Former NBA Player Mel Turpin Commits Suicide at Home

Mel Harrison Turpin, a former NBA basketball player apparently committed suicide at his home in Lexington, Kentucky. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky and attended Bryan Station High School and played college ball at the University of Kentucky. Coming out of college in 1984, Mel Turpin was drafted by the Washington Bullets in the 1st round with the 6th pick overall. Mel's college career consisted of him averaging 12.ppg. He ended up being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Tim McCormack and Cliff Robinson the same draft day. This draft class featured the NBA greats in Akeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan, John Stockton and Charles Barkley.

Mel averaged 10.6 ppg in his rookie season and then the following year he averaged 13.7 ppg for Cleveland before being traded to the Utah Jazz along with Darryl Dawkins for Dell Curry and Kent Benson in 1987. The following year Mel Turpin was waived by the Utah Jazz in 1988. In 1989, Mel signed with the original team that drafted him in 1984 the Washington Bullets and the following year was released by the team.

Mel Turpin is considered by most to have been one of the biggest busts of the 1984 NBA draft. Turpin's weight was a common problem during his professional career. Mel's had two nicknames during his NBA career such as "The Mealman" and "Dinner Bell Mel" that was attributed to his weight. He played a total of 5 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz and Washington Bullets before retiring and giving up the game of basketball.

Mel had all the intangibles to be a dominating force in the NBA with a height of 6'11" and a massive body. He dominated opponents during his college years at Kentucky, but could never put it all together during his professional career and disappeared after 5 seasons.

Mel Turpin committed apparent suicide at his home on July 8, 2010. Thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Sources:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/turpime01.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melvin_Turpin