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Former NBA player, Dayton native found dead in Seattle apartment

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By Katherine Ullmer, Staff Writer Updated 7:10 AM Wednesday, November 4, 2009

DAYTON — Former Roth High School athlete and NBA basketball point guard Phil Lumpkin was found dead in his Seattle apartment Monday, Nov. 2, according to the school where he coached basketball.

Mr. Lumpkin was 57.

O’Dea High School in Seattle announced Mr. Lumpkin’s death on its Web site. The Seattle Times reported that school administrators became concerned when Mr. Lumpkin didn’t come to school or answer the phone Monday morning after being diagnosed with pneumonia and missing work last week.

Mr. Lumpkin graduated from Roth High School in 1970 and played for Miami University as a basketball point guard. He was drafted after college by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1974 National Basketball Association draft. The 6-foot guard played one season for Portland and one for the Phoenix Suns, according to basketball-reference.com

Mr. Lumpkin took over the O’Dea boys basketball program in 1991 and took the team to 15 Class 3A state tournaments, resulting in 13 top-eight finishes. O’Dea won five 3A state titles (2007, 2005, 2004, 1997, 1993) and advanced to seven championship games under Mr. Lumpkin, the Seattle Times reported.

“He was well-liked in Seattle. His best friends were NBA players,” said Larry Dickerson of Dayton, who described himself as a longtime friend of Mr. Lumpkin.

Mr. Lumpkin never married and his parents are both deceased, Dickerson said.

“I’m still in a bit of shock,” Dickerson said. “I just talked to him three weeks ago and he seemed fine.”

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