Conrad McRae

Conrad McRae
Personal information
Born (1971-01-11)January 11, 1971
New York City, New York
Died July 10, 2000(2000-07-10) (aged 29)
Irvine, California
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight 222 lb (101 kg)
Career information
High school Brooklyn Technical
(Brooklyn, New York)
College Syracuse (1989–1993)
NBA draft 1993 / Round: 2 / Pick: 38th overall
Selected by the Washington Bullets
Playing career 1993–2000
Position Power forward / Center
Career history
1993–1994 Fenerbahçe
1994 Fort Wayne Fury
1994–1995 Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez
1995–1996 Efes Pilsen
1996–1997 Teamsystem Bologna
1997–1998 PAOK
1998–1999 Fenerbahçe
1999–2000 Telit Trieste
Career highlights and awards

Conrad Bastien McRae (January 11, 1971 – July 10, 2000) was an American professional basketball player who had a successful career in Europe for teams in France, Italy, Greece and Turkey. He was also selected by the Washington Bullets in the 2nd round (38th overall) of the 1993 NBA draft. In the summer of 2000, McRae collapsed and died during a practice with the Orlando Magic's summer league team at the University of California, Irvine.[1]

College career

McRae attended Brooklyn Technical High School where he excelled at basketball. He earned the nickname "McNasty" while playing in the Entertainers Basketball Classic in Harlem's Rucker Park. In high school, McRae was named PSAL High School All-City from 1986–89, selected to the 1989 McDonald's All-American Team, and participated in the Junior Olympics.

He accepted a scholarship to Syracuse University, playing under coach Jim Boeheim. While at Syracuse, McRae became a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity (Theta Xi Chapter). Though he did not immediately garner many minutes, his tenacity, athleticism and defensive skills turned him into a second round draft pick in 1993 by the Washington Bullets.

Professsional career

He moved on to play in Europe, eventually starring on several European clubs in Turkey, France, Italy and Greece. He helped Efes Pilsen S.K. of Istanbul to win the Korać Cup of 1996, and also reached the Italian championship finals in the 1996–97 season with Fortitudo Bologna. While in Europe, he accidentally scored in the wrong basket after getting a poor night's sleep in his Parisian hotel room due to what were described as "water problems". Though McRae never played in the NBA, but played on home soil for the Fort Wayne Fury of the CBA in 1994. In eight games for the Fury, McRae averaged 8.6 points and 7.5 points per game.[2]

In 1999, McRae signed a 10-day contract with the Denver Nuggets but it was terminated after he fainted before a game. McRae collapsed and died while running windsprints during an Orlando Magic summer league practice. An autopsy failed to determine the cause of death, but McRae had a history of arrythmia.[3]

References

  1. Former Syracuse Star Dies
  2. 1994–95 Official CBA Guide and Register, page 319
  3. No Reason Found for McRae's Death LA Times, July 12, 2000
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