Former Purdue players, Davis and Kramer, Homestead coach Johnson speak on the life of Caleb Biggie Swanigan

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Fort Wayne’s NBC) - Former Homestead and Purdue All-American turned first round NBA draft pick Caleb Biggie Swanigan passed away at 25 from natural causes, the Allen County Coroner confirmed Tuesday morning.

Bouncing from unstable homes and homeless shelters in Indianapolis and Utah throughout his youth, Swanigan taken in as a teen by former Purdue football player Roosevelt Barnes, who helped train the young Biggie into becoming a basketball superstar.

The soon-to-be IndyStar Indiana Mr. Basketball led Homestead to a state championship, before leading Purdue basketball as a consensus All-American by 2017.

The Portland Trail Blazers selected Swanigan 26th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft.

Former Purdue teammate and fellow former Fort Wayne basketball star Rapheal Davis hopes Swanigan’s story of hard work and perseverance of overcoming an arduous childhood continues to be shared to future generations.

Former Purdue guard and Huntington North grad Chris Kramer says the whole Purdue community is devastated by a loss far too soon.

Homestead head coach Chris Johnson hopes Swanigan knows he and so many others loved him.

Copyright 2022 Fort Wayne’s NBC. All rights reserved.