers in mid…
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) September 20, 2023
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The 6-foot-4 Sellers remains Rutgers’ all-time leading scorer (2,399) and rebounder (1,115). A consensus second-team All-American as a senior in 1975-76, he helped lead the Scarlet Knights to a 31-0 start and the program’s only Final Four berth, eventually having his No. 12 retired in 1988.
The Detroit Pistons selected Sellers in the third round of the 1976 NBA Draft and he played in 44 games for the team as a rookie before brief stints with the Jersey Shore Bullets and BV Amstelveen in the Netherlands.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Sellers’ friends and family. May he rest in peace.